Latest news with #LastTraintoParis
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kid Cudi's relationship with Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Cassie explained, as he testifies in the sex-trafficking trial
Kid Cudi testified at Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial on Thursday. Kid Cudi dated Cassie Ventura, Diddy's now ex, in 2011. Cassie alleged that Diddy reacted violently after discovering their fling. Kid Cudi is the latest celebrity to take the witness stand in Sean "Diddy" Combs' bombshell-filled sex-trafficking trial, following allegations that the hip-hop mogul threatened to "hurt" the rapper and blow up his car. In the first two weeks of the trial, both Cassie Ventura, an R&B singer and Diddy's ex-girlfriend and her mother mentioned Kid Cudi when testifying about Diddy's behavior, which they alleged was abusive. Diddy has denied the claims. Here's what to know about how the three are linked. 2010: Kid Cudi supported Diddy on the "Last Train to Paris" album. Kid Cudi and Diddy have never officially collaborated on a track. But in 2020, Diddy revealed that Kid Cudi was in the booth while he recored his 2010 album, "Last Train To Paris." Through Revolt, a media organization Diddy co-founded, the he shared multiple behind-the-scenes videos of the studio sessions for the 2010 album. One showed Kid Cudi rapping "Now or Never" over a beat. 2011: Kid Cudi dated Cassie during her relationship with Diddy. In 2023, Cassie filed a lawsuit against Diddy, accusing him of rape, physical abuse, and controlling her throughout their relationship, which lasted from 2006 to 2018. Diddy denied the allegations in the lawsuit. The suit was settled a day later, but Cassie repeated many of the allegations during her testimony in the first week of Diddy's trial. In the filing seen by Business Insider, Cassie said she dated Kid Cudi in 2011 during a "rough patch" in her relationship with Diddy. Cassie said Diddy looked through the her phone and emails during a "freak off" and became "enraged" after finding messages between her and Kid Cudi. Cassie said he lunged at her with a corkscrew between her fingers, and she fled to Kid Cudi's home. She said that when she returned to reconcile with Diddy he hit her several times and kicked her in the back as she tried to run out the door. Cassie said she later went to her parents' home in Connecticut where her mother took pictures of the bruises. Cassie also testified that Diddy threatened to hurt her and Kid Cudi. On Tuesday, Regina Ventura, Cassie's mother, testified that her daughter texted her in 2011 that Diddy had threatened to release porn featuring Cassie and physically harm her because of the fling with Kid Cudi. Regina Ventura also testified that she had to borrow against their home to pay for $20,000 Diddy demanded for Cassie's unpaid "expenses." "He was going to need $20,000 to recoup money that he had spent on her because he was angry that she had a relationship with Scott Mescudi," Ventura said, adding that she paid because she was worried about her daughter. Regina Ventura said the money was sent to Bad Boy Records, the record label Diddy founded, but the company returned it four or five days later without any explanation. 2012: Diddy threatened to blow up Kid Cudi's car, Cassie alleged. Cassie claimed in her lawsuit that Diddy told her in February 2012, while they were at Paris Fashion Week, that he wanted to blow up Kid Cudi's car while he and his friends were home. Cassie said in the lawsuit that Kid Cudi's car exploded in his driveway around this time, but she does not accuse Diddy of carrying it out. In November 2023, a spokesperson for Kid Cudi told The New York Times that his car did explode, saying, "This is all true." Kid Cudi may explain how and why the car exploded in his testimony. Diddy's representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Kid Cudi's relationship with Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Cassie explained, as he testifies in the sex-trafficking trial
Kid Cudi is the latest celebrity to take the witness stand in Sean "Diddy" Combs' bombshell-filled sex-trafficking trial, following allegations that the hip-hop mogul threatened to "hurt" the rapper and blow up his car. In the first two weeks of the trial, both Cassie Ventura, an R&B singer and Diddy's ex-girlfriend and her mother mentioned Kid Cudi when testifying about Diddy's behavior, which they alleged was abusive. Diddy has denied the claims. Here's what to know about how the three are linked. 