Latest news with #Diddy:TheMakingofaBadBoy
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jury Selection to Start on Monday for Sean Combs' Sex Trafficking Trial
During a court appearance Thursday, Sean Combs confirmed that he did not accept a plea deal from federal prosecutors in his sex trafficking case. Jury selection is scheduled to get underway on Monday. Combs was arrested in September and is facing charges of conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The Sean John founder, entrepreneur and Grammy winner has pled not guilty to the criminal charges. More from WWD Equinox Unveils 'Tomb Raider'-inspired Vest to Maximize Walking Workouts Sarah Jessica Parker, Walton Goggins, Julia Fox and More Celebrate the Cult100 With Valentino at the Guggenheim China's Meilleur Moment Defies Tariff Threats, Opens Flagship in New York Combs could potentially face a life sentence if convicted. During Thursday's hearing, the 55-year-old wore prison attire. Per an order signed by Justice Arun Subramanian, who is overseeing the case, Combs, a 2004 CFDA award winner and member, will be allowed to have five shirts, five sweaters, five pairs of pants and two pairs of shoes without laces to wear during the trial. His legal team reportedly indicated Thursday that they will increase from a six-person team to eight attorneys by the start of the trial. Combs, who is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, is also facing more than dozens of lawsuits. He has denied any wrongdoing. Some of his accusers have alleged that Combs used his businesses to threaten and abuse women to fulfill his sexual desires. A spokesperson for Combs declined comment Friday. Media requests to his legal team were not immediately acknowledged. Tess Neudeck, marketing director at Wigdor Law, which is representing one of Combs' accusers, Cassie Ventura, declined to comment Friday. 'We are not currently participating in interviews,' she said. Jurors have reportedly been advised to arrive at the courthouse early on Monday. Jury selection is expected to take a few days to give the legal teams time for pre-trial preparation. Opening statements are expected to start on May 12. Combs' case has attracted worldwide media attention beyond standard news coverage. Several media outlets have delved into the allegations with podcasts, docuseries and news specials. Earlier this year, Peacock introduced 'Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy,' and Legacy Editions debuted the hour-long 'Diddy: Monster's Fall.' The Daily Mail, BBC Sounds, TMZ, and ABC News have also developed different kinds of content about the case and the trial. Best of WWD Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter Tour' Outfits, Live Updates: Burberry, Loewe, Diesel and More A Look Back at Anna Nicole Smith's Kentucky Derby Style That Lives On Through Her Daughter Dannielynn Birkhead A Look Back at Princess Diana's Met Gala Appearance: Her John Galliano Slipdress, Jewelry and More Details
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Sean 'Diddy' Combs childhood traumas revealed by longtime friend as disgraced mogul's sex trafficking trial looms
Nestled in the sprawling suburbia of New York, a home with well-kept hedgerows and blooming spring flowers is the quintessential model of an American residence. But this mid-century split-level home in Mount Vernon holds dark secrets that could explain the lead-up to the gut-churning accusations that disgraced rap mogul Sean ' Diddy ' Combs faces as he waits behind bars for his sex trafficking trial to kick off on Monday. This is Diddy's childhood home, where neighbors told that they witnessed 'wild' parties there thrown by his mother, Janice Combs, that could have been the inspiration for his later life of debauchery. Janice, 84, reportedly invited shady figures from her Harlem days, exposing her young son to nudity and drug use in the home. She did not respond to request for comment, but her son's attorney told Newsweek in January the motivations and credibility of people talking now 'must be questioned'. 'Many claim to have knowledge but lack any connection to the truth, while their wild, unfounded theories are cut and sensationalized to appear factual,' the attorney said. And on the latest episode of The Trial of Diddy, Tim Patterson, Diddy's childhood friend said the rapper's unstable upbringing and access to money at a young age was a recipe for trouble. 'I do not want to condone, and I don't condone any of the things that he's been accused of. 'But Sean is special to me, you know? We were big brother, little brother type of moves, and there's no way I can sit back and allow this to happen without giving context to his life and to his story and giving some type of understanding that he was not born a monster.' In the Peacock documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, Patterson further elaborated on how Sean's deranged partying habits were somewhat inherited: 'Because Sean had no dad, all he had was his mom. Sean's house, our house, there was always things going on. 'On the weekend, and we did that a lot. 'He was around all type of alcohol, he was around reefer smoke. He was around drug addicts, around lesbians, around homosexuals, he was around pimps and pushers. That was just who was in our house.' Listen to the full interview on the latest episode of The Trial of Diddy: Patterson said Diddy, 55, was not like other children who grew up in the suburbs of Mount Vernon in the 1960s and 70s. His mother, Janice, moved the family from Harlem to the town shortly after Diddy's father, Melvin, was killed. Melvin, who was an associate of notorious convicted drug dealer Frank Lucas, was shot dead while sitting in his car in New York City at the age of 33. Diddy spoke of his loss and called his father a 'hustler' in a 2013 interview on his former network Revolt. 