Latest news with #DiddyTrial
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
If acquitted, could Diddy rebound? TMZ's Harvey Levin weighs in
(NewsNation) — Harvey Levin hedges a little when asked whether Sean 'Diddy' Combs could rebound and flourish professionally if a jury were to acquit him in his sex trafficking and racketeering trial. The TMZ executive producer said there are precedents of celebrities who have fallen from grace, only to find success after scandals or prison sentences. Among them: lifestyle maven Martha Stewart, quarterback Michael Vick and late pop star Michael Jackson. 'It is easy to take a snapshot,' Levin told 'Banfield' on Friday. 'I've just seen things turn out way different than what you would think at the end of a saga like this.' Ex-mobster Michael Franzese on Diddy trial: 'We didn't beat up women' He added: 'I'm not going to say there's any resurrection for Diddy if he is found not guilty. I'm not going to say that. All I'm saying is I've just been surprised so much in this job.' Diddy is accused of coercing and threatening women and staging marathon sexual 'Freak Offs,' and jurors have seen infamous 2016 surveillance video of Combs attacking his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Although the testimony at times has been harrowing, Levin said the music mogul may benefit from the trial not being televised. Also complicating the calculus, he said, is the political comeback of Donald Trump, who was convicted of felony crimes last year before being elected to a second term as president. 'People get written off all the time,' Levin said. 'There was this thing with cancel culture, where you looked the wrong way and you were gone. The pendulum has swung now.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Diddy On Trial Diddy's ex-assistant tells court she ‘hasn't lied to anyone at all'
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' former employee, who has given evidence under the pseudonym 'Mia', has been questioned by Diddy's defence lawyer. In court on Thursday, 'Mia' told the court she had been raped and sexually assaulted by Diddy. Today, defence lawyer Brian Steel suggested 'Mia' had made up sexual assault allegations. He questioned her about a scrapbook she had made for Sean 'Diddy' Combs birthday, as well as videos and multiple Instagram posts she had made, which all painted Diddy in a glowing light. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty speaks to BBC New York correspondent Nada Tawfik about the day in court, as week three of the trial ends. Sean 'Diddy' Combs is on trial in New York, facing federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering with conspiracy and transportation for prostitution. He denies all the charges. The Diddy on Trial podcast is here to investigate the rumours, confront the theories, and give you the answers that you need. We also want YOU to be part of the conversation. Have you any questions about the case? Heard a theory that doesn't sit right with you? Get in touch now via WhatsApp: 0330 123 555 1. Details of organisations in the UK offering information and support with some of the issues raised are available at Presenter: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Laura Jones Sound Design: Mark Burrows Senior Digital Producer: Matthew Pintus Executive Producer: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Coordinator: Hattie Valentine Editor: Clare Fordham Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Commissioning Assistant Producer: Rechmial Miller
Sky News
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Diddy trial day 13 as it happened: Alleged victim gave him note that said 'I love you forever'
What you need to know after day 13 of Diddy's trial - scroll down to catch up That's all for our live coverage today. Earlier, Sean "Diddy" Combs's former assistant continued testifying under the pseudonym "Mia" before his defence started cross-examination. If you're just checking in, here's a recap of what we heard today: Mia said she was "put in the middle" after Cassie found out that Diddy was "cheating" on her when she saw a video showing Combs with another woman; Jurors were shown text messages between Mia and Diddy's former chief of staff, with Mia explaining her "night terrors" about the rapper and saying he threatened to kill her; In a WhatsApp exchange between Diddy and Mia, he threatened to "tell everything" and said "let's go to war" if Mia didn't respond to his messages; Mia recalled a trip to the Caribbean island St Barts on New Year's Eve in 2010, describing a moment when she was told to count the money in Diddy's safe on a yacht. She said he became "really angry" and accused her of counting too slowly; Diddy's former assistant also told jurors she hasn't been able to return to work because she suffers from "severe, complex PTSD"; As cross-examination began, Diddy's defence attorney quizzed Mia on a range of social media posts which featured the rapper and often included glowing captions; Mia defended the posts by describing the situation as "very confusing" and saying "I didn't want my family and friends to know the misery I was in"; Diddy's defence attorney asked Mia to read the captions to some of her posts out loud to jurors, which included phrases like "we f****** love you" and one that described him as a "legend"; Mia was also presented in court with a scrapbook she made for Combs's 45th birthday, containing a note which said "I love you forever". Mia told jurors she was afraid Combs would kill her and said that making the scrapbook was "a lot more complicated on all levels". The trial will resume on Monday as Mia's cross-examination continues. We'll see you back here then. Court finishes for the day The jury has now been dismissed, bringing day 13 of the trial to a close. Cross-examination of Sean "Diddy" Combs's former assistant, who is testifying under the pseudonym "Mia", will continue on Monday. Stay with us as we'll bring you a summary of today's proceedings. 