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Business Insider
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Altoids, K-Pop, and a Harry Potter wand: The strangest moments of Diddy jury selection
There are moments of anguish. And a surprising amount of laughter. Throughout the week, a random assortment of New Yorkers filed in and out of a federal courtroom in Manhattan after receiving juror summonses for USA v Sean Combs. Each prospective juror — nearly 100 people, with doctors, school teachers, clerks, and retirees among them — was warned that the eight-week trial would involve evidence of alleged sexual trafficking and violence. They've all also been asked to describe any personal trauma that could trigger a bias against the rapper, who has maintained his innocence. "It takes a lot of healing," one woman told the judge of being nearly raped three years ago by a stranger in the Bronx. Despite these harrowing moments — and the potential life sentence hanging over the millionaire music mogul — there have also been many moments of levity during jury selection, which is expected to conclude Friday. Laughter has broken out in the otherwise somber courtroom more than a dozen times, including from Combs himself. Here are some of those lighter moments. A Tolkien gesture "I read through the people and places list, which is several pages long," US District Judge Arun Subramanian told the parties before the first 30 prospective jurors filed into his courtroom Monday. "I felt like I was reading an appendix from, like, 'The Lord of the Rings, cracked Subramanian, who is presiding over the trial. The judge was referencing a printed list of more than 200 names that was handed to each prospect. It includes every name that may be referenced during the trial, Kanye West and Kid Cudi among them. The list includes stumpers, such as "Mike Myers." Four people close to the trial — who were not allowed to comment by name — were unable to confirm if this was the actor of Shrek and Austin Powers fame. One thought it "probably" was, but could not describe the context. No Altoids for you During a break in jury selection Monday, Combs' jury selection consultant, Linda Moreno, was returning to her seat at the defense table directly in front of Combs' seat. Combs gestured at the little tin of Altoids she carried, as if to ask for a mint. Moreno began opening the tin. Then her eyes met those of two federal marshals who sat directly behind Combs. The marshals slowly shook their heads, "No," in unison, the tin remained shut, and Moreno took her seat again. Harry Potter and the purloined merch Each prospective juror is asked whether they or any significant person in their life has had any contact with law enforcement. On Monday, this question prompted a former parochial school teacher from the Bronx to admit to her juvenile shoplifting record. "Um, I was at Universal Studios," she began. "I think I was in Harry Potter World. So, they took me to the back and, um, they kind of, like, put me through all the process." She was 16, and a lawyer eventually got the case reduced to "just a fine," she told the judge with an embarrassed-sounding laugh. Many of the defense lawyers and prosecutors couldn't resist smiling. Combs, too, smiled. Then the judge broached the question on everyone's mind. "OK," he asked, as if eliciting a formal confession. "What did you take?" "A wand," she answered. As of Wednesday, the woman remained a contender for the jury. Juror No. 420 "I'm going to order you not to use marijuana during this trial," the judge told a prospective juror who works as a landlord in the Bronx — and who said he partakes nightly. "Are you going to be able to follow that instruction?" As smiles flickered through the courtroom, the judge probed further, asking, "Would that be hard for you?" Yes," came the answer from the witness box. "It would be?" the judge pressed. "Yep." The prospective juror was excused from service. The 51-year-old K-Pop stan Prospective jurors were told to avoid media reports about Combs' case and inform the judge if they had heard anything about it. One 51-year-old nurse practitioner said she had. "I became aware because this is my second day, so you told us about the case," she told the judge. The room erupted in laughter. The woman later said that her media diet consisted almost exclusively of nurse practitioner trade publications. She also listens to rock and hip-hop, and appears to be a member of the BTS Army. "I'm actively watching the concert of the group called BTS, or Bangtan Boys," she said. The judge's pal Subramanian had the chance to bask in the praise of one prospective juror, an attorney who said he had personally known the judge for a decade. The prospective juror said the two had worked together on class-action cases. (Before becoming a federal judge in 2023, Subramanian was an attorney at Susman Godfrey, where he was involved in numerous antitrust cases.) "He is fair, he is gregarious, he is decent, and he's brilliant," he said, ladling plaudits