Latest news with #I'llBeMissingYou
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ex-assistant to Mike Myers describes a 'toxic' work environment at the same job under Diddy
An ex-assistant of Sean "Diddy" Combs testified that the mogul sexually assaulted and abused her. The witness described a "toxic" work environment while on the stand in Combs' criminal trial. She also said she saw Combs attack Cassie Ventura, the prosecution's star witness. Working for Sean "Diddy" Combs was "chaotic," "toxic," yet also "exciting," according to an ex-assistant who testified on Thursday that she was sexually assaulted and physically beaten by the hip-hop mogul. "The highs were really high and the lows were really low," a government witness using the pseudonym "Mia" told the Manhattan jury at Combs' sex-trafficking and racketeering trial. Mia — who said she was actor Mike Myers' personal assistant before she started working as Combs' PA in 2009, at the age of about 25 — told the jury that Combs was violent with her. "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 slammed my arm into a door, and he also, um, sexually assaulted me," Mia testified. Mia told the jury that during her hiring interview at Combs' home, the music tycoon and "I'll Be Missing You" rapper answered the door "in his underwear." She said she was ultimately hired by Combs at a base salary of $50,000. Mia told jurors that she was warned during her interview that the job involved long hours, but that the schedule was more grueling than she anticipated. She testified that she once worked for five days without sleep and that the Adderall she took for her ADHD helped her to stay awake. "I had a physical breakdown," Mia testified, describing her exhaustion. "I felt like I was underwater, and I felt like I was seeing things." "I burst into tears like hysterical," Mia said, adding that Combs, at that point, told her she could finally sleep. During her testimony, Mia was asked by a prosecutor to read aloud from a Nov. 10, 2011, email, in which she had described the duties of a personal assistant to other Combs staffers. The email said the duties included "everything from cracking his knuckles to doing his taxes to writing his next movie." "PROTECT HIM AT ALL TIMES," the email said in capital letters. Mia said she worked as Combs' personal assistant from 2009 to 2011 and then worked for Revolt Films, the media company Combs founded, between 2011 and 2017. She also told the jury that Combs was "abusive" to R&B singer Cassie Ventura, his ex-girlfriend and the prosecution's star witness who testified during the trial's first week. Prosecutors allege that for two decades, Combs led a criminal enterprise that involved the sex trafficking of Ventura and another woman. "I've seen him attack her. I've seen him throw her on the ground, I've seen him, um, crack her head open. I've seen him chase her. Things like that," Mia testified, referring to Combs and Ventura. Mia is the third witness to describe a brutal 2013 beating at Ventura's Los Angeles home that left Ventura with a deep gash to her left eyebrow. The injury required a rushed trip to an off-duty plastic surgeon and multiple stitches. Ventura told jurors during her testimony that Combs beat her that day for oversleeping. On Thursday, Mia described Combs throwing her against the wall when she and stylist Deonte Nash tried to intercede. "He threw me against the wall so quick and so easily, um, I realized we were in real danger," Mia testified, her head bowed and her voice quiet. "His eyes were black," Mia remembered, as Combs picked Ventura up and flung her, face first, into the sharp wooden corner of Ventura's platform bed. Mia is the fourth former PA of Combs to take the witness stand in his criminal trial so far. The ex-assistants have all described being berated, cursed at, and forced to work extremely long hours. The long hours are key to the racketeering charge against Combs, which includes an underlying accusation of forced labor. If convicted of the sex trafficking and racketeering charges against him, Combs could face up to life in prison. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Ex-assistant to Mike Myers describes a 'toxic' work environment at the same job under Diddy
Working for Sean "Diddy" Combs was "chaotic," "toxic," yet also "exciting," according to an ex-assistant who testified on Thursday that she was sexually assaulted and physically beaten by the hip-hop mogul. "The highs were really high and the lows were really low," a government witness using the pseudonym "Mia" told the Manhattan jury at Combs' sex-trafficking and racketeering trial. Mia — who said she was actor Mike Myers' personal assistant before she started working as Combs' PA in 2009, at the age of about 25 — told the jury that Combs was violent with her. "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 slammed my arm into a door, and he also, um, sexually assaulted me," Mia testified. Mia told the jury that during her hiring interview at Combs' home, the music tycoon and "I'll Be Missing You" rapper answered the door "in his underwear." She said she was ultimately hired by Combs at a base salary of $50,000. Mia told jurors that she was warned during