'I am so heartbroken': Jurors shown texts of when Mia found out she was being cut from Diddy's company Jurors are now shown text messages from December 2016 between Mia and Diddy's former chief of staff Kristina Khorram. The messages were sent after Mia found out she was being made redundant from Sean Combs's company. Mia starts the conversation by saying that her "life is over" and that she was "going to kill" herself. "I am so heartbroken I cannot breathe," she wrote. "Can't wait to see the light at the end of the tunnel... I don't know what to do... it hurts so f****** bad." Mia is asked about the messages, and says: "I did not want to leave the company where I finally saw my dreams coming to fruition". "It was not just a job, it was around 24 hours a day, this was all I knew and I worked so hard and went through so much." 'I have not lied to anyone at all', Mia says In the most direct moment of the cross-examination so far, Sean Combs's defence attorney Brian Steel asks Mia whether she is wrong, and that his client never had non-consensual sex with her. "What I said is true," Combs's former assistant says, adding: "I have not lied to anyone at all". When asked whether she overestimated the number of times Combs may have inappropriately touched her, Mia says: "everything I said in this courtroom is true". 'Nobody around us even flinched at Diddy's behaviour' Sean Combs's defence attorney Brian Steel is quizzing Mia over why she would make the scrapbook for Diddy if he ruined her life as she claims. "At the time, he made me feel the opposite as well, I am not a professional to explain that," she says. Mia goes on to say "nobody around us" would say that the things that were happening were wrong. "There was nobody around us that even flinched at his behaviour... I was always in trouble and always finding a way not to be in trouble," she says. Mia tells jurors that she was afraid Combs would kill her, and says that making a scrapbook for him was "a lot more complicated on all levels". 'I love you forever': Mia presented with scrapbook she made for Diddy and reads note aloud Mia is now presented with a scrapbook she made for Sean "Diddy" Combs, which she gave to him as a gift for his 45th birthday. "I have put together this scrapbook from 1991-1999 that I hope will stir up nostalgic feelings of when you started and how you felt and what was a dream to you that's now an everyday reality," a note in it says. Mia, reading the note aloud, continues: "I hope it reminds you of when this world made your eyes light up. "Happy happy birthday, I love you forever." Asked whether she meant those words, Mia says "at the time... I was reflecting a conversation I had". Combs's defence asks Mia to read her social media captions about Diddy to jurors After showing Mia's social media post on Sean Combs's birthday (see previous post), his defence asked Mia to read her caption aloud. She was full of praise for Diddy in the caption on her social media post, describing him as a "legend". After calling up another post from his birthday, Combs's defence asks Mia to read another caption out loud. She reads the caption to the court, which ends with "we f****** love you". Despite Steel attempting to show a disconnect between what Mia claimed her life was like and the glowing posts about Combs, Mia is confidently claiming ownership of the posts. Combs's defence attorney continues to focus on Mia's posts praising Diddy Sean Combs's defence attorney Brian Steel continues his questioning over Mia's social media posts featuring Diddy, just like he did before the lunch break. He points to one post in particular, in which Mia thanks Diddy for an "incredible experience". Once again, she is asked whether this is the same Combs she said has altered her life for the worse forever. "Yes," she replies. She is also asked about another post six years after Combs allegedly sexually assaulted her. "How is that not a significant date in your life?" Steel asks. "It was Puff's birthday... I tried to protect that night and shut it down and not think about it again," she says. Court back in session Jurors are back in the courtroom and Mia has returned to the stand. Sean Combs's former assistant, who is testifying under the pseudonym, will continue to be cross-examined. She's facing questions from Combs's defence attorney Brian Steel. Trial expected to resume shortly The judge is back in the courtroom and is discussing some legal arguments with Diddy's defence attorneys and the prosecution. We'll bring you the latest as soon as things get back under way shortly.
