Latest news with #DanityKane
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Donald Trump says 'nobody's asked' him to pardon Sean Combs yet: 'He used to really like me a lot'
Donald Trump, who once called Sean "Diddy" Combs a "good friend," weighed in on whether he would pardon the embattled record producer should he be convicted in his ongoing sex trafficking and racketeering trial. "Well, nobody's asked, but I know people are thinking about," the president told an inquiring reporter at the White House on Friday. "I know some people are close to asking. First of all, I'd look at what's happening. And I haven't been watching it too closely, although it's certainly getting a lot of coverage." Trump said he hasn't "seen" or "spoken" to Diddy in years," adding, "He used to really like me a lot. I think when I ran for politics, that relationship busted up, from what I read. I don't know. He didn't tell me that [personally], but...." He added that he "would certainly look at the facts if I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don't like me, it wouldn't have any impact on me." Trump previously praised Diddy as a "good friend" and "good guy" on a 2012 episode of The Celebrity Apprentice, after season 5 contestant Aubrey O'Day, a former member of the girl group Danity Kane, said working under the record producer trained her to be a "very strict, focused businesswoman." When Trump asked O'Day if Diddy was, in fact, a good guy, she notably remarked, "I don't want to answer that question." More than 70 lawsuits have been filed against the Bad Boy Records mogul since November 2023, alleging sexual assault and sex trafficking. His highly publicized federal trial, based on charges that also include racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution, began in New York on May 12. Combs, who has denied all of the allegations against him, has pleaded not guilty. He could face life in prison if convicted. Trump has pardoned a number of celebrities since taking office, including rappers Kodak Black and Lil Wayne, both of whom were convicted on federal weapon charges. The president also recently pardoned incarcerated reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion in 2022. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
AsiaOne
a day ago
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
2nd woman tells jury Sean 'Diddy' Combs raped her, Entertainment News
NEW YORK — Sean "Diddy" Combs was accused of rape by a second woman on Thursday (May 29) as the hip-hop mogul stands trial for sex trafficking and racketeering, charges that could lead to life in prison if he is convicted. A former personal assistant to Combs, testifying under the pseudonym Mia, testified in Manhattan federal court that the Bad Boy Records founder raped her at least twice. "I was just frozen. I didn't do anything. I just let it happen," Mia said, fighting back tears and staring into her lap as she described an incident in which Combs allegedly grabbed her head and put his penis in her mouth. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to five counts including racketeering and sex trafficking. Mia told jurors Combs climbed on top of her while she was sleeping and raped her while she lay frozen with fear. Combs' lawyers have acknowledged he was at times abusive in domestic relationships but said any sex was consensual. During the testimony, Combs occasionally passed notes to his lawyers but otherwise showed little outward reaction. Testimony before a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates in Manhattan federal court is in its third week. Prosecutors say Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, coerced women over two decades to take part in days-long, drug-fuelled sexual performances with male sex workers known as "Freak Offs". In emotional testimony during the first week of trial, Combs' ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura told jurors Combs physically and emotionally abused her throughout their tumultuous 11-year relationship and raped her shortly after they broke up for good. Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known as Cassie, said she participated in the Freak Offs because she feared Combs would release sex tapes of her if she didn't, but also because she loved him. Friends and associates of Combs and Ventura have testified about Combs' alleged abuse, describing Combs as a domineering figure who relied on bodyguards and associates to enable his alleged crimes and keep victims in line. The trial has drawn intense media coverage due to Combs' cultural influence and role in taking hip-hop mainstream through legendary artists like the Notorious B.I.G. Combs was arrested in Manhattan last September and is being held at a federal prison in Brooklyn when not in court. Dawn Richard, a former member of the pop group Danity Kane, testified last week that she felt threatened when Combs told her to keep quiet about what she saw. Richard faced a sharp cross-examination by one of Combs' lawyers, who sought to point to inconsistencies between her testimony and what she said during interviews with prosecutors. Last week, Scott Mescudi — the rapper known as Kid Cudi — testified that his car was set on fire in 2012, shortly after Combs learned that Mescudi had a romantic relationship with Ventura. Prosecutors say the alleged arson of Mescudi's car was one of several violent or illegal acts that Combs or his associates undertook to prevent women from leaving his orbit and keep his abuse quiet. [[nid:718506]]
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Second woman tells jury Sean 'Diddy' Combs raped her
NEW YORK -Sean 'Diddy' Combs was accused of rape by a second woman on Thursday as the hip-hop mogul stands trial for sex trafficking and racketeering, charges that could lead to life in prison if he is convicted. A former personal assistant to Combs, testifying under the pseudonym Mia, testified in Manhattan federal court that the Bad Boy Records founder raped her at least twice. 'I was just frozen. I didn't do anything. I just let it happen,' Mia said, fighting back tears and staring into her lap as she described an incident in which Combs allegedly grabbed her head and put his penis in her mouth. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to five counts including racketeering and sex trafficking. Mia told jurors Combs climbed on top of her while she was sleeping and raped her while she lay frozen with fear. Combs' lawyers have acknowledged he was at times abusive in domestic relationships but said any sex was consensual. During the testimony, Combs occasionally passed notes to his lawyers but otherwise showed little outward reaction. Testimony before a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates in Manhattan federal court is in its third week. Prosecutors say Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, coerced women over two decades to take part in days-long, drug-fueled sexual performances with male sex workers known as "Freak Offs." In emotional testimony during the first week of trial, Combs' ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura told jurors Combs physically and emotionally abused her throughout their tumultuous 11-year relationship and raped her shortly after they broke up for good. Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known as Cassie, said she participated in the Freak Offs because she feared Combs would release sex tapes of her if she didn't, but also because she loved him. Friends and associates of Combs and Ventura have testified about Combs' alleged abuse, describing Combs as a domineering figure who relied on bodyguards and associates to enable his alleged crimes and keep victims in line. The trial has drawn intense media coverage due to Combs' cultural influence and role in taking hip-hop mainstream through legendary artists like the Notorious B.I.G. Combs was arrested in Manhattan last September and is being held at a federal prison in Brooklyn when not in court. Dawn Richard, a former member of the pop group Danity Kane, testified last week that she felt threatened when Combs told her to keep quiet about what she saw. Richard faced a sharp cross-examination by one of Combs' lawyers, who sought to point to inconsistencies between her testimony and what she said during interviews with prosecutors. Last week, Scott Mescudi - the rapper known as Kid Cudi - testified that his car was set on fire in 2012, shortly after Combs learned that Mescudi had a romantic relationship with Ventura. Prosecutors say the alleged arson of Mescudi's car was one of several violent or illegal acts that Combs or his associates undertook to prevent women from leaving his orbit and keep his abuse quiet.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Second woman tells jury Sean 'Diddy' Combs sexually abused her
By Jack Queen and Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -A second woman testified on Thursday that Sean 'Diddy' Combs sexually assaulted her as part of what federal prosecutors allege was a sex trafficking and racketeering scheme masterminded by the hip-hop mogul. The woman, testifying under the pseudonym Mia, told a jury in Manhattan federal court that she worked for Combs as a personal assistant and director of development and acquisition from 2009 to 2017, starting when she was around 25 years old. 'He's thrown things at me, he's thrown me against the wall, he's thrown me into a pool, he's thrown an ice bucket on my head, he's slammed my arm into a door, and he's sexually assaulted me,' Mia said. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to five counts including racketeering and sex trafficking. He faces up to life in prison if convicted on all counts. Testimony in the closely watched trial in Manhattan federal court is in its third week. Prosecutors say Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, coerced women over two decades to take part in days-long, drug-fueled sexual performances with male sex workers known as "Freak Offs." Combs' lawyers have acknowledged that he was at times abusive in domestic relationships, but said the women who participated in Freak Offs did so consensually. Over four days of emotional testimony during the first week of trial, Combs' ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura told jurors Combs physically and emotionally abused her throughout their tumultuous 11-year relationship. Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known as Cassie, said she participated in the Freak Offs because she feared Combs would release sex tapes of her if she didn't, but also because she loved him. Friends and associates of Combs and Ventura have also testified about Combs' alleged abuse, describing Combs as a domineering figure who relied on bodyguards and associates to enable his alleged crimes and keep victims in line. Dawn Richard, a former member of the pop group Danity Kane, testified last week that she felt threatened when Combs told her to keep quiet about what she saw. Richard faced a sharp cross-examination by one of Combs' lawyers, who sought to point to inconsistencies between her testimony and what she said during interviews with prosecutors. Last week, Scott Mescudi - the rapper known as Kid Cudi - testified that his car was set on fire in 2012, shortly after Combs learned that Mescudi had a romantic relationship with Ventura. Prosecutors say the alleged arson of Mescudi's car was one of several violent or illegal acts that Combs or his associates undertook to prevent women from leaving his orbit and keep his abuse quiet. The trial has drawn intense media coverage due to Combs' cultural influence and role in taking hip-hop mainstream through legendary artists like the Notorious B.I.G. Combs was arrested in Manhattan last September and is being held at a federal prison in Brooklyn when not in court.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs accused of keeping list of showbiz enemies
Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been accused of keeping a list of showbiz enemies. The rapper, 55, is continuing to face damning testimonies as his trial for sex trafficking and racketeering continues in New York following a Memorial Day break. Capricorn Clark, a former assistant to Combs, took the stand on Tuesday (27.05.25) to say Combs maintained a 'list of celebrity enemies', including Suge Knight and Curtis Jackson, 48, better known as 50 Cent, among a list of enemies. She added she overheard Combs discussing firearms during a conversation about 50 Cent, shortly after a press event at MTV. Capricorn told the court: 'He said, 'I don't like the back and forth, I don't like that. I like guns.'' While Combs has publicly denied having a feud with his fellow rapper, 50 has frequently criticised him on social media. And on Tuesday, following Clark's testimony, the rapper posted on Instagram: 'Wait a minute PUFFY's got a gun, I can't believe this I don't feel safe.' The post was accompanied by an AI-generated image of himself on a film set. Combs has denied all charges brought against him, and so far his case, now in its third week, has seen testimony from multiple high-profile witnesses, including former employees, artists and collaborators. Scott Mescudi, 40, known professionally as Kid Cudi, has already testified Combs broke into his Hollywood Hills home in 2011 after discovering he was dating singer Cassie Ventura. He alleged weeks later, his car was set on fire, and he told the court: 'It was clearly an intimidation tactic.' Dawn Richard, 40, a former member of the girl group Danity Kane, and Cassie Ventura, 37, the trial's main accuser, have also delivered testimony implicating Combs in a pattern of controlling and violent behaviour. Combs' legal team maintain he is not guilty of sex trafficking or racketeering. Other high-profile names mentioned so far during his trial include Michael B Jordan, 37, Barack Obama, 62, and Britney Spears, 42, though none of them have been accused of any wrongdoing. The trial continues at the United States District Court in Manhattan, with Combs facing life in prison if convicted.
