Latest news with #FreePuff
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Here's the Lowdown Behind Those 'Free Puff' Shirts at Diddy's Trial
Outside the federal courthouse where Sean 'Diddy' Combs is on trial, individuals wearing 'Free Puff' shirts have been observed. However, some folks on social media claim this group of 'supporters' may be part of a coordinated effort, and just may be part of a whole scam. The first person we saw donning a 'Free Puff' shirt was Charlie Liucci, who was caught on camera walking with one of Combs' sons to the courthouse. However, that one man band has spawned into a group of people wearing pro-Diddy gear. Podcaster Emilie Hagan took to the sidewalks surrounding the federal court to ask folks why they were so open about their support of the disgraced rap mogul. In one TikTok video, a woman claims she was offered $20 an hour to stand outside for a bit and wear a 'Free Diddy' shirt. 'He told me it's for a 'Diddy coin,' so I'm not really sure what that is. They just tried to pay me $20 to wear a 'Free Puffy' shirt. The lady right there just kept convincing me to wear the shirt, and I'm like, 'I'm good,' ' the woman said in the video. tiktok-7505165997121359135 Combs' rival, 50 Cent, even poked fun at the alleged paid protest, taking to social media to joke about making himself $20 to wear a 'Free Puff' shirt. In what looks like an A.I.-produced picture, the 'Many Men' artist wore the shirt with a straight face with the caption: 'He only made Cassie's mom take out a home equity loan to pay 20k for him to not put out sex tapes. Free itty bitty Diddy! LOL 😆 wait is that legal.' However, it's unclear if Combs is even behind the whole operation. What we do know is that $DIDDY coin does actually exist and is based on a Solana blockchain meme coin. After Combs' official X account promoted the coin, it skyrocketed to $181 million before crashing down to $37 million. The only person pushing the coin besides his sons, Justin and Christian, is Kanye West. The other disgraced rapper, who now goes by 'Ye,' support only lasted a little bit before the coin's value plummeted again. Combs' attorneys have not spoken on the matter nor how it may relate to gathering support for the rapper upon his ongoing trial. The Bad Boy Records CEO is facing charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and engaging in interstate transportation for prostitution against two anonymous victims as well as ex-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura. He has pleaded not guilty, and was denied bail. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Music Insiders Slam Live Nation's Trump Ally Board Appointee Amid DOJ Suit: 'It's Just So Obvious'
Live Nation's move to appoint Trump ally Richard Grenell to its board of directors caused a stir in the live music business this week, as several music executives who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter slammed the pick as a transactional move in the company's attempt to squash the monopoly lawsuit Live Nation faces against the Department of Justice. Grenell is a longtime Trump ally, previously serving as U.S. ambassador to Germany during Trump's first term, and he was appointed the interim executive director at the Kennedy Center after the president seized control of the Center back in February. The DOJ first sued Live Nation a year ago, claiming the company uses its dominance in concert promotion and in ticketing with Ticketmaster to stifle competition, calling to break up the company. More from The Hollywood Reporter "Diddy" Defense Team Minimizes Guns Found on His Property, Says Expert Witnesses Are "Dangerous" Warner Records' Tom Corson to Be Honored at 2025 City of Hope Spirit of Life Gala; Michael Bublé to Headline "Free Puff" T-Shirts Outside of Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial May Be Part of a Paid Protest 'It's not a shock to see this because it's obviously right in front of us,' says Gary Witt, president and CEO of Milwaukee-based Pabst Theater Group. 'Right in front of our very eyes you're watching a transaction take place where one group is trying to buy their way out of the DOJ and 40 state attorneys pursuing them.' The DOJ first sued Live Nation a year ago, claiming the company uses its dominance in concert promotion and in ticketing with Ticketmaster to stifle competition, calling to break up the company. Live Nation has consistently denied the DOJ's claims. Dan Wall, the company's executive vice president of corporate and regulatory affairs, wrote last year that the complaint misleads the public into thinking that ticket prices will be lower if something is done about Live Nation and Ticketmaster. DOJ is not helping consumers with their actual problems.' When asked for comment on the claims on Grenell's appointment, a Live Nation representative pointed THR to the company's announcement from Tuesday. 'We are pleased to welcome Ric to our Board,' Randall Mays, Live Nation Entertainment's chairman of the board, said in a statement Tuesday. 'His background will bring a valuable perspective as Live Nation continues to contribute to a growing live music industry around the globe.' A second music executive, who requested anonymity citing fear of retaliation from Live Nation, called Grenell's appointment 'the most thinly-veiled attempt to clash a legal proceeding that I've seen.' 