'They say you can't miss something you never had, but that's only a little ways right. There has definitely been times as I've gotten older that I've missed my father – his presence – not being here...,' he said. 'There are things that you would ask your father. There's also things that you would celebrate with him that would make him proud.' The move to Mount Vernon marked a dramatic contrast for Diddy, who attended Mount Saint Michael Academy, an all-boys Catholic school. But his mother was allegedly unable to completely leave the streets behind and she reportedly invited her friends from Harlem to come visit. One neighbor told The Trial of Diddy podcast: 'It was a long time ago but I remember there were a lot of cars on the street and people coming and going and music until late. I never went but I heard they were wild parties.' Another neighbor expressed his shock at how somebody on their quiet street had become such an alleged monster, saying: 'Diddy really messed up. I can't believe how he turned out.' Patterson, who claimed he moved into Diddy's basement as a kid in an interview for the HBO Max The Fall of Diddy documentary, said the rap mogul allegedly was subjected to regular bullying and beatings from his peers, while also allegedly enduring harsh discipline at home. 'Just to give you an example, Sean was in a quagmire because of him getting picked on,' Patterson said. 'It wasn't the way it worked in his house. You don't come back as a loser. You have to come back and win. 'If someone takes something from you, you go get it back, or you have to deal with the consequences. So, Sean had to step up to the bullies. Sooner or later, and this was more in his adolescent years, but it got to a point where it just became too much for him.' Patterson refused to comment further on the allegations but told The Trial of Diddy podcast that the missing paternal influence in Combs' young life could've been detrimental for an impressional boy. Patterson declined to delve into Diddy's allegations but said not having a father was a recipe for disaster and that Janice allegedly had a lot of influence on him growing up 'My dad instilled some things in me that let me know there's only but so far people can go with you – win, lose, or draw,' Patterson said. 'And these might've been some of the things Sean could've gotten as a child had he had a father, right? 'In my home, there were boots and there were high-heeled shoes in the closet. In Sean's home, there were high-heeled shoes. There were no boots. So that makes sense. There was something missing from his maturing.' Diddy, 55, is scheduled to begin trial with opening statements on May 12, following jury selection, which will start on May 5. He was indicted on racketeering conspiracy, two charges of sex trafficking and two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. Prosecutors allege Combs drugged and coerced women into sexual activities with male prostitutes. Investigators said they found drugs and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil that were intended to be used for orgies known as 'freak offs'. Sean Combs performs at the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour at ORACLE Arena on September 30, 2016 in Oakland, California Combs pleaded not guilty and has vehemently denied all the allegations, and his lawyers intend to discuss the rapper's 'swinger lifestyle' and claims the threesomes were consensual. The allegations were a shock to childhood friend Patterson, who claims Combs never showed him 'that side'. Patterson said Combs, who is three years younger, was destined to become a star. Patterson points to a picture of the two in front of Combs' childhood home in Mount Vernon. Both were smiling and posing in their bellbottom pants, but the young Combs was decked out with jewelry, a stylish bucket hat and fancier clothing. Patterson said Combs' sense of style, talent for dancing and knack for entertaining was influenced by the burgeoning movement of hip-hop. 'As he got older and as I got older, you couldn't help but not be around hip-hop because it was a culture. It was a lifestyle. It was a certain type of sneaker, was certain type of pants, it was a certain type of hat. The Trial of Diddy: The No.1 True Crime podcast is back, covering all of the most shocking details from the Diddy case. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts 'It was a certain way to talk. It was a certain way to walk. And Sean being from Harlem, he had all of this in him. He had all this flavoring.' By the time he was 17, Combs landed an internship at Uptown Records and quickly rose the ranks as the label's A&R director and was responsible for finding, signing, and developing musical talent. As he started his trajectory to success, Combs brought on his 'big brother' Patterson to Uptown as his intern. Combs's angry outbursts and cursing out subordinates became legendary, but higher-ups turned a blind eye because of the talent and money he brought to the label, Patterson said. 'He's 17, but he's got carte blanche access to the music industry,' Patterson said. 'Every day was a mess. He was a mess. 