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- Entertainment
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Danity Kane's Dawn Richard Testifies in Diddy Trial, Claims He Tried to Hit Cassie With Hot Skillet
Former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard took the stand in the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs on Friday, May 16. Richard, 41, was sworn in late on Friday shortly before court adjourned for the day. The prosecution asked her about an alleged incident in 2009 where she saw Diddy, 55, threatening Cassie in his Los Angeles home. 'He came downstairs screaming, belligerent, asking where his food was and continued to hit her in the head and kick her on the ground in front of us,' Richard claimed, noting that she was visiting Diddy and was in the kitchen with Cassie, 38, during the alleged attack. 'He came downstairs angry and was saying, 'Where the f*** was his eggs' and he was telling Cassie she never gets anything right and where the f*** was his food,' Richard alleged. 'And he came over to the skillet with the eggs in it and tried to hit her over the head, and she fell to the ground.' Diddy Trial 1st Week Ends With Cassie Cross-Examination, Dawn Richard Testimony Richard claimed Diddy continued to beat Cassie while she was on the floor then 'proceeded to take his arm around her neck and dragged her by the hair up the stairs.' The following day, Diddy allegedly invited Richard and her Dirty Money bandmate Kalenna Harper to record with him in the studio, where he told them the attack they'd both seen was 'passion.' Richard further claimed he threatened them, saying, 'People who say something can end up missing.' After Richard finished her testimony, Diddy's attorney Marc Agnifilo asked the judge to strike it from the record, arguing that it does not support the charge of sex trafficking. The prosecution, meanwhile, has argued that Diddy's alleged abuse created a culture that allowed him to carry out more serious crimes. Richard starred on Diddy's MTV reality show Making the Band 3 from 2005 to 2006 and was a member of the girl group Danity Kane alongside Aubrey O'Day, D. Woods, Shannon Bex and Aundrea Fimbres. Days before Diddy's arrest last year, Richard filed a lawsuit accusing him of manipulating, terrorizing and sexually abusing her. She also claimed that she witnessed him physically abusing ex-girlfriend Cassie (real name Casandra Ventura). In her suit, Richard alleged that Diddy abused her by forcing her to rehearse 48 hours at a time without sleep, which led to dehydration and fatigue that caused her to develop rashes. She also claimed that he promised to advance her singing career if she complied with his demands. Diddy Sued by Former 'Making the Band' Star Sara Rivers: Every Allegation From the Show's Alums Richard further alleged that Diddy demanded she come to his home in Miami, where he appeared only wearing underwear. After she asked him to put his clothes on, Diddy allegedly yelled at her, 'This is my f***ing house!' She also claimed he touched her inappropriately after barging into her dressing room at his recording studio and once locked her in a car for two hours as she screamed for help. Richard's lawsuit included additional claims that she saw Diddy harm other people in front of her, including his late girlfriend Kim Porter in 2005. Years later, Richard claimed she saw Diddy throw Cassie against a wall before choking her in his Los Angeles home. Diddy denied Richard's allegations in a September 2024 statement shared via his attorney Erica Wolff. 'Mr. Combs is shocked and disappointed by this lawsuit. In an attempt to rewrite history, Dawn Richard has now manufactured a series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a payday — conveniently timed to coincide with her album release and press tour,' Wolff told Us. 'If Ms. Richard had such a negative experience with Making the Band and Danity Kane, she would not have chosen to continue working directly with Mr. Combs for Dirty Money, nor would she have returned for the Making the Band reboot in 2020 or agreed to be featured on The Love Album last year. It's unfortunate that Ms. Richard has cast their 20-year friendship aside to try and get money from him, but Mr. Combs is confidently standing on truth and looks forward to proving that in court.' Danity Kane's Dawn Richard Reacts to Diddy's Arrest and Indictment Diddy was arrested in September 2024 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied all of the allegations against him. 'We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney's Office,'Agnifilo said in a statement at the time. 'He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.' Danity Kane's Dawn Richard Sues Diddy, Accuses Him of Brutality, Sexual Abuse and Manipulation Since his arrest, Diddy has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His four requests for bail were denied by Judge Arun Subramanian. Before Richard took the stand this week, Cassie testified for four days about her relationship with Diddy, which lasted off and on from 2007 to 2018. Cassie also filed a lawsuit against the rapper in November 2023, accusing him of physical and sexual abuse throughout their relationship. He denied her allegations at the time, and they settled the suit out of court one day later. During her testimony, Cassie revealed that they settled for $20 million. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