2010: Kid Cudi supported Diddy on the "Last Train to Paris" album. Kid Cudi and Diddy have never officially collaborated on a track. But in 2020, Diddy revealed that Kid Cudi was in the booth while he recored his 2010 album, "Last Train To Paris." Through Revolt, a media organization Diddy co-founded, the he shared multiple behind-the-scenes videos of the studio sessions for the 2010 album. One showed Kid Cudi rapping "Now or Never" over a beat. 2011: Kid Cudi dated Cassie during her relationship with Diddy. In 2023, Cassie filed a lawsuit against Diddy, accusing him of rape, physical abuse, and controlling her throughout their relationship, which lasted from 2006 to 2018. Diddy denied the allegations in the lawsuit. The suit was settled a day later, but Cassie repeated many of the allegations during her testimony in the first week of Diddy's trial. In the filing seen by Business Insider, Cassie said she dated Kid Cudi in 2011 during a "rough patch" in her relationship with Diddy. Cassie said Diddy looked through the her phone and emails during a " freak off" and became "enraged" after finding messages between her and Kid Cudi. Cassie said he lunged at her with a corkscrew between her fingers, and she fled to Kid Cudi's home. She said that when she returned to reconcile with Diddy he hit her several times and kicked her in the back as she tried to run out the door. Cassie said she later went to her parents' home in Connecticut where her mother took pictures of the bruises. Cassie also testified that Diddy threatened to hurt her and Kid Cudi. On Tuesday, Regina Ventura, Cassie's mother, testified that her daughter texted her in 2011 that Diddy had threatened to release porn featuring Cassie and physically harm her because of the fling with Kid Cudi. Regina Ventura also testified that she had to borrow against their home to pay for $20,000 Diddy demanded for Cassie's unpaid "expenses." "He was going to need $20,000 to recoup money that he had spent on her because he was angry that she had a relationship with Scott Mescudi," Ventura said, adding that she paid because she was worried about her daughter. Regina Ventura said the money was sent to Bad Boy Records, the record label Diddy founded, but the company returned it four or five days later without any explanation. 2012: Diddy threatened to blow up Kid Cudi's car, Cassie alleged. Cassie claimed in her lawsuit that Diddy told her in February 2012, while they were at Paris Fashion Week, that he wanted to blow up Kid Cudi's car while he and his friends were home. Cassie said in the lawsuit that Kid Cudi's car exploded in his driveway around this time, but she does not accuse Diddy of carrying it out. In November 2023, a spokesperson for Kid Cudi told The New York Times that his car did explode, saying, "This is all true." Kid Cudi may explain how and why the car exploded in his testimony.
Business Insider
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Kid Cudi's relationship with Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Cassie, explained
Kid Cudi testified at Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial on Thursday. Kid Cudi hasn't released music with Diddy, but dated his ex, Cassie Ventura, in 2011. Here's what to know about the link between Kid Cudi, Diddy, and Cassie. Kid Cudi is the latest celebrity to take the witness stand in Sean "Diddy" Combs bombshell-filled sex-trafficking trial, following allegations that the hip-hop mogul threatened to "hurt" the rapper and blow up his car. In the first two weeks of the trial, Cassie Ventura, an R&B singer and Diddy's ex-girlfriend, and her mother, mentioned Kid Cudi when testifying Diddy's behavior that they alleged was abusive. Diddy has denied the claims. Here's what to know about how the three are linked. 2010: Kid Cudi supported Diddy on the "Last Train to Paris" album. Kid Cudi and Diddy have never officially collaborated on a track. But in 2020, Diddy revealed that Kid Cudi was in the booth while he recored his 2010 album, "Last Train To Paris." Through Revolt, a media organization Diddy co-founded, the he shared multiple behind-the-scenes videos of the studio sessions for the 2010 album. One showed Kid Cudi rapping "Now or Never" over a beat. 2011: Kid Cudi dated Cassie during her relationship with Diddy. In 2023, Cassie filed a lawsuit against Diddy, accusing him of rape, physical abuse, and controlling her throughout their relationship, which lasted from 2006 to 2018. Diddy denied the allegations in the lawsuit. The suit was settled a day later, but Cassie repeated many of the allegations during her testimony in the first week of Diddy's trial. In the filing seen by Business Insider, Cassie said she dated Kid Cudi in 2011 during a "rough patch" in her relationship with Diddy. Cassie said Diddy looked through the her phone and emails during a " freak off" and became "enraged" after finding messages between her and Kid Cudi. Cassie said he lunged at her with a corkscrew between her fingers, and she