'What expertise is he able to provide other than his access to Trump,' the executive says. 'What value does he provide? It's just so obvious. if he wasn't closely aligned with Trump, would they have ever picked him? If they didn't have a lawsuit filed by the DOJ would they have appointed him? The answer to both is likely no.' Grinell's appointment comes as the live music business has been looking for indications on how aggressively the Trump administration would pursue the Live Nation case it inherited from the Biden administration. Whether Grinell's appointment would have any impact on the case going forward isn't clear yet. 'Of course there's people who are thinking the case is finished now, but I think you can come to the opposite conclusion too,' says a policy expert who's followed the DOJ case closely, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the matter. 'You can just as easily argue Live Nation knows they're in trouble and is just increasingly desperate that they use this obvious ploy.' Aside from the civil suit, news broke last week that the DOJ is considering separate criminal charges against Live Nation and rival AEG over collusion allegations regarding their responses to refunds for pandemic-era concert cancellations. Live Nation denied the claims. 'We did not collude with AEG or anyone else,' Wall said last week. 'We are proud of our leadership during those trying times, and if any charges result from this investigation, we will defend them vigorously.' The appointment comes as Trump himself has grown increasingly combative with superstar artists online in recent days. After Bruce Springsteen criticized the Trump administration during a recent concert in the U.K., Trump sent a vaguely threatening message out on Truth Social, writing that Springsteen 'ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that's just 'standard fare'. Then we'll all see how it goes for him!' Earlier this week, Trump had called for a 'major investigation' into the appearances for artists like Springsteen, Beyoncé and Bono at Kamala Harris's presidential rallies. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Diddy' Defense Team Minimizes Guns Found on His Property, Says Expert Witnesses Are 'Dangerous'
Three more witnesses offered a variety of testimony on Wednesday at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' racketeering and sex trafficking trial, including an agent who raided his Miami home, a psychologist who has testified at several recent high-profile trials and one of the rap mogul's former assistants. Combs was arrested in September and, in a five-count indictment, is accused by federal prosecutors of two decades of abuse of women, trafficking of sex workers and turning his music and fashion empire into a criminal enterprise. At his trial, now in its third week, federal prosecutors are alleging that his crimes involved coercive control, manipulation, blackmail, drug use, marathon sex sessions and trafficking. Combs pleaded not guilty to multiple counts detailed in a federal indictment involving sex trafficking and racketeering; he continues to deny all allegations against him. More from The Hollywood Reporter Warner Records' Tom Corson to Be Honored at 2025 City of Hope Spirit of Life Gala; Michael Bublé to Headline "Free Puff" T-Shirts Outside of Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial May Be Part of a Paid Protest Chris Brown Freed on $6.7 Million Bail in Assault Case, U.K. Court Rules On Wednesday morning, Homeland Security Investigations Agent Gerard Gannon re-took the witness stand after his testimony closed out the day on Tuesday, where he had begun describing the March 2024 raid on Combs' Miami mansion. Gannon told the court how the 80-90 agents found assault rifles with serial numbers removed, loaded magazines and sex toys among the confiscated items during the raid. Gannon detailed the raid further on Wednesday, explaining how the agents found a cellphone stuffed inside a Balenciaga boot and a Gucci bag with a white residue inside; it later tested positive for cocaine and the dissociative drug ketamine. That bag also contained smaller bags of different colored pills that tested positive for MDMA and Xanax. Some of the MDMA pills were stamped with the Tesla logo, the jury learned. Inside a wooden box marked 'Puffy,' Gannon said that a white, rock-like substance was discovered. Working to minimize the seriousness of what was discovered in the raid in cross-examination, defense attorney Teny Geragos noted that the guns found at the property were taped up, so therefore not ready to be used and that there are many other ways to identify someone who used a gun other than the serial number, which had been removed. Gannon agreed to all of this and stepped down from the witness stand. The prosecution's next witness was Dawn Hughes, a clinical and forensic psychologist who has testified at recent major trials involving celebrities or sensational news stories: She spoke about the concept of gaslighting at NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere's 2019 trial and R. Kelly's racketeering and multiple charges related to sexual abuse and exploitation, where she told the jury about the notion of sexual entrapment. In 2022, millions watched her testimony at the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial. Hughes