her interview that the job involved long hours, but that the schedule was more grueling than she anticipated. She testified that she once worked for five days without sleep and that the Adderall she took for her ADHD helped her to stay awake. "I had a physical breakdown," Mia testified, describing her exhaustion. "I felt like I was underwater, and I felt like I was seeing things." "I burst into tears like hysterical," Mia said, adding that Combs, at that point, told her she could finally sleep. PA duties included 'cracking his knuckles,' she said During her testimony, Mia was asked by a prosecutor to read aloud from a Nov. 10, 2011, email, in which she had described the duties of a personal assistant to other Combs staffers. The email said the duties included "everything from cracking his knuckles to doing his taxes to writing his next movie." "PROTECT HIM AT ALL TIMES," the email said in capital letters. Mia said she worked as Combs' personal assistant from 2009 to 2011 and then worked for Revolt Films, the media company Combs founded, between 2011 and 2017. She also told the jury that Combs was "abusive" to R&B singer Cassie Ventura, his ex-girlfriend and the prosecution's star witness who testified during the trial's first week. Prosecutors allege that for two decades, Combs led a criminal enterprise that involved the sex trafficking of Ventura and another woman. "I've seen him attack her. I've seen him throw her on the ground, I've seen him, um, crack her head open. I've seen him chase her. Things like that," Mia testified, referring to Combs and Ventura. Mia is the third witness to describe a brutal 2013 beating at Ventura's Los Angeles home that left Ventura with a deep gash to her left eyebrow. The injury required a rushed trip to an off-duty plastic surgeon and multiple stitches. Ventura told jurors during her testimony that Combs beat her that day for oversleeping. On Thursday, Mia described Combs throwing her against the wall when she and stylist Deonte Nash tried to intercede. "He threw me against the wall so quick and so easily, um, I realized we were in real danger," Mia testified, her head bowed and her voice quiet. "His eyes were black," Mia remembered, as Combs picked Ventura up and flung her, face first, into the sharp wooden corner of Ventura's platform bed. Mia is the fourth former PA of Combs to take the witness stand in his criminal trial so far. The ex-assistants have all described being berated, cursed at, and forced to work extremely long hours. The long hours are key to the racketeering charge against Combs, which includes an underlying accusation of forced labor. If convicted of the sex trafficking and racketeering charges against him, Combs could face up to life in prison.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cassie Ventura rushed to labor and delivery unit of NYC hospital two weeks after grueling Diddy trial testimony: reports
Cassie Ventura was reportedly rushed to the labor and delivery unit of a New York City hospital Tuesday — just two weeks after the pregnant R&B singer testified in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial in Manhattan. The 'Me & U' singer, who is expecting her third child, was admitted to the unit earlier in the day and may be experiencing complications, sources told TMZ. It wasn't immediately clear which hospital was overseeing Ventura's care. The married mom-of-two is the star witness in the Bad Boy Records founder's explosive federal trial, where the disgraced former mogul faces charges for sex trafficking, racketeering and fraud. Ventura, 38, was eight months pregnant when she spent four days in federal court recounting in painstaking detail the alleged rape, coerced sex, beatings and other horrors she endured at the hands of the embattled producer during their on-again, off-again relationship between 2007 and 2018. During the high-profile trial, she alleged the rapper forced her to participate in his twisted 'freak-offs.' She also told jurors the 'I'll Be Missing You' artist violently beat her throughout their tumultuous relationship and allegedly raped her following their 2018 break-up. Ventura broke down on the stand as she spoke about going to rehab and undergoing trauma therapy after years of allegedly enduring horrific abuse from Combs, who is 17 years her senior. Her husband and father of her children, Alex Fine, was present in the courtroom during her emotionally charged testimony. Following her final day on the stand, Ventura released a statement calling her grueling four days of testimony 'extremely challenging' but also 'remarkably empowering and healing for me.' 'I hope that my testimony has given strength and a voice to other survivors, and can help others who have suffered to speak up and also heal from the abuse and fear,' she said. 'I'm glad to put this chapter of my life to rest. As I turn to focus on the conclusion of my pregnancy, I ask for privacy for me and my growing family.' Combs, 55, is accused of trafficking women for sex during the 'freak-offs' and other serious crimes. He has pleaded not guilty and faces life in prison if convicted.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Cassie Ventura rushed to labor and delivery unit of NYC hospital two weeks after grueling Diddy trial testimony: reports