fled to Kid Cudi's home. She said that when she returned to reconcile with Diddy he hit her several times and kicked her in the back as she tried to run out the door. Cassie said she later went to her parents' home in Connecticut where her mother took pictures of the bruises. Cassie also testified that Diddy threatened to hurt her and Kid Cudi. On Tuesday, Regina Ventura, Cassie's mother, testified that her daughter texted her in 2011 that Diddy had threatened to release porn featuring Cassie and physically harm her because of the fling with Kid Cudi. Regina Ventura also testified that she had to borrow against their home to pay for $20,000 Diddy demanded for Cassie's unpaid "expenses." "He was going to need $20,000 to recoup money that he had spent on her because he was angry that she had a relationship with Scott Mescudi," Ventura said, adding that she paid because she was worried about her daughter. Regina Ventura said the money was sent to Bad Boy Records, the record label Diddy founded, but the company returned it four or five days later without any explanation. 2012: Diddy threatened to blow up Kid Cudi's car, Cassie alleged. Cassie claimed in her lawsuit that Diddy told her in February 2012, while they were at Paris Fashion Week, that he wanted to blow up Kid Cudi's car while he and his friends were home. Cassie said in the lawsuit that Kid Cudi's car exploded in his driveway around this time, but she does not accuse Diddy of carrying it out. In November 2023, a spokesperson for Kid Cudi told The New York Times that his car did explode, saying, "This is all true."
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who is Dawn Richard? Danity Kane singer testifying in Diddy trial about alleged abuse
With Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal criminal trial underway, Dawn Richard has taken the stand. Richard, discovered by Combs, was a prominent collaborator of the music mogul for a decade, formerly of the Bad Boy Records girl group Danity Kane and also part of the trio Diddy – Dirty Money. Her September 2024 lawsuit, then, came as a shock, as she claimed Combs subjected her to physical and sexual abuse throughout their professional relationship. Combs' lawyers at the time said Richard was trying to "rewrite history." Her lawsuit points to apparent behavior that did not escape fellow artists and the people he stood next to professionally. Richard accused Diddy of subjecting her to "inhumane" working conditions, including deprivation of food and rest, as well as assault, groping and false imprisonment. She also detailed multiple instances where she claimed to have seen the producer assault his ex-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine, who last week finished four days of harrowing testimony in his trial. Richard's testimony on May 16 focused on her witnessing this abuse. Richard returned to the stand May 19 in Combs' trial. "I'm expecting justice," she said during her testimony. Diddy trial updates: Dawn Richard retakes the stand, alleged Combs beat Cassie Richard's accusations, which included alleged incidents during the production of Diddy – Dirty Money's highly-lauded album "Last Train to Paris," introduce a disturbing refrain into their collaborations, changing how some fans may now hear the music. Fellow Danity Kane member Aubrey O'Day has also been critical of the rap mogul. Revisit Richard and Diddy's relationship, her testimony and why she's suing the rap mogul. Diddy on trial newsletter Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges In testimony on May 16, Richard described witnessing Combs attack Ventura Fine as she was making eggs in a kitchen in Combs' Los Angeles home. "He came downstairs screaming, belligerent," Richard said, noting Combs asked where his eggs were and yelled that Ventura Fine never gets anything right. Combs grabbed the skillet Ventura Fine was cooking in and tried to hit her with it, Richard testified. The skillet didn't seem to hit Ventura Fine "fully" because "she went into the fetal position," according to Richard. Combs grabbed Ventura Fine's hair and then dragged her upstairs, Richard said. Then, Richard heard glass breaking and yelling. Combs later told Richard what she saw was passion and Ventura Fine was OK, Richard testified. "Where he comes from, people go missing if they talk," Richard recalled Combs saying. Diddy's music competition series "Making the Band," which ran from 2000 to 2009 mainly on MTV, led to the formation of multiple music groups, including Da Band and Day26. In "Making the Band 3," the rapper held country-wide auditions to form a girl group, putting contestants through a series of intense competitions for five spots. Finalists Richard, O'Day, Aundrea Fimbres, Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgett and, later, Shannon Bex would go on to form Danity Kane, releasing their self-titled debut album in 2006, which produced the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 single "Show Stopper." Their second album, "Welcome to the Dollhouse," included their second top 10 single, pop-dance hit "Damaged," in 2008. 