testified as to why certain victims might not leave their abuser, as the prosecution has said that for over a decade, Combs abused, manipulated and controlled Cassie Ventura, who, as the star witness, testified for 20 hours last week about their violent relationship. Hughes told the jury that at times a victim can feel trapped, may still feel a bond to their abuser and believe that leaving the relationship is far too difficult to do. Psychological, sexual, emotional and financial abuse can all be factors at play when a person chooses to stay with an abuser, she said. Defense attorneys then attempted to tear down Hughes' credibility, pointing out that she never evaluated the defendant or Ventura. Combs' attorney, Jonathan Bach, then asked Hughes if she had ever represented anyone accused of a sex crime. A long pause was felt across the courtroom after she said she had not: 'That's correct, I don't evaluate offenders,' Hughes said. It was also noted that the prosecution had paid Hughes $600 per hour for her time working with them on the case. At a point, Bach called Hughes and other expert witnesses 'dangerous,' as they entered the situation with 'an aura of authority.' Another assistant to Combs was the final witness of the day on Wednesday. George Kaplan, who worked for the mogul as his personal assistant from 2015-2016, detailed the tasks of his job, which included cleaning up hotel rooms after the 'freak-offs' Combs would throw there. Liquor bottles and baby oil often littered these rooms in New York, Miami and L.A. after Combs departed. Kaplan told the court that at one point, he found white powder near a sink in one of the rooms. Rapper Kid Cudi was expected to testify on Wednesday about his relationship with Ventura and an incident over a decade ago involving his car exploding. The court adjourned for the day without the rapper appearing; he is expected to be in court on Thursday to take the stand. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
People Are Being Paid to Wear ‘Free Diddy' Shirts Outside Courthouse
Someone's working very hard to create an image of public support around Sean 'Diddy' Combs, according to a bystander who told the Daily Beast she was offered $20 cash to wear a 'Free $Diddy' shirt outside the court where he's standing trial. Sali Coulibaly, a 29-year-old tech project manager, was standing outside the U.S. District Court in New York's Southern District on Friday, watching the public gathering attracted by Combs' ongoing sex trafficking trial, when she said she came across a strange sight. 'I saw a group of [people] awkwardly standing outside of the playground across the street from the courthouse,' Coulibaly told the Daily Beast of the moment she spotted several clumped together strangers wearing 'Free $Diddy' and 'Free Puff' t-shirts. 'I was wondering why they were wearing those shirts,' she continued. 'I was curious. I crossed the street, and I'm standing there with my phone out, and then this older lady is staring at me. She's just staring at me for a period of time. Then she tells me, 'Do you want to come out here and wear a shirt for $20 an hour?'' The woman then motioned over to a younger man and told her, ''Just go to that guy. If you're already standing out here, you may as well get paid.'' A video of Coulibaly posted by freelance journalist Emilie Hagen went viral Friday, racking up millions of views. Rapper 50 Cent was among those who reposted it during his latest Diddy trolling session over the weekend. 'Diddy paying people to wear Free Diddy shirts is diabolical, but $20 an hour ain't bad,' he quipped. Who exactly is paying the bystanders to don the paraphernalia remains unclear. But drumming up the appearance of support is reminiscent of Combs' early days as a musician and producer—when he and others of the 'mixtape generation' would pay people to buy up his mixtapes, generating hype for a new music release. Coulibaly told the Daily Beast that most if not all the paid protesters outside Combs' trial appeared to her to be unhoused. At least one seemed to be on 'drugs or something, since he just kind of looked like he didn't know where he was.' She continued to observe the situation, noticing that a more coordinated version of the t-shirt operation seemed to be underway in the park near the courthouse. 'I went inside the park and I see the young man that was giving away the shirts, was sitting on the bench with maybe a bag or a box-full,' she said. 'And I can see a group of [people] were changing in the park. He was asking for their sizes.' An investigation by Hagen uncovered that the shirts promote $DIDDY coin, the growing internet currency token representing Combs' media moment—and thus, may be more of a cash grab than an ego boost for Combs. Even though Combs' camp denied involvement with the t-shirts, according to Hagen, his X account did at one point promote the $DIDDY crypto currency. 20 dollars a head seems to be motivation enough for the people milling around the courthouse to keep the shirt gambit going for now, whatever its endgame may be. 'She was very persistent, like she just wanted me to wear it so bad,' Coulibaly added of the woman who approached her. 'I just walked away.' Combs hopes to do the same, now that he's turned down a plea deal to face the federal charges against him and risk spending the rest of his life in prison. After his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura has finished her bombshell testimony, Combs' lawyers are hard at work to defend him from more state-presented evidence that he coerced mass numbers of victims into sexual activity through threats, blackmail, and violence. Combs has consistently denied all charges.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean Combs Trial: Celeb Names, Nerves and a Delayed Jury