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
Metro
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs ‘tried to break Cassie's door with hammer' after hotel attack
Cassie Ventura's friend has claimed that Sean 'Diddy' Combs tried to break the singer's door down with a hammer after the shocking LA hotel fight. The disgraced rapper's trial began in New York last week – he is facing charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, and has denied all allegations. The Me & U singer ended her testimony on Friday, and spoke in detail about the shocking video that emerged in 2024, showing the 55-year-old kicking and hitting his ex-girlfriend while at the InterContinental Hotel in 2016, before dragging her across the floor. Her former friend, Kerry Morgan, took to the stand today to discuss the aftermath of the footage, explaining that she was staying at Ventura's apartment at the time. Speaking to the court, Morgan said that Ventura appeared to have a black eye when she returned, and that Combs turned up around 30 minutes later. Multiple US outlets report that she testified he was yelling and banging on the door with a hammer when he arrived, causing her to 'freak out'. She recalled getting in touch with his security guard, while Ventura remained on the sofa. 'I don't think she [cared] if he came in and killed her,' she told the jury, before sharing that Combs was never able to get into her apartment. Elsewhere, Morgan – who was one of Ventura's long-time friends before they went their separate ways – said that she hid in a ditch with the Empire actress for 'what felt like hours' after the mogul attacked her in 2013. Earlier in the day, Dawn Richard continued her testimony and spoke of the moment she was threatened after witnessing him attack his then-partner. Richard came to fame in 2005 after auditioning for Combs' MTV series, Making the Band 3 – she made it into Danity Kane alongside Aubrey O'Day, Wanita Woodgett, Shannon Bex and Aundrea Fimbres. The group officially disbanded in 2009, after which she became a member of Diddy-Dirty Money with Combs and Kalenna Harper, before eventually leaving his Bad Boy Records label in 2011. She filed a lawsuit against Combs in 2024, alleging that he assaulted her, deprived her of food and sleep, and refused to pay her properly. In the documents, she claimed that she witnessed the businessman abuse Ventura on multiple occasions – accusations he has fiercely denied. Richard initially appeared in court on Friday and alleged that she saw him attack the star with a skillet full of eggs in 2009 when he was enraged over his breakfast. Speaking on the stand today, the 41-year-old told the jury that she 'frequently' witnessed him being violent. 'He would punch her, choke her, drag her, slap her in the mouth,' she said. 'I saw him kick her, punch her in the stomach.' When discussing what prompted the outbursts, she said: 'It could be Cass speaking up for herself. It could be random. We didn't even know where it came from.' Richard told the court that Combs became violent at a dinner attended by record label executives, and allegedly punched Ventura in the stomach at the restaurant. She claimed that the former couple had been arguing quietly before the attack, and that he instructed Ventura to leave after she bent over in reaction to the blow. The argument reportedly continued in the car outside the venue, where his ex was 'embarrassed' that the incident had been so public. Richard said that he 'grabbed her by the neck and popped her, slapped her in the mouth,' and told her to shut up. More Trending She also claimed that he threatened her and Ventura shortly after the kitchen incident. 'He said you could go missing, that we could die,' she alleged. 'I was shocked but also scared, I couldn't believe this would be the beginning of a journey for us [with the group Dirty Money].' The hearings are expected to go on for several weeks – if convicted, Combs could spend the rest of his life behind bars. 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: Katy Perry narrowly avoids massive wardrobe malfunction while performing MORE: Dolly Parton receives grovelling apology after singer 'unintentionally' copied hit song MORE: Nicole Kidman continues to defy the ageing process with youthful look at Cannes
Metro
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs threatened ‘people go missing' after Cassie Ventura attack
Dawn Richard has claimed she witnessed Sean 'Diddy' Combs 'punch and choke' Cassie Ventura multiple times during their on-off relationship. The disgraced rapper's trial began in New York last week – he is facing charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, and has denied all allegations. Following Ventura's testimony, Richard, a former member of Danity Kane – the group the 55-year-old created on Making The Band – took to the stand on Friday. Speaking to the court, multiple US outlets report that she alleged that she saw him attack his ex-girlfriend with a skillet full of eggs in 2009 when he was enraged over his breakfast. Returning to the witness box earlier today, the 41-year-old told the jury that she 'frequently' witnessed him being violent towards the Me & U singer. 'He would punch her, choke her, drag her, slap her in the mouth,' she said. 