'Fall of Diddy' doc: Danity Kane members speak out Since its inception, the group has gone through multiple lineups, with D. Woods leaving the group in 2008 and Fimbres leaving in 2014, before the release of the group's third and final studio album, "DK3." The group has split up and reunited multiple times over the years, including as a duo for the 2020 extended play "Strawberry Milk," featuring just Richard and O'Day. Diddy – Dirty Money, with Richard and singer Kalenna Harper, was formed in 2009. The trio released "Last Train to Paris" in 2010, a cult-classic ensemble effort that has gained critical praise over the years, given its forward-thinking R&B-pop sound. The album included singles "Coming Home" with Skylar Grey, "Hello Good Morning" with T.I. and "Loving You No More" with Drake. The group disbanded in 2012 without a sophomore effort, but reunited for Diddy's 2023 album "The Love Album: Off the Grid." Sean 'Diddy' Combs accused of sexually assaulting 'The Love Album' producer in new lawsuit Richard's September lawsuit, obtained by USA TODAY, alleged abusive behavior during her time with both Danity Kane and Diddy – Dirty Money. Richard sued Diddy on 21 counts of sexual assault and battery, sex trafficking, gender discrimination and copyright infringement. She claimed the producer stole her work, withheld payment and subjected her to "inhumane" working conditions, which included assault, groping and false imprisonment, throughout their association together. Dawn Richard of Danity Kane accuses Diddy of sexual abuse in bombshell lawsuit Richard accused the rapper of promising to advance her career in exchange for favors on the set of "Making the Band" in 2005. According to Richard, Diddy belittled and harassed the female contestants during filming. Once the group was assembled, Richard said the label founder regularly deprived them of sleep and meals, referred to them derogatorily and "denigrated their physical appearances," telling Richard in particular she was "too skinny and needed to 'do something about (her face).'" The singer also recalled an incident during rehearsals in New York for Diddy – Dirty Money's "Saturday Night Live" performance in 2010, in which she claimed she and Harper were denied food and rest. Enraged and screaming at the pair for being late, Richard alleged Diddy nearly hit her before she was escorted away by a bodyguard. When Harper ran after her, both were locked inside a car without door handles, she claimed. Richard used Harper's phone to call her father, but Harper was later removed, leaving Richard locked alone in the car for two hours. It was only after her father arrived from Baltimore that she got out. Richard also claimed to have witnessed Diddy's party behavior, including bringing in underage girls to attend dayslong "drug-fueled" parties at his homes in New York and Miami, where he and his guests "performed sexual acts on them." Inside the White Party: Diddy's star-studded parties were cultural extravaganzas The singer also recalled run-ins with Diddy's exes, Kim Porter and singer Ventura Fine, that made her fear for her safety. The singer claimed to have seen Porter's face battered while she cried, leaving a music studio in 2005. Combs had an on-again, off-again relationship with Porter from 1994 to 2007. She died in August 2018 from pneumonia at 47. Richard also details in the lawsuit multiple instances where she claimed to have seen Diddy assault Ventura Fine. Who is Cassie? The singer at the center of Diddy's sex-crimes trial In one, she said a "high on drugs" Diddy slammed Ventura Fine against a wall, choked her and dragged her up the stairs in his home in Los Angeles during the recording of "Last Train to Paris" in 2009. The following day, she and Harper were locked in a room for over 20 minutes as Diddy threatened them and told them not to speak of the incident. Richard "wanted to intervene," she claimed in the lawsuit, but Harper refused to get involved and led her out of the house. On other occasions when Richard or Harper did intervene by encouraging Ventura Fine to leave, she claimed Diddy threatened them with statements like, "You want to die today," and "I end people." Richard, O'Day and D. Woods voiced their support for Ventura Fine when she filed her November 2023 lawsuit. At the time, Richard tweeted she was praying for "peace and healing" for Ventura Fine. Ventura Fine accused Diddy of trafficking, raping and