The Sun
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Diddy trial name-drops more celebs as ‘victim Mia' mentions them in tragic testimony about rapper's ‘violent outbursts'
WEEK three of Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial is coming to a close with explosive testimony from his former assistant. The alleged victim, speaking in court under the pseudonym Mia, broke down sobbing on the stand on Thursday as she told jurors how Combs climbed into a bunk bed with her and sexually assaulted her. 3 3 3 Day 13 of the trial is kicking off after jurors heard about Combs ' alleged bombing of Kid Cudi's car and his threats to "kill" the rival rapper for dating his ex-girlfriend, Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura. Mia is just one of Combs' many former employees who have taken the stand, but the first witness who has opted to remain anonymous. On Thursday, she testified about Combs' violent behavior towards her and his other staff, as well as the abuse she saw from him to Ventura. She told the court Combs would hurl items at her when he didn't get his way and that he sexually assaulted her more than once. In a trial that's been riddled with details of luxury celebrity status and A-list parties, Mia joined other witnesses in name-dropping stars throughout her testimony. She told the court that Combs threw a computer at her head after the wifi went out on the device while he was in a trial with producer Swizz Beatz. As she tried to solve the problem, Mia testified Combs barked at her that she needed to fix it even if she needed to "talk to Bill Gates." Former NFL linebacker Andre Branch was also brought up as it was revealed in court that Ventura was dating him in 2015 when she was introduced to actor Michael B. Jordan, who she ended up dating. Mia testified that one of Combs' security guards had to stop the rapper from physically assaulting Ventura at a party thrown by rock icon Prince. During her direct examination, Mia also mentioned working for designer Georgina Chapman, the ex-wife of Harvey Weinstein, and was an assistant for actor Mike Myers. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges as prosecutors continue to paint him as the ringleader of a criminal enterprise. He has denied all allegations against him and insists he's only engaged in consensual sex. If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
Sky News
21 hours ago
- General
- Sky News
Diddy trial latest: Case resumes with testimony from former assistant 'Mia'
13:48:05 Diddy case pushing boundaries of what court security is available to do, judge says Before we hear from Mia again, Judge Arun Subramanian is in conversation with one of Diddy's attorneys about his ability to speak to Sean Combs. Subramanian tells the court that the Diddy case is pushing the boundaries of what court security and the marshals are available to do. He suggests getting Combs to the court building at 7am (12pm UK time) would give his attorneys substantial time to confer with him. Marc Agnifilo, one of Diddy's attorneys, thanks the marshals service but says they don't allow documents to be shown. "We are restrained if we want to show him exhibits, we can't do it in the facility we have," he says. However, the judge tells Agnifilo that the access he and Combs have had is much greater than defendants in many cases, adding that this is a unique case. 13:34:12 Day 13 of trial under way Today's session is now under way. A reminder, Sean Combs's former personal assistant, who is testifying under the pseudonym "Mia", will continue giving evidence. Take a look back at a summary of the testimony she gave yesterday in our previous post. We'll bring you the latest updates from her evidence. 13:23:01 A recap of what happened in court yesterday It's day 13 of Sean "Diddy" Combs's trial and proceedings are about to start again in a few minutes. Before that, here is a look at what happened yesterday: Combs's former personal assistant, who testified under the pseudonym "Mia", said that the hip-hop mogul sexually assaulted her, threw her into a swimming pool, dumped a bucket of ice on her head and slammed her arm into a door during her eight-year tenure; She said Combs berated her for mistakes, even ones made by other employees, and loaded her up with so many tasks she did not sleep for days; Mia told the court she once woke to find Combs on top of her and that he forced her to have sex against her will. Another time, he forced her to perform oral sex, she alleged; She also said Combs's employees were always on edge because his mood could "change in a split second", causing everything