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Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy Accusers Speak Up After Hearing Of His Plans To Counsel Abusers: 'Utterly Preposterous'
Diddy is working hard to get out of spending any more time in jail than necessary, and he is seemingly willing to try anything, even if it is ill-advised. The 55-year-old entrepreneur hopes to counsel abusers, which has prompted his accusers to speak out against such an act. Alexandra Shapiro, one of the controversial mogul's trial lawyers, spoke to Business Insider about his plans of becoming an anti-domestic violence counselor. 'That's something that he actively wants to pursue in the future,' she said. 'The idea is that he would work with programs and be able to go in and talk to people, talk to youth, talk to others about the issue in a proactive way and be an advocate for this. And sometimes, people like him can be the best spokesperson to try to help.' Again, this doesn't appear to be entirely selfless or noble, as these plans are part of his attempt to get time served for his two convictions of transportation to engage in prostitution. His alleged victims and their teams held nothing back in sharing their thoughts on his plans. 'This is utterly preposterous,' Douglas Wigdor, Cassie's attorney, told Rolling Stone. 'How are you going to counsel someone else when you haven't done the work on yourself?' another source, who was allegedly physically assaulted by the controversial mogul in 2010, said. 'This is manipulation at its best.' His need for rehabilitation seemed to be a common theme, as another one of Puff's alleged victims said 'It's [making] a mockery of the system. It's a mockery of everyone he's harmed. He needs intensive therapy.' The 'I Need A Girl' artist was acquitted of his racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges last month. It closed an almost two-year saga that included him being sued, his homes being raided by Homeland Security, footage of him abusing Cassie coming out, and him spending 8 months in jail. More from Chucky Thompson's Swan Song: The Man Who Shifted The Sound Of Hip-Hop Soul Pres. Donald Trump "Seriously Considering" A Diddy Pardon Ahead Of Trial Sentencing Rick Ross Trolls 50 Cent, Alludes To Daphne Joy's Sexual Exploits With Diddy: "We Know You Hurt"
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Violent & Jealous Sean 'Diddy' Combs Demanded $20K 'Recoup,' Cassie Ventura's Mother Tells Sex-Trafficking Trial; Family Had To Take Out Home Loan To Pay Multi-Millionaire
Cassie Ventura's mother wasn't on the stand long today in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex-trafficking trial, but she certainly offered a damning glimpse at the violent and manipulative self-described 'toxic relationship' her daughter had with the Bad Boy Records founder for over a decade – and how costly it was literally and figuratively. Coming into court after mixed testimony from Combs' former assistant David James concluded, Regina Ventura told the jurors Tuesday 'I was scared for my daughter's safety' during the 2007 – 2018 period the 'Me & U' singer and Diddy were together on and off. More from Deadline Steven Paul's SP Media, In Wake Of Jon Voight Plan, Acquires Avenue Six Studios To Boost Hollywood Production Democratic Senators Warn Paramount's Shari Redstone That Trump Lawsuit Settlement May Violate Federal Bribery Statute 'The Daily Show's Jon Stewart Mocks Media Praising Trump For "Not Taking Cancer's Side" In Biden Statement Under questioning from the prosecution this morning and with Combs seated nearby in his courtroom sweater and button-down look, the Ventura matriarch explained her response came after her daughter alarmingly emailed her just before Christmas 2011. During this time, Ventura had broken things off with Combs and was in a semi-secret relationship with rapper/actor Kid Cudi (a.k.a. Scott Mescudi) to the mini-mogul's clear displeasure, as Judge Arun Subramanian and the jury have heard several times since this trial started on May 12. Read out in the lower Manhattan courtroom Tuesday by the elder Ventura that December 23, 2011 correspondence from Cassie Ventura to her mother said: 'The threats that have been made towards me by Sean 'Puffy' Combs are that are that he is going to release 2 explicit sex tapes of me. One on Christmas Day, maybe before or right after and another one sometime soon after that. He has also said that he will be having someone hurt me and Scott Mescudi physically.' Kicked off in a large degree due to the quickly settled ($20 million) abuse and assault suit Cassie Ventura filed in November 2023, the criminal trial of the much-accused Combs officially began when the 'I Need A Girl' performer was arrested in September last year on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and more. If found guilty in what has already been a sordid trial after just one week and amid rumors of Combs' entourage angling for a pardon from Donald Trump, the 55-year-old Diddy will likely be behind bars for the rest of his life. Today, Regina Ventura told the judge, jury and onlookers that she felt 'physically sick' when she got the email. That reaction intensified when her daughter arrived home in Connecticut for the holidays and the elder Ventura says she saw up-close the bruises and wounds on her body – allegedly from a beating by Combs. 