viciously beating her over the course of their relationship. The "Me & U" singer's lawsuit, settled just a day later, triggered the chain reaction of lawsuits and an investigation that ultimately led to his federal criminal charges. In her own filing, Richard said that Ventura Fine's "bravery" in suing Diddy empowered her to come forward, saying years of Combs' alleged abuse "had become normalized for her." In June, O'Day said she did not feel "vindication" amid her former record label boss' legal trouble. "Anyone being exposed, or any truths being told, don't change the reality of what you experienced," O'Day told People. In a December 2022 episode of the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, O'Day also alleged Combs fired her because she wouldn't do things he requested "in other areas" besides music. D. Woods spoke out in the Investigation Discovery docuseries "The Fall of Diddy" in January, recalling sexually charged remarks aimed at O'Day, verbal abuse of the five women during her brief time with Danity Kane. "I see myself standing in those dark, scary, predatory spaces and hearing somebody say some of the most degrading things to me and ... having to figure out how to navigate and not let that person break me down." Harper distanced herself from Richard's claims shortly after her lawsuit was filed. In an Instagram stories post, according to People, she said, "Many of the allegations and incidents described in this suit are not representative of my experiences." She added she was not "involved in" nor "aware of, any behavior that could be considered abusive or unlawful." Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY staff This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dawn Richard, Diddy trial and Danity Kane: Singer testifying in court
Mint
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Who is Dawn Richard? Key witness in Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial testifies against him
Dawn Richard, the acclaimed singer and former member of Danity Kane and Diddy – Dirty Money, emerged in the spotlight once again—not for her music, but as a pivotal witness in the high-profile sex trafficking and racketeering trial against hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Following the emotional testimony of Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, Richard took the stand to reveal harrowing details of Combs' alleged physical abuse toward Cassie and threats aimed at silencing witnesses. Richard testified that Combs threatened her if she spoke about the violence she witnessed. She described a terrifying incident when Combs allegedly punched and kicked Cassie and even tried to strike her with a skillet. Richard said Combs warned her and others they 'could go missing' if they revealed what they saw—a phrase she interpreted as a death threat. Throughout her testimony, Richard detailed frequent episodes of physical abuse Combs inflicted on Cassie, including punching, choking, dragging, and slapping, often occurring unpredictably or in response to Cassie asserting herself. Born on August 5, 1983, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Dawn Angeliqué Richard was born into a musically rich environment. Her father was a funk band lead singer, and her mother ran a dance school, nurturing her early artistic development. Dawn's breakthrough came in 2004 when she auditioned for MTV's Making the Band 3, becoming a member of the girl group Danity Kane, signed to Sean Combs' Bad Boy Records. The group enjoyed commercial success before disbanding in 2009. Richard then joined Diddy – Dirty Money, releasing the 2010 album Last Train to Paris. Launching a solo career in 2013, Dawn Richard distinguished herself with a unique blend of R&B, pop, and electronic music. Her albums, including Goldenheart (2013), Blackheart (2015), Redemptionheart (2016), New Breed (2019), and Second Line (2021), showcase her evolving artistry and her connection to New Orleans culture. Despite her musical success, Richard's testimony revealed the darker side of her association with Combs. Richard's court testimony not only exposes alleged physical abuse witnessed firsthand but also highlights the control Combs reportedly exerted over Cassie's career. She recounted hearing Combs claim he 'owned' Cassie and controlled when or if her music would be released. According to Richard, Combs reacted violently when others tried to help Cassie with songwriting or her career. The defense suggested Richard's motivation for testifying stemmed from anger over her career being affected by Combs ending Danity Kane and Diddy – Dirty Money and her pending lawsuit against him. Richard acknowledged she was saddened but insisted her lawsuit was about mistreatment and withheld earnings.