upon the judge. "But we have not always agreed on everything." Subramanian ultimately dismissed him. The guy who skipped questions because he was tired after binge-watching 'Andor' The courtroom was enraptured by one prospective juror, a 64-year-old Black man who works as an X-Ray technician. He recounted past interactions with law enforcement, including the time he once "got into a scuffle" after a misunderstanding in a laundromat, and another occasion where a police officer accused him of failing to be helpful. Subramanian said the man appeared to have omitted details on his written questionnaire. Asked about it, the prospective juror said he was tired because he had sleep apnea and was up late binge-watching "Andor," the new "Star Wars" show on Disney+. "What are you going to do when you are selected as a juror and not be able to binge 'Andor?'" Subramanian asked. "It's finished, I'm finished with it," the prospective juror assured the judge. Subramanian moved him along to the next round. Diddy's jailer One of the last prospective jurors was on the stand for a short time after explaining where he worked. "I work at MDC Brooklyn," he said, referring to the federal jail where Combs is incarcerated. There was an awkward pause in the courtroom as everyone digested what he had just said. And then laughter. "Can we get longer visiting hours?" Agnifilo asked. "Are you in charge of that?" Subramanian asked the 20-something-year-old prospective juror, who was wearing a green hoodie. "Nope," the prospective juror answered. He was dismissed for cause.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
I relate to Hermione Granger the most in Harry Potter films: Aarohi
Aarohi Patel, a Potterhead Ask Aarohi if she is still a Potterhead and she quips, "Always" (like Professor Severus Snape). On International Harry Potter Day , the Udan Chhoo actor tells us why she loves Harry Potter films , how she is trying to turn her husband (actor Tatsat Munshi) into a Potterhead and more. 'I saw the first Harry Potter film in 2008 and the rest is history' Aarohi turned into a Potterhead in 2008, thanks to her younger sister Sanjanaa. She says, 'Sanjanaa is a big Potterhead, and she insisted that I must watch the movies. In 2008, I saw the first film and the rest is history. Usually, I prefer reading a book before watching a film based on it. However, I watched the Harry Potter movies first and read the books later. I love everything about it, but I still feel reading the books before watching the movies would have been better, as it would have allowed me to build my own Hogwarts or looks of the characters.' Aarohi's favourite book and movie is Deathly Hallows She adds, 'Every year, my sister and I have a Harry Potter marathon during winter, with cups of hot chocolate. It is like a tradition for us.' 'Hermione Granger is my favourite character' While she loves all the characters, Aarohi relates to Hermione Granger the most. She says, 'She is my favourite character because I relate to her completely. In school, I was a first bencher too, who memorised all the answers and raised my hand all the time to answer questions (laughs). Also, I like Emma Watson (who played Hermione Granger).' Aarohi believes every character in the series has their own amazing journey. She says, 'I feel the books and the films are brilliant. We enjoyed them as children and continue doing so even today. Every character from the first part to the last one has its own journey, and each of them stays with us.' She adds, "I don't have high expectations from the reboot series, reports say it will follow the books closely, so I have my fingers crossed. But nothing will ever match the charm of the original movies." 'I told Tatsat he has to watch Harry Potter films, it's non-negotiable' Aarohi, who married Tatsat Munshi last year, says not knowing anything about the Harry Potter world was 'not acceptable to me.' She laughs, 'I told Tatsat that to be 'happily married' to me, he has to watch the films, it is non-negotiable. I am glad he is watching them and enjoying it too. We are going to London in June for my sister's convocation and we will visit the Harry Potter World ( Harry Potter Studio Tour ) and places like Elephant House café in Edinburgh, where JK Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book. I am preparing him for that too (smiles). I really want to try Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans , apart from Butterbeer, pumpkin pasties and treacle tarts' Accio Rapid Fire Round! · Favourite book/movie? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows · Favourite spell? Alohomora (spell to unlock doors and open locks) · The Hogwarts House you belong to? Gryffindor, in every manner · Which D-Town actors will play these characters best? - Harry Potter: Pratik Gandhi - Hermione Granger: Obviously, me! - Ron Weasley: Mallhar or Mitra Gadhvi - Albus Dumbledore: Siddharth Randeria - Professor Snape: Abhinay Banker or Jayesh More - Professor McGonagall: Gopi Desai - Hagrid: Deven Bhojani