to go from "happy to chaotic"; Mia said she saw Diddy being violent or threatening towards Cassie on several occasions, including at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012, during a party at Prince's house, and on a trip to a private island in Turks and Caicos; She claimed Combs once pressured her into taking ketamine, and described incidents when he allegedly slammed a door on her arm and threw spaghetti at her; The court heard she had never told anyone of the alleged attacks until the government's investigation in this case, and that it was a secret she had expected to take to the grave; Mia's testimony echoed that of prior prosecution witnesses, including several of Combs's other former employees, as well as his former partner Cassie. 13:11:01 A reminder of the charges While we wait for court to start again today, here's a reminder of the five felony charges faced by Sean "Diddy" Combs: Racketeering conspiracy; Two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; Two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The rapper was initially charged with three offences - racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Two extra counts - one each of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution - were added earlier in April. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges. What the charges mean Racketeering broadly means engaging in an illegal scheme or enterprise, and the charge falls under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act (RICO) in the US. According to the US justice department's definition of RICO statute, it is also illegal to "conspire to violate" the laws. The prosecution alleges that between 2008 and 2024, Combs "led a racketeering conspiracy that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice, among other crimes". 13:00:01 We're back with our live coverage Welcome back to our coverage of the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs. The rapper faces five felony charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. He denies all charges. Today will be day 13 of the trial. Yesterday, we heard from Diddy's former stylist Deonte Nash and "Mia", the rapper's second alleged victim after his former partner Cassie. Mia, who is giving evidence under a pseudonym, worked as an assistant to the rapper for several years. She told the court she witnessed Combs being violent towards Cassie. She also spoke about her experiences of allegedly being sexually assaulted by her former boss. The trial will resume at around 1.30pm today UK time with more evidence from Mia. In the meantime, you can catch up with what we heard in court yesterday below... 22:41:35 What you need to know after day 12 of Diddy's trial - scroll down to catch up That's our live coverage finished for the day. Earlier, we heard the end of stylist Deonte Nash's testimony before "Mia", the second alleged victim after Cassie, took the stand. Mia, who is giving evidence under a pseudonym, worked for Sean "Diddy" Combs for several years. She told the court she witnessed Combs being violent towards Cassie on several occasions, before detailing her own experiences with her former boss. If you're just checking in, here is a recap of today's testimony: Mia told the court working for Combs was "chaotic" and toxic, with extreme highs and lows; Calling him "Puff" throughout her testimony, she said during her time working for him he "threw things at me, threw me against the wall, threw me in the pool"; She claimed she had a physical breakdown after being forced to work for five days without sleep and that she wasn't allowed to leave his homes without permission; Mia said she saw Diddy being violent or threatening towards Cassie on several occasions, including at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012, during a party at Prince's house, and on a trip to a private island in Turks and Caicos; She also said Diddy seemed 'heartbroken' over Cassie's brief relationship with fellow rapper Kid Cudi; Mia told the court about setting up and cleaning hotel rooms used by Diddy, saying they could be covered in substances including candle wax, water and even blood; She claimed Combs once pressured her into taking ketamine, and described incidents when he allegedly slammed a door on her arm and threw spaghetti at her; She alleged she was first sexually assaulted by her then boss after working for him for just a few months, and that subsequent alleged attacks made her feel "like trash"; The court heard she had never told anyone of the alleged attacks until the government's investigation in this case. "I thought I was