'You think he had decorum? You think he had it together? He's 17. He never got it together at 25. Shawn was just like he told you. He was the little bad boy every day.' The outbursts and outrageous spending finally came to a head when Combs was fired at Uptown, Patterson said. But when Combs was quickly picked up and brokered a deal with Clive Davis's Arista Records in 1993, he was able to create Bad Boy Records. As he gained more success, Combs became untouchable as his behavior and take-no-prisoners attitude became both feared and celebrated, his childhood friend said. Combs was eventually celebrated in the upper echelon of society and partied with celebrated designers like Tommy Hilfiger and other A-Listers such as Oprah Winfrey and Donald Trump, Patterson said. 'That type of behavior doesn't stick today,' Pattersons said. 'But back then, there were no examples, no blueprints, no references of Puffy's. He was the first 17-year-old kid hanging with Russell Simmons, Andre Harrell, Brett Ratner, Clive Davis. 'He was the exception because there was no reference to him. He was so interesting to the Hilfigers. He was so interesting to the Trumps. He was so interesting to the Winfreys - that this kid's got a magnetism about him and he's the one behind these people.' Patterson said 30 decades of money, power and thinking he is invincible has caught up to Diddy. However, the former producer is certain Combs will not back down. 'I'm sure he's given every thought to everything, but Sean is the type who really believes he's innocent,' Patterson said. 'He doesn't feel the things that he's accused of is what he's done. He doesn't feel that. I know him.' Patterson declined to comment about the parties when contacted by and nobody answered at the door of the property. Diddy's lawyers and his office did not respond to a request for comment.
IOL News
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Reality check: Diddy and Menendez Brothers documentaries show truth is stranger than fiction
If you enjoy documentaries, two offerings are bound to pique your interest. The first is 'Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy', which delves into the rise and fall of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, offering insight into his childhood, meteoric rise to a music mogul, and arrest. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Of course, with the heightened interest around Diddy, who is currently behind bars awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges on May 5, this documentary is perfectly timed. It offers intimate knowledge of the star before he got caught up in the whirlwind of fame of fortune. The documentary feature opens with Diddy ranting, followed by poignant moments that led to his current situation. These include video footage, from March 16, of him physically assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. It shifts to the raid on March 25, 2024. Those who knew him, either as a friend, associate, or bodyguard, unpacked their knowledge of him. This includes Tim Patterson, a childhood friend, who acknowledges that while Diddy is regarded as public enemy number one and has been monsterised, the person he knew was somewhat different. Growing up in Mount Vernon, the boujee north side, Diddy grew up with the best of everything. He described his style as a 4-year-old in a 30-year-old's wardrobe. Patterson recalled how he was bullied and how he protected Combs before they parted ways, with him joining the army. In becoming this untouchable music mogul, Diddy was linked to many violent acts, including beefs with other artists, but he always seemed to avoid any legal punishment, until now, that is. This disturbing feature, which includes archived video footage and photos, is underpinned by feedback from his friend Rich Parker, Gene Deal, his bodyguard from 1991 - 2005, and Dr Carolyn West, a domestic violence and sex trafficking expert, among others. This is available on DStv Catch Up as well as Showmax. 'Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed' is a three-part docu-series, which brings some shocking facts to light. Another headline-grabbing story that's been revisited is M-Net's 'Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed', a three-part offering, which debuted on Thursday. It delves into the story of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who infamously killed their parents in 1989. The brothers accused their father of abuse as children, which was key to their defence, however, they were eventually found guilty and have spent their lives behind bars. However, a former Menudo member Roy Rosselló, claimed that Jose Menendez - then an executive at RCA Records, which signed Menudo to a multimillion-dollar contract, raped him as well. The stories by the brothers and the artists raise pertinent questions around child sexual abuse cases.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Defense Team Wants to Ask Potential Jurors About Aversion to Sex and Violence