'She was bruised, and I wanted to make sure that we memorialized it,' Regina Ventura added of her decision to take photos of Cassie. The jury were shown the photos in court. 'The sex tapes threw me,' the elder Ventura also said Tuesday. 'I did not know the other person, but I knew that he was going to try to hurt my daughter.' To that, enraged that Cassie Ventura was with Kid Cudi at that point, Combs supposedly contacted Ventura's parents to demand payment to 'recoup money' he said had spent on his then former and future girlfriend. Specifically, the multi-millionaire Combs wanted $20, 000 from the Venturas, ASAP. The Venturas arranged quickly to get a home equity loan to meet Combs' demand. 'That's the only way we could get the money,' the mother of two told the court today. With instructions from Combs' staff, the cash was wired to him that holiday season. Oddly, around New Year's Eve, the $20,000 was wired back with no explanation. Once Combs and Cassie Ventura were back together it was never mentioned, the elder Ventura stated. Set to handle the cross-examination of Regina Ventura, defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo kept it very short. ''I don't have any questions for you,' the attorney said, and the elder Ventura left the stand and the courtroom soon afterwards. Regina Ventura was followed in the witness box by Sharay Hayes. The male escort who was first hired by Combs and Cassie Ventura for a 'freak-off' in New York in late 2021 had previously made an appearance in the trial last week when his photograph was put up on the courtroom screens as one of the half-a-dozen male escorts that were brought on board repeatedly for 'freak-offs' over the years. Perhaps more tellingly, Hayes went by the moniker 'the Punisher.' Deftly trying to get in front of the feds' claims of a criminal enterprise of drug-fueled and frequently filmed 'freak-off' sex marathon, male escorts, blackmail, coercion and relentless violence, the Agnifilo, Teny Geragos and Brian Steel-led defense in their opening statement acknowledged their client has committed domestic violence, is a drug user and not the greatest guy. However, Geragos stressed in her pitch to the jury on May 12, that doesn't make him guilty of the indictment the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York have charged him with. Another element of the defense's strategy is to taint Ventura and other accusers and witness as being essentially gold digger or star f*ckers looking to get ahead. Revelations like the May 16 one that Ventura is getting a $10 million settlement from LA's InterContinental Hotel, where security footage captured Combs beating the crap out of her in March 2016, added to that narrative. Simultaneously, with his much- mentioned allegedly enabling inner circle not defendants in this case, Combs faces dozens of civil cases detailing similar stories of drugs, violent, rape and more. Repeatedly denied bail and incarcerated in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center since last fall, Combs has insisted the only thing he is guilty of is having unconventional lifestyle with other consenting adults, regardless of what the police, the Department of Justice, some ex-staffers, or under oath accusers like his very pregnant ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura says. Still, as the defense's decision this morning to decline cross-examination of the regal Regina Ventura made clear, sometimes it is best to walk away to save yourself from things not going your way. Running from 9 am – 3 pm ET daily for the unsequestered jury, Combs' sex-trafficking trial is anticipated to last eight to 10 weeks. Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds All The 'Mission: Impossible' Movies In Order - See Tom Cruise's 30-Year Journey As Ethan Hunt Denzel Washington's Career In Pictures: From 'Carbon Copy' To 'The Equalizer 3'
Metro
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Diddy tells judge he's 'a little nervous' as sex trafficking trial begins
Sean 'Diddy' Combs declared he was 'a little nervous' as he appeared in the court room for his sex trafficking trial. Months after the 55-year-old was arrested in Manhattan last September, his long-awaited trial began in Manhattan with jury selection earlier today. The I Need A Girl rapper was charged with five counts of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution following a federal investigation. Appearing in federal court, the disgraced mogul reportedly asked for a bathroom break around an-hour-and-a-half into the proceedings. When Judge Arun Subramanian initially denied his request, People Magazine reports that he raised the question again, pleading: 'I'm sorry, your honor, I'm a little nervous today.' Judge Subramanian then granted Combs a two-minute break to use the bathroom before jury selection continued. The trial is expected to last several weeks – if not months – and could see him spending the rest of his life behind bars if convicted. Combs' team was dealt a severe blow last month when US District Judge Arun Subramanian denied their motion to delay the hearings. He was arrested last September and initially charged with the three offences – but two extra counts of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution were added in April, bringing the total to five. If found guilty, he could face a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life – he has denied all allegations against him. Since his arrest, Combs has been behind bars and is currently being held in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. More Trending He was denied bail by three different judges following his incarceration. His lawyer issued a statement about the federal criminal charges, telling BBC: 'Mr Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. 'In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone – man or woman, adult or minor.' The trial continues. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Major A-lister pulls out of Met Gala 2025 last minute due to devastating injury MORE: First trailer launches for 'demented' new horror movie with 100% Rotten Tomatoes score MORE: Inside Anna Wintour's relationship with famous British actor including Met Gala appearance