Sean 'Diddy' Combs admitted he was a 'little nervous' in the run-up to his criminal trial, as the hip-hop mogul looked into the eyes of the potential jurors who will render a verdict on the sex trafficking and racketeering charges against him. The Bad Boy Entertainment founder made the confession to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian earlier this week after his team asked for a quick bathroom break during the first day of questioning potential jurors on their backgrounds. More from Rolling Stone Menendez Brothers: Resentencing Hearing Back On After Courtroom Showdown Jury Selection in Sean Combs Trial Delayed Lil Durk Denied Bail, Accused of Using Phone Accounts of 13 Other Inmates Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York have claimed that for decades, Combs used his billion-dollar empire as a criminal enterprise that included acts of arson, bribery, kidnapping and the sex trafficking of two girlfriends between 2009 and 2024. Combs has denied the accusations and pleaded not guilty to the five felony charges against him. Combs has forged ahead with a speedy trial, rejecting a plea deal from prosecutors disclosed last month. He's beefed up his already stacked criminal defense team, adding three more attorneys to his all-star roster, including Young Thug's attorney Brian Steel, who helped secure the Atlanta rapper a favorable deal in a separate RICO case last October. Detained without bail since his September arrest, Combs has undergone a drastic change in appearance. The 55-year-old's hair is completely grey and he sports a matching goatee. Instead of his usually perfectly-tailored power suits, imposing dark sunglasses and heavy diamond accessories, Combs only has access to five button-down shirts, five pants, five sweaters, and two laceless dress shoes. Standing up in court, Combs' slacks slightly sagged because he's unable to wear a belt, as it could be used as a potential weapon. But despite his initial nerves, Combs appeared to be in good spirits throughout the week. He hugged and chatted with his attorneys and waved to his self-described 'godbrother,' music producer Charlucci Finney, who arrived at court wearing a 'Free Puff' hoodie. Here are the main highlights from this week's jury selection: Final Jury Selection Delayed After prosecutors and Combs' defense team agreed to meet Friday morning to whittle the remaining 43 jurors down to 12 jurors and six alternates, the final section was postponed until Monday morning. Both Judge Subramanian and Combs' lawyers expressed concern that some jurors could get 'cold feet' over the weekend and would ask to be excused from the high-profile celebrity case. Both sides will select the final jury members on Monday before immediately delivering opening arguments. Combs was actively involved in the jury selection process, whispering and conferring with his attorneys. He shook his head in disapproval when a potential juror admitted to watching a recent documentary about him, laughed when one man admitted he'd struggle going the full trial without using marijuana, and nodded when he approved of certain people, including a 30-year-old woman who was arrested for shoplifting a wand from Harry Potter World. Celebrity Names Usually an uneventful process, jury selection made headlines within the first few minutes of the first juror sitting down. Before potential jurors entered the courtroom, they were given a lengthy list of names, entities and places that may be mentioned in the trial. Jurors were asked to review the list in case they had a personal connection to the person, company, or venue. The first juror told Judge Subramanian that he recognized Michael B. Jordan and Mike Myers from the list, later clarifying he didn't know the actors personally, only that they were famous. Throughout the day, jurors continually mentioned they recognized Jordan's name. Rolling Stone confirmed that Jordan will not be called as a witness in the trial. Rolling Stone also learned that Jordan and Combs' ex-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura spent time together in 2015 and he's referenced in Ventura's November 2023 lawsuit against Combs. During a break in Combs' relationship with the R&B singer, Ventura 'began a flirtatious relationship with an actor' — now revealed to be Jordan — in 2015, according to her lawsuit. When Combs found out, he allegedly 'called the actor and threatened him.' 'The actor proceeded to call Ms. Ventura and tell her, 'you really need to call [Mr. Combs],'' Ventura's lawsuit alleged. (A rep for Jordan declined to comment on the record. Combs previously denied accusations in Ventura's lawsuit, which was settled within a day of its filing.) Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Yung Miami, Destiny Child's Michelle Williams, actress Lauren London, songwriter Dallas Austin, former Bad Boy Entertainment CEO Harve Pierre, and Danity Kane's Aubrey O'Day and Dawn Richard were also mentioned, though it's unclear what role, if any, the notable names may play in the trial. (Kid Cudi, Richard and O'Day have already been tied to accusations and lawsuits involving Combs.) 'A Damning Piece of Evidence' It was nearly impossible to find jurors who hadn't seen or read some news regarding Combs and his criminal case. Even those who said they don't typically follow celebrity news said they had been exposed to reports through a TMZ-obsessed spouse, group chats with friends, doom scrolling on social media, and 'water cooler talk' among colleagues. At least two potential jurors admitted they reacted on social media to memes about Combs, with one woman saying she had liked a post of a comedian joking about the dozens of bottles of baby oil found in Combs' homes that were allegedly used during freak-offs. When pressed by both prosecutors and Combs' defense team on what exactly they had heard or read about the case, many jurors said they'd seen hotel surveillance video footage of Combs attacking Ventura in 2016. One prospective juror described it as a 'damning piece of evidence' before she was struck from the pool for cause. The video is expected to play a dominant role during the trial. Combs' lead defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said it was the 'most important' piece of evidence and objected to potential jurors who had seen the video and formed a negative opinion about Combs from it. Yet all jurors who will be sworn in on Monday told the court they could put everything they might have heard about the case out of mind and be unbiased as they listened to the government's evidence against Combs. 'Victim-3' M.I.A. Combs secured a last-minute win when prosecutors said they no longer planned to present certain evidence related to a woman identified as Victim-3 in the indictment. Earlier this year, Combs filed a motion to preclude some of that evidence from trial, arguing it 'has no bearing on the charged offenses.' It's unclear the exact scope of Victim-3's role in the case. However, she was mentioned in January's superseding indictment under the transportation to engage in prostitution charge. Prosecutors also claimed that Victim-3's experience fell under the racketeering count and that Combs allegedly coerced her into sexual acts. This week, prosecutors flagged to the judge that despite Victim-3 saying she would testify under her real name, they were suddenly having trouble getting in touch with the woman, as well as her lawyer. It's still unclear whether Victim-3 will testify in court. Judge Scolds and Cracks Jokes Subramanian did his best to keep the atmosphere light, cracking jokes and riffing with potential jurors. When one juror said she was arrested for shoplifting from Harry Potter World, an amused Subramanian asked what she had taken. 'A wand,' she replied. Subramanian took a more serious tone when he scolded Combs' defense team after prosecutors complained about comments that celebrity attorney Mark Geragos made on his podcast 2 Angry Men with TMZ's Harvey Levin. Geragos — whose daughter Teny is co-lead counsel for Combs — has not formally entered the criminal case, but is said to be advising Combs. During the podcast episode, Geragos said the prosecutorial team — six women — seemed like they were 'prosecuting a cause.' During a private conversation on Tuesday, Subramanian admonished Geragos, warning him against making further similar comments. 'I think referring to the prosecution in this case as a 'six-pack of white women' is outrageous,' Subramanian said, according to a transcript obtained by the New York Post. 'This would not be tolerated in any court from any lawyer anywhere across the nation.' Subramanian warned that he'd continue to listen to the podcast in case Geragos made any other incendiary remarks, but Geragos was unbothered. 'As long as you subscribe, I'm all for it,' Geragos responded. The Week Ahead Following the conclusion of jury selection first thing Monday morning, opening statements will kick off what is expected to be an intensive eight-week trial. During the first week, days will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., before being shortened to 3 p.m. in the following weeks. Prosecutors have not disclosed the names of witnesses who will be testifying, but they did inform the court they were expecting to put 'two short witnesses' on the stand first, with one of those witnesses described as a male escort. A third 'time-sensitive' witness will follow and their testimony is expected to take up the remainder of the first week. It's unconfirmed who the third witness is, but prosecutors have built a significant portion of their case around Victim-1 a.k.a. Ventura, who is several months along in her third pregnancy. Ventura's bombshell sex trafficking lawsuit against Combs from November 2023 served as a roadmap for prosecutors, with many incidents alleged in her lawsuit being mirrored in the indictment. She alleged that throughout her decade-long relationship with Combs, he was controlling and physically abusive. She claimed Combs forced her to have sex with male sex workers in days-long, sexually-fuelled encounters that Combs called 'freak-offs.' Combs denied Ventura's accusations and quickly settled the lawsuit within 24 hours. Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
