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Newsweek
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
List of Celebrities Mentioned in Diddy Trial and What Was Said
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The high-profile trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs has referenced over a dozen of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, as testimony continues in the fourth week of proceedings. Why It Matters Combs is facing federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. What To Know While the names of many celebrities have been mentioned during Combs' trial, none are accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the criminal case. Sean "Diddy" Combs attends the Fragrance Foundation FiFi Awards on May 27, 2009. Sean "Diddy" Combs attends the Fragrance Foundation FiFi Awards on May 27, 2009. zz/Raoul Gatchalian/STAR MAX/IPx Kid Cudi Rapper Scott Mescudi, who goes by the stage name Kid Cudi, has been mentioned several times during the Combs trial. He also testified during the second week of proceedings. Mescudi started dating Cassie Ventura in 2011. Ventura dated Combs from 2007 to 2018. Mescudi said that he did not realize that Ventura and Combs were still together when they started dating. Mescudi alleged that Combs broke into his house in 2011 after he discovered Ventura's relationship with Mescudi. Mescudi also testified about a 2012 incident where his car caught fire in the driveway of his home. He said he asked to meet with Combs after the incident because he "knew he had something to do with it." The defense objected to the statement, and it was stricken from the record. Dawn Richard Dawn Richard, a former member of the girl group Danity Kane, also testified in Combs' trial. The group was formed on the reality show Making the Band. Combs was an executive producer of the show. Richard said she saw Combs attack Ventura as she was making eggs at Combs' home in Los Angeles. "He came downstairs screaming, belligerent," Richard said. She said Combs grabbed the skillet and tried to hit Ventura with it. Combs then grabbed Ventura's hair and dragged her upstairs, Richard testified. Michael B. Jordan The defense questioned celebrity stylist Deonte Branch about Ventura's relationships with other men while she was dating Combs, including actor Michael B. Jordan Nash said Ventura and Jordan were "dating, talking, getting to know each other." Prince Combs' former assistant, who used the pseudonym "Mia" during her testimony, stated that she attended a party at singer Prince's house with Ventura around 2011 or 2012. Mia said she convinced Ventura to go to the party even though Combs told them to stay home. She said they danced, hung out with friends, and Prince performed on a table. Mia saw Combs, who previously used the stage name "Puff," walking into the party. She and Ventura "booked it" outside the house. "Puff caught up to Cass and had her on the ground," Mia testified. Prince's security intervened. Rihanna Ventura's makeup artist, Mylah Morales, testified that she also worked for Rihanna for 13 years. During cross-examination, the defense showed Morales photos where she had done Ventura's makeup. This included a photo of Ventura, Rihanna and Ryan Lewis attending an awards show. Usher Richard said she saw Combs punch Ventura in the stomach at a restaurant in 2010 while other celebrities were present, including Usher. "She immediately bent over, [Combs] told her to leave," Richard said. "No one intervened." Ne-Yo Richard testified that singer Ne-Yo was also present when Combs punched Ventura at a restaurant in 2010. Nicki Minaj Ventura testified that she was given access to contacts in the music industry during her relationship with Combs. She said she recorded a song with Nicki Minaj. Lil Wayne Ventura said she also recorded a song with Lil Wayne while she was in a relationship with Combs. R. Kelly In a January 2019 message shown in court, Mia told Combs she had a nightmare where he rescued her after she was trapped in an elevator with singer and convicted sex offender R. Kelly. Chris Brown The defense questioned Ventura about an alleged encounter with singer Chris Brown during her testimony. "Do you remember the incident where he suspected you of dancing with Chris Brown?" defense attorney Anna Estevao asked Ventura. Ventura said she did not remember the incident, but she "was not dancing" with Brown. Mike Myers Prior to working for Combs, Mia worked as a personal assistant for comedian Mike Myers. Madonna Mia testified that she worked for Madonna for eight months after her employment with Combs ended. "I was hired to lead her film industry. It morphed into multiple roles," Mia said. Mick Jagger The defense questioned Mia about her time spent with various famous individuals during her employment with Combs. In messages to Combs shown in court, Mia described some of these encounters. One instance she recalled was spending a night in Paris with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. Jennifer Lopez In messages shown in court, Mia mentioned how Jennifer Lopez would not stay out with her and Combs. Morales also worked as a makeup artist for Lopez. Leonardo DiCaprio Mia said she once witnessed Combs playing poker with actor Leonardo DiCaprio. In a message, Mia wrote that Combs said the actor "does not know" anything about the game. Combs told her that he won $650,000, while DiCaprio won $10,000. Chadwick Boseman Mia messaged Combs in 2020 following the death of Chadwick Boseman. "Thinking of you with Chadwick Boseman," she wrote. Mia said Combs had been auditioning for the role of James Brown in the Get On Up biopic, which Boseman ultimately landed. Britney Spears Ventura said Britney Spears