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy Decries Latest Indictment From Feds As Nothing New; Invading 'Private Sex Life'
For the second time in as many months, Sean 'Diddy Combs has been indicted on criminal charges by the Department of Justice. Heading towards a trial next month that could see the Grammy winner in prison for the rest of his life if found guilty by a jury, the 55-year-old Combs today lashed out at the feds once again, claiming with the latest superseding indictment they were trying to turn his kinky intimate life into crimes. More from Deadline Netflix Gets Fall Trial Start Against Director Who Allegedly Scammed $11M Out Of Streamer Diddy Garners Default Victory As Judge Tosses Out 1995 Rape Allegations From Notorious B.I.G. Party Diddy Forced Me To Perform Oral Sex On Him Or My Career Would Be Ruined, Male Photographer Claims In Sexual Battery Suit 'These are not new allegations or new accusers,' a spokesperson for the Bad Boy Records founder's Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos-led legal team said Friday of the two new charges that have raised the total charges against Combs to five. 'These are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships. This was their private sex life, defined by consent, not coercion.' Out of luck on three occasions at trying to get out of being incarcerated at Brooklyn's hardcore Metropolitan Detention Center, Combs' already delayed trial is set to start on May 12 now. A second indictment handed down by the grand jury on March 6 that included forced labor claims superseded the original indictment back in September when the much-accused Combs was arrested by LAPD and federal officials in a NYC hotel lobby. That first indictment had one claim each of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Backed up in part by the quickly settled ($30 million) assault and abuse suit and more from Victim-1, a.k.a. longtime Cassie Ventura, the government claims Combs and his inner circle coerced women into marathon sexual encounters called 'freak-offs' with male and female prostitutes, drug use, threats of violence and imprisonment in the hotel rooms where the action was staged and videotaped. In the now third indictment, the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York are centering on an unnamed Victim-2 over the two additional charges on Combs of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Between 2021 and 2024, the 'I Need A Girl' performer recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, and maintained Victim-2, and attempted, aided and abetted, and willfully caused Victim-2, to engage in commercial sex acts, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that Victim-2 was engaging in commercial sex acts as a result of force, fraud, and coercion,' the new indictment says. The document filed this morning by the SDNY in Judge Arun Subramanian's docket, the new elements of the latest indictment adds: 'From at least in or about 2021, up to and including in or about 2024, in the Southern District ofNew York and elsewhere, SEAN COMBS, a/k/a 'Puff Daddy,' a/k/a 'P. Diddy,' a/k/a 'Diddy,' a/k/a 'PD,' a/k/a 'Love,' the defendant, knowingly transported individuals in interstate and foreign commerce with intent that the individuals engage in prostitution, and attempted, aided and abetted, and willfully caused the same, to wit, COMBS transported, aided and abetted, and willfully caused the transportation of multiple individuals, including but not limited to Victim-2 and commercial sex workers, in interstate and foreign commerce on multiple occasions with the intent that they engage in prostitution.' The SDNY had no comment when contacted by Deadline about the new indictment. Prosecutors are hoping to use the previously schedule April 25 pre-trial hearing to deal with repeatedly not guilty pleading Comb's third arraignment. However, it would be relatively simple for the defense to throw up not all together unwarranted roadblocks of needing more time to assess the new indictment or something along those lines. The result could derail the feds' anticipated timeline, and even push back the already once pushed back trial start. Throwing another potential spanner in the works, the defense is very likely to push back against the prosecution's desire to have measures put in place by the court to 'protect' the identities plus the 'dignity and privacy' of three of the four victims set to testify. Ventura has long let it be known she intends to take the stand under her own name. However, with allegations of intimidation and even witness tampering being made over the months