going to die with this," she said... "I thought I would never have to tell anyone because it's the most shameful thing of my life"; Earlier on in the day, stylist Deonte Nash continued his evidence, which started on Wednesday; Under cross-examination he was asked why he did not mention details about alleged abuse of Cassie to investigators, when he had said it in court - but said he only answered the questions he was asked. Court resumes tomorrow at 1.30pm UK time - we'll see you back here then. 21:12:00 Court finishes for the day - and defence says its case may take longer than expected After an hour extra today, the jury has now been dismissed. Marc Agnifilo, one of the defence lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs, has an issue to raise with Judge Arun Subramanian. The prosecution earlier this week said its case may take five weeks rather than six - but Agnifilo says now that this doesn't necessarily mean the trial will end sooner than expected. Prosecutors last night sent details of changes to their case, he says, which in turn may impact the defence's case and make it longer. The trial was originally slated to take about eight weeks in total, ending around 4 July. 21:05:59 'The most traumatising thing that's ever happened to me,' alleged victim tells court Mia tells the court she didn't think it was an option to go to police about the alleged sexual assaults by Sean "Diddy" Combs. Asked about an interaction she had with a police officer related to Combs, she tells the court she was pulled over while driving in LA on her way to see him. She says she mentioned his name and the officer didn't believe her at first, but when she showed her her phone they "had a whole conversation" and she let her off without a ticket. She recalls another time driving with Combs when they were pulled over. When officers realised it was him, they let them go, she says. Mia tells the court that the first time she told anyone about the alleged sexual assaults by Combs was when she spoke with government investigators. "I thought I would never have to tell anyone because it's the most shameful thing of my life," she says. Prosecutor Madison Smyser asks why she is speaking out now. "Because I have to tell the truth," she replies. Asked if she wanted to talk about the alleged sexual assaults today, she tells the court: "Absolutely not. It's the most traumatising, worst thing that's ever happened to me." 20:57:18 'I was going to die with this': Mia sobs as she tells court she kept alleged assaults secret Mia tells the court she could not say no to Sean "Diddy" Combs, her former boss. "I couldn't tell him 'no' about a sandwich. I couldn't tell him 'no' about anything," she says. She tells the court she was scared of being fired and never working in the industry again if she made a fuss. "I knew his power. And his control. I didn't want to lose everything that I worked so hard for." Mia says she also feared being attacked and was "always" worried about being physically hurt by Combs. "I didn't want to die or get hurt." She says she felt "desperate", "terrified and trapped", and worried it was her fault somehow. Combs threatened to tell Cassie she had "something to do with it" if she spoke out, she says. Becoming very emotional, Mia whispers and sobs as she says she never told anyone about the alleged sexual assaults at the time. "I was going to die with this," she says. "I didn't want anyone to know ever." She tells the court again that she was worried about being fired or "punished", and about her reputation as well. "I would have lost everything." She also says she thought no one would believe her. 20:46:06 'I always thought this was the last time,' Mia says of alleged sexual assaults by Diddy Alleged victim Mia is continuing telling the court about alleged sexual assaults by Sean "Diddy" Combs, her former boss. She recalls the hip-hop star trying to push her into a bathroom during a flight on a private jet, and says she felt "helpless", despite there being other people on the flight. She says she does not remember what happened in the bathroom, and replies "no" when prosecutor Madison Smyser asks if she ever initiated physical contact with Combs. She says "no" again when asked if she wanted to have sex with him. Mia says there was "no pattern" to the alleged sexual assaults, other than that they would not happen when Cassie was around. She says there was no indication Combs was on drugs during the incidents. "I always thought this was the last time," she said. "Next time I would somehow be more prepared. I had to get right back to work, there was so much going on."