The pre-trial sparks continue to fly ahead of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Manhattan trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. The accused rap mogul's lawyers submitted a lengthy questionnaire for potential jurors asking about aversion to sex, drugs and violence ruffling the prosecution's feathers. In a Friday letter sent to Judge Arun Subramanian, Combs' attorneys floated a questionnaire for potential jurors that asks in detail questions about adult situations and footage of real-life physical assault. The questionnaire will be distributed to those who responded to their jury summons to narrow the pool ahead of selection on May 5. More from The Hollywood Reporter What Sean "Diddy" Combs' Rumored New Attorney Mark Geragos Has Said About His Legal Troubles Warner Bros. Seeks to Quash Diddy's Move to Access Raw Documentary Interview Footage Diddy's Attorneys, Feds Spar Over Including "Sexual Abuse of Other Victims" Testimony in Looming Trial The nature of the questionnaire suggests that footage of the sex and drug-fueled multi-day so-called 'freak-off' parties prosecutors described in their indictment of Combs will be shown to the jury at trial. Additionally, the leaked footage of a 2018 incident in which Combs is seen beating and dragging his then-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura, at a Los Angeles hotel is being contested by the defense, who claim that CNN, which leaked the video, had manipulated the footage before it went to air. Ventura will be the first of four witnesses called by the prosecution. Prosecutors griped to the judge about the questionnaire in their own letter, complaining that, at 72 questions, it is far too long and parts of it are 'utterly irrelevant to the ability to serve on a jury' and are best answered as an aside from the judge and not ahead of the start of the trial. The two sides were unable to reach a consensus on what the potential jurors should be asked on questionnaires. 'The defense believes it is important that we allow potential jurors to write candidly about the unprecedented and negative media attention that they may have been exposed to, related to Mr. Combs,' the beleaguered Bad Boy Records founder's lawyers wrote. In addition to several questions regarding sex and violence, one of the queries on the defense team's questionnaire asks if potential jurors have viewed any of the documentaries and series that feature interviews with accusers and others who often paint Combs in a less-than-flattering light including The Fall of Diddy, Diddy Do It?; The Downfall of Diddy; and Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy. Combs is being housed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn before his trial. He has denied all allegations leveled against him and has said that he never subjected anyone to sexual abuse. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2024: Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Olivia Rodrigo and More
CBS News
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers want prospective jurors questioned about sex, drugs and violence
Lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs are urging a judge to let prospective jurors at the hip-hop mogul's upcoming sex trafficking trial be questioned about their views regarding sex, drugs and violence. The lawyers raised the subject as they submitted a proposed questionnaire to be filled out by individuals summoned for his May 12 trial in Manhattan federal court. In a letter to a judge late Friday, the lawyers said they want to know the willingness of would-be jurors to watch videos that are sexually explicit or show physical assault. They also say they want to know their views toward people with multiple sexual partners. Prosecutors have said that a key piece of the evidence at trial will be a video showing Combs punching his former protege and girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, and throwing her on the floor in a hotel hallway . Defense lawyers have argued that prosecutors built their case on charges that try to demonize sex acts between consenting adults. They told the judge they were unable to reach a consensus with prosecutors for what prospective jurors should be asked on questionnaires. "The defense believes it is important that we allow potential jurors to write candidly about the unprecedented and negative media attention that they may have been exposed to, related to Mr. Combs," the lawyers wrote. Defense lawyers also asked that jurors be asked to tell if they've watched shows on television titled: "The Fall of Diddy," "Diddy Do It?," "The Downfall of Diddy" and "Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy." Prosecutors in a letter of their own criticized the defense's proposed questionnaire as too long and touching on subjects that would be better asked in person by the judge, if at all. They said some of the defense's proposed 72 questions, some containing subparts, were "utterly irrelevant to the ability to serve on a jury." Prosecutors also cited the sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell as an example of how a lengthy questionnaire can be damaging. After Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking in December 2021 , a juror admitted that he had failed to disclose that he was a sex abuse victim, blaming his oversight in part on being "distracted as he filled out the questionnaire" and having "skimmed way too fast," causing him to misunderstand questions. Judge Arun Subramanian has told lawyers that questionnaires will be distributed to hundreds of prospective jurors at the end of April so that questioning of prospective jurors can begin on May 5, with opening statements likely on May 12. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he subjected individuals to sexual abuse over a two-decade period . The Bad Boy Records founder has remained incarcerated without bail since his September arrest . An indictment accuses Combs of using the "power and prestige" he wielded as a music mogul to intimidate, threaten and lure women into his orbit , often under the pretense of a romantic relationship. The indictment said he then used force, threats and coercion to cause victims, including three women specified in the court papers, to engage in commercial sex acts . It said he subjected his victims to violence, threats of violence, threats of financial and reputational harm and verbal abuse.