against Combs, the feds are trying to alleviate the fears the other women have expressed about showing up in court. As Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said Friday in a heavily redacted filing: To protect their privacy, the Government respectfully requests that the Court take certain narrowly tailored measures at trial that are consistent with the protections multiple victims of sex crimes have been afforded in recent federal trials within this Circuit. Specifically, the Government requests that (1) Victim-2, Victim-3, and Victim-4 be referred to at trial using only pseudonyms; (2) the Court preclude the defense from eliciting personally identifying details of those witnesses; and (3) the Court seal exhibits that contain the first and/or last names of Victim-2, Victim-3, and Victim-4, with redacted versions to be made available to the public. This case has already received an exceptional amount of media coverage, which will presumably only increase as trial proceeds. Permitting these measures will prevent unnecessary public disclosure of the victims' identities, and the harassment from the media and others, undue embarrassment, and other adverse consequences that would almost certainly follow if these women were forced to reveal their true names publicly at trial. Up against dozens and dozens of civil actions (most from Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee) claiming assault and abuse by Combs, the once mini-mogul has claimed before that the real issue at play in his criminal trial is the prudishness of the government. Earlier this year, Combs and his legal team said that prosecutors are using 'racist' laws against him and desiring to 'police non-conforming sexual activity.' On February 24, the defense took a swing at 'unconstitutionally broad' search warrants that had been used on Combs, raids of his LA and Miami homes, devices, digital storage and more. More recently, Combs has sought to discredit the shocking 2016 video that CNN obtained last year of the White Party host half naked chasing Ventura down an LA hotel hallway, beating her and dragging her back to his room where allegedly one of his so-called freak offs was happening. On March 13 this year, CNN strongly denied Combs' claims they altered the timestamp and fundamentally re-edited the violent footage. Best of Deadline '1923' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? Everything We Know About 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 So Far Everything We Know About 'Hacks' Season 4 So Far
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Druski Issues Response To Drugging And Rape Accusations In Updated Diddy Lawsuit
This past weekend, the Diddy sexual misconduct saga grew even more and included names such as singer Jaguar Wright, NFL star Odell Beckham Jr., and comedian Druski. The Coulda Been Love star quickly took to social media to deny the allegations of drugging and raping a woman. Documents circulated on social media that seemingly revealed that Ashley Parham, who initially filed a lawsuit against the Bad Boy founder in October 2024, recently updated the suit and added all of the aforementioned names. She claimed that she was 'drugged, kidnapped, and raped' in 2018 at an event that Puff was involved in. The comedian, however, shot down the accusations, citing that he wasn't even of a status to have any relationships with these men or be at such a function. 'I wasn't a public figure in 2018 – I was broke living with my mom without any connections to the entertainment industry at the time of this allegation, so the inclusion of my name is truly outlandish,' he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) and his Instagram Story. 'My heart breaks for actual victims of abuse, but I'm fully confident that the evidence will expose this falsehood and the individuals who are maliciously trying to game the legal system to peddle false narratives.' The language used in the lawsuit caused many people to be conflicted about whether or not the allegations could have been true or if the court documents were even legitimate. Druski was described to have 'doused Plaintiff' with 'oil/lubricant' before jumping on top of Ashley Parham's naked body and 'treating it like a slip and slide.' The documents claim that the wind was knocked out of Parham's body due to the comedian's 'enormous size.' She continued, claiming that Druski eventually caught himself from sliding and raped her vaginally while Diddy masturbated in a nearby chair and recorded the entire situation. Allegedly, someone else in the room dropped their phone on the bed, and Parham attempted to grab it but lost control due to her hands being slippery from the oil. She claims the 'I Need A Girl' artist laughed at her attempts to retrieve the phone. Regardless of what comes from the allegations against Druski and the others allegedly involved, if they are legitimate, the former REVOLT chairman remains in the hot seat. He was arrested back in September 2024 for racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and more, and his trial is set for May 2025. He has unsuccessfully attempted to be given a bail amount and has been denied for a variety of from Kevin Hart Reveals Advice He Gave To Kai Cenat, Druski To Ensure Their Success In Entertainment Diddy's Prison Etiquette Celebrated By This High-Profile Inmate JAY-Z Rape Accuser Allegedly Told Investigator She Lied