Cassie Ventura was reportedly rushed to the labor and delivery unit of a New York City hospital Tuesday — just two weeks after the pregnant R&B singer testified in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial in Manhattan. The 'Me & U' singer, who is expecting her third child, was admitted to the unit earlier in the day and may be experiencing complications, sources told TMZ. It wasn't immediately clear which hospital was overseeing Ventura's care. Advertisement 4 A pregnant Cassie Ventura leaving the West Village to appear in Manhattan federal court two weeks ago. William Farrington The married mom-of-two is the star witness in the Bad Boy Records founder's explosive federal trial, where the disgraced former mogul faces charges for sex trafficking, racketeering and fraud. Ventura, 38, was eight months pregnant when she spent four days in federal court recounting in painstaking detail the alleged rape, coerced sex, beatings and other horrors she endured at the hands of the embattled producer during their on-again, off-again relationship between 2007 and 2018. Advertisement During the high-profile trial, she alleged the rapper forced her to participate in his twisted 'freak-offs.' 4 Ventura was eight months pregnant when she took the stand for four grueling days in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' high-profile trial. AP She also told jurors the 'I'll Be Missing You' artist violently beat her throughout their tumultuous relationship and allegedly raped her following their 2018 break-up. Ventura broke down on the stand as she spoke about going to rehab and undergoing trauma therapy after years of allegedly enduring horrific abuse from Combs, who is 17 years her senior. Advertisement 4 Video surveillance grabs show Ventura being dragged down by Combs during a 2016 hotel attack. U.S. Attorneys SDNY Her husband and father of her children, Alex Fine, was present in the courtroom during her emotionally charged testimony. Following her final day on the stand, Ventura released a statement calling her grueling four days of testimony 'extremely challenging' but also 'remarkably empowering and healing for me.' 'I hope that my testimony has given strength and a voice to other survivors, and can help others who have suffered to speak up and also heal from the abuse and fear,' she said. Advertisement 4 Ventura, 38, recounted in painstaking detail the alleged rape and abuse she suffered at the hands of Combs between 2007 and 2018. REUTERS 'I'm glad to put this chapter of my life to rest. As I turn to focus on the conclusion of my pregnancy, I ask for privacy for me and my growing family.' Combs, 55, is accused of trafficking women for sex during the 'freak-offs' and other serious crimes. He has pleaded not guilty and faces life in prison if convicted.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
50 Cent Mocks Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Tough Guy Talk As Ex-Aide Details Bad Blood Between Duo In Trial Testimony
50 Cent isn't scheduled to testify in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex-trafficking trial, but the Power franchise executive producer captured the courtroom spotlight today with a well executed swipe at his long time nemesis. Coming off the Memorial Day long weekend, Tuesday morning saw former Diddy aide Capricorn Clark on the stand for the prosecution with insider intel on the alleged violence, threats, polygraph tests, and dual kidnappings the witness said she experienced over her various stints working for the 'I'll Be Missing You' performer. More from Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds "What The F*ck": Kid Cudi Responds At Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial To Torched Porsche & Other Threats From "Supervillain" Over Dating Cassie Ventura Kid Cudi To Testify Thursday In Sean "Diddy" Combs' Sex-Trafficking Trial About Threats Against Him & Cassie Ventura Expected to last at least another six to seven weeks, the criminal trial of the much-accused and currently incarcerated Combs follows his arrest last September on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and more. The 55-year-old Combs faces the rest of his life behind bars in federal prison if found guilty by the jury in this case. Sometimes overcome with emotion and with a blue sweater wearing Combs sitting near-by in Judge Arun Subramanian's lower Manhattan courtroom, Clark also detailed for the jury the multiple beatings she says she saw Diddy unleash on his on-and-off girlfriend Cassie Ventura over the years. Additionally, in one more piece of the prosecution's often plodding building of the criminal case, Clark spoke of her then jealous boss Combs' car burning and home invading beef with Kid Cudi. More acutely she noted unfulfilled vows by Combs to 'kill' Kid Cudi at one point while the acclaimed rapper was briefly involved with Ventura in 2011. As anyone who knows hip hops knows, Kid Cudi wasn't the only rapper Combs and his firearm carrying posse had tensions with. Former personal assistant Clark told the 12-person jury Tuesday that Combs told her he 'had an issue with 50 Cent.' Now, with Combs and the 'In Da Club' performer born Curtis Jackson having tossed verbal and social media grenades at each other for years and years, any issue between the two is old news. What was revealed today was that Combs took those issues a little bit harder than was previously suggested. Under oath, Clark said Tuesday that after a MTV event with 50 Cent in attendance a few years back, she heard Combs tell his then manager, the now deceased Chris Lighty that he had problems with the often provocative Jackson. 