was among the celebrities in attendance at her 21st birthday party. She said the high-profile guests were there because of Combs. "That was all him. I didn't know them," Ventura said. 50 Cent Capricorn Clark, Combs' former assistant, testified about an instance where she accompanied Combs to do press at MTV. She said 50 Cent was there that day and Combs "had an issue with 50 Cent." Suge Knight Ventura testified that she told Combs not to do "anything stupid" when he went to confront Marion Hugh "Suge" Knight Jr. She said Damion "D-Roc" Butler informed Combs that Knight was at a local diner. Combs "quickly packed up and drove down there," Ventura said. Ventura said Combs and a bodyguard put on black clothing and armed themselves. When he got back, she said Combs would not tell her what happened or if he met Knight at the diner. What People Are Saying Cassie Ventura, during her testimony about Sean Combs' planned confrontation of Suge Knight: "I was crying. I was screaming 'Please don't do anything stupid.' I was just really nervous for them, what it meant, what they were going to do." Scott Mescudi, during his testimony about why he broke up with Cassie Ventura: "The drama was just getting out of hand." What Happens Next The trial, currently in its fourth week, is expected to last eight to 10 weeks. Combs is facing life in prison if convicted. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
Newsweek
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Can You Watch Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial? What To Know About Live Stream
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Despite the public interest, no live stream will be available when jury selection begins Monday in the high-profile federal criminal case against Sean "Diddy" Combs in the Southern District of New York. The music mogul, known for decades under various aliases including Puff Daddy, P. Diddy and Love, faces federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. Federal court rules prohibit video recording and broadcasting of proceedings, and this trial is no exception. Those interested in real-time updates will have to rely on journalists attending in person. Reporters may be present in the gallery, but no cameras are allowed inside the courtroom. Why It Matters The courtroom proceedings are drawing national attention, not just because of Combs' celebrity but also due to the gravity of the alleged crimes, which span two decades and involve multiple alleged victims and co-conspirators. Sean "Diddy" Combs at the 2010 Vanity Fair Oscar Party held on March 7, 2010 in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Sean "Diddy" Combs at the 2010 Vanity Fair Oscar Party held on March 7, 2010 in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. zz/Doug Peters/STAR MAX/IPx What To Know Combs has been charged with five federal counts. According to the U.S. government's filing, Count One alleges that from 2004 to 2024, Combs participated in a racketeering conspiracy involving kidnapping, arson, bribery, obstruction of justice, forced labor, sex trafficking, drug distribution and transportation for prostitution. Counts Two and Four accuse him of sex trafficking two adult women through "force, fraud, and coercion." The first is alleged to have occurred around 2009 and 2018, and the second around 2021 and 2024. Counts Three and Five involve allegations of transporting these women and male sex workers to engage in prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges and denies any wrongdoing. Newsweek reached out to Combs' representatives for comment. While the charges were outlined by federal prosecutors in the government's proposed questions for jurors filed on April 25, the defense also submitted a joint filing on April 30 detailing objections to how those charges are characterized in court. The defense requested that terms such as "acts of violence" and "sexual assault" be rephrased to "allegations of" those acts, to avoid prejudicing prospective jurors. Jury selection began Monday under the supervision of U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian. Jurors are being screened through a detailed series of questions covering everything from their views on law enforcement and sex crimes to their experiences with guns and illegal drugs. The prosecution and defense have agreed on large portions of the voir dire process, with disputes over wording mostly resolved and consented to on both sides. What People Are Saying Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers, in a motion filed last month: "The government should not be permitted to pollute the trial with decades of dirt and invite a conviction based on propensity evidence with no proper purpose by painting Mr. Combs as a bad guy who must have committed the charged crimes." Prosecutors, in a memorandum filed last month: "That testimony powerfully establishes that the defendant made no mistake when he coerced other victims into unwanted sex. It proves that the defendant intended to take the sexual gratification he wanted, regardless of consent." What Happens Next Once a jury is selected, the trial will proceed with opening statements expected within days. Prosecutors plan to introduce evidence, including testimony from alleged victims, with some under pseudonyms, as well as digital records retrieved from phones and iCloud accounts. As the trial unfolds, Combs' legal team will seek to dismantle the prosecution's narrative of coercion and criminal enterprise. At the same time, federal attorneys attempt to prove an extended pattern of abuse and trafficking enabled by Combs' position of power. Proceedings are expected to span several weeks. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