'I don't like all the back and forth,' Clark said an irritated Combs remarked off the event with 50. 'I don't do that, I like guns,' she says Diddy went on to tell Lighty, in what Clark took as both a threat and a reference to the near fatal shooting (as dramatically depicted in the Jim Sheridan directed 2005 movie Get Rich or Die Tryin') the then unknown 50 suffered in May 2000 in Queens, NY over a drug deal. Never one to miss an opportunity to mock Diddy or produce a critical documentary about him, 50 Cent went online today not long after Clark, who worked for the Den of Thieves star too at one point, told the story on the stand. 'Wait a minute PUFFY's got a gun, I can't believe this I don't feel safe,' a sarcastic 50 posted on his Instagram Tuesday morning. 'LOL,' he added, sticking it to Diddy. Neither Combs nor his lawyers have addressed the 50 Cent story Clark told today, at least not yet. Entering a not guilty plea last year in this criminal trial, Combs, as he has in the dozens and dozens of cases against him, including the quickly settled ($20 million) civil abuse and assault action by Ventura in November 2023, says he did nothing wrong. In fact, as his defense pitched in their opening statement on May 12, while the baby oil lathered 'freak-offs' and more that were part of a swinger and voyeuristic fueled lifestyle may come across as unseemly to some, everything was consensual between adults. To that, Combs and his team basically assert the feds are simply prudes with subpoena powers. Going into explicit, often embarrassing and frequently harrowing recollections of her 2007 to 2018 relationship with the admitted domestic violence abuse Combs, a very very pregnant Ventura was the star witness for Week 1 of the May 12 starting trial. Amidst testimony from some male sex workers who participated for cash in the drug juiced and often filmed 'freak-offs' Combs supposedly strong-armed Ventura into under ultimatums of leaking those videos and more beatings, the 'Me & U' singer's mother also was in the witness box, as was Kid Cudi a.k.a. Scott Mescudi himself. Under concerns about safety, the feds are keeping their witness list close to the chest, but we know various LA and NYC law enforcement officials are anticipated to testify this week. One individual who will almost certainly not be testifying in the trial is the much-vaulted and much discussed Victim-3. A key component of the prosecution's case, the former Combs girlfriend going under the moniker 'Gina' was supposed to take the stand to go in-depth on the abuse and criminal activity she suffered and saw from Combs. Problem is about a week before the trial started, the prosecution admitted to Judge Subramanian and the defense team during jury selection that they were suddenly not able to get in touch with the out of state Victim-3 not her attorney. With a looming risk of the 10-lawyer deep Marc Agnifilo, Teny Geragos and Brian Steel-led defense maybe choosing to move for a mistrial, the government worked to get Victim-3/Gina in court. Put on the shelf for the judge, though not forgotten by the defense if needed for an appeal, the status of Victim-3 has now become clearer. At this point, she will not be a part of the prosecution's case – – which will cause fallout no matter what side of the matter you are on. Another potential problem for the prosecution is the convoluted realities of Combs' business world and personal life and the control the deep pocketed Bad Boy Records founder had over his employees, label signings and lovers – some of which like Ventura were the same people. As Clark made obvious today with her own settlement with her ex-boss and an attempt as recently as a year ago to work for him again, black and white moral judgements were rare in Diddyland. A fact that appears, at this stage, to hinder the government's intention to establish that Combs created a criminal racketeering enterprise and a conspiracy. Over the past two weeks, the prosecution has been laying a foundation for its case, but very slowly and meticulously – one could even say mind-numbing. If the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York really believes, as they indicated today, they'll wrap up their case a week early, they might want to step it up a notch or two to seal the deal with the jury. No matter the strategy, time is of the essence. Judge Subramanian has set court to run daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET. and promised jurors they will be done before the July 4th holiday. Best of Deadline 'Hacks' Season 4 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? Everything We Know About 'Hacks' Season 4 So Far 'The Last Of Us': Differences Between HBO Series & Video Game Across Seasons 1 And 2