'I saw him kick her, punch her in the stomach.' When discussing what prompted the outbursts, she said: 'It could be Cass speaking up for herself. It could be random. We didn't even know where it came from.' Richard told the court that Combs became violent at a dinner attended by record label executives, and allegedly punched Ventura in the stomach at the restaurant. She claimed that the former couple had been arguing quietly before the attack, and that he instructed Ventura to leave after she bent over in reaction to the blow. The argument reportedly continued in the car outside the venue, where his ex was 'embarrassed' that the incident had been so public. Richard said that he 'grabbed her by the neck and popped her, slapped her in the mouth,' and told her to shut up. The singer, who became a member of Diddy-Dirty Money with Combs and Kalenna Harper after Danity Kane broke up, also claimed that he threatened her and Ventura shortly after the kitchen incident. 'He said you could go missing, that we could die,' she alleged. 'I was shocked but also scared, I couldn't believe this would be the beginning of a journey for us [with the group Dirty Money]. Richard came to fame in 2005 after auditioning for Combs' MTV series, Making the Band 3 – she made it into the group alongside Aubrey O'Day, Wanita Woodgett, Shannon Bex and Aundrea Fimbres. Danity Kane officially disbanded in 2009, after which the singer became a member of Diddy-Dirty Money, before eventually leaving his Bad Boy Records label in 2011. She filed a lawsuit against Combs in 2024, alleging that he assaulted her, deprived her of food and sleep, and refused to pay her properly. In the documents, she claimed that she witnessed the businessman abuse Ventura on multiple occasions – accusations he has fiercely denied. Richard's former bandmate, O'Day, was recently forced to squash speculation that she was preparing to appear in the courtroom herself – but did call out the decision to have Combs' children present for the proceedings. Members of the mogul's family have been present for the trial, including his 18-year-old twin daughters Jessie James and D'Lila Star. They were in the courtroom to hear testimony regarding his alleged abuse, as well as the 'freak off' sex parties and his behavior in the bedroom. More Trending During an appearance on the Amy & TJ podcast, O'Day suggested that they should not be 'sitting through' the details. 'The fact that the kids are marching up to that court…,' she told the hosts. 'I don't know any father that would want their children to sit through that testimony.' The court proceedings are expected to go on for several weeks – if convicted, Combs could spend the rest of his life behind bars. 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: Dolly Parton receives grovelling apology after singer 'unintentionally' copied hit song MORE: Nicole Kidman continues to defy the ageing process with youthful look at Cannes MORE: Influencer Emilie Kiser's son Trigg dies aged 3 after drowning in pool
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Aubrey O'Day blasts ‘selfish' Diddy for having children in court during graphic testimonies
Danity Kane singer Aubrey O'Day called Sean 'Diddy' Combs 'selfish' for having six of his seven children appear in court during his ongoing trial in New York. The rap mogul is facing federal charges related to sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and denies any wrongdoing. 'The fact that the kids are marching up to that court, praying over everything and walking in with a bunch of women also that are encouraging it,' O'Day said on Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes's podcast Friday. The 'Damaged' singer, whose girl band was signed to Diddy's Bad Boy Records, continued: 'I don't know any father that would want their children to sit through testimony about how much their daddy liked to watch people [get] lubricated, f*****g, getting p****d on and urinated in their mouths, having his girlfriend come in the other room and rub their come all over his nipples.' 'Would you want your children to know about it?' she asked Holmes and Robach. 'It's concerning to me, that the optics of them being there and supporting [their] father are obviously a very strong play for the defense.' However, not all of Diddy's children stayed throughout the proceedings. Chance, 18, and the twins Jesse and D'Lila, also 18, left the courtroom twice on May 12, while male escort Daniel Phillip shared graphic details about an alleged paid sexual encounter between himself and Ventura, which he said Combs watched while masturbating, multiple outlets reported. 'It's telling to me. It means that daddy's being selfish and he needs — in my opinion — it feels like, 'Daddy needs you in court because daddy needs all the optics to look in his favor,' and I don't really care what you have to sit through,' said O'Day. Her comments come after she revealed she would not be taking the stand against her former mentor, despite being contacted by Homeland Security. O'Day rose to fame in 2005 with the MTV reality show Making the Band 3, which saw Diddy form Danity Kane. However, the record producer fired O'Day and Wanita 'D. Woods' Woodgett from the group in 2008, as captured on the show. O'Day would have been the second member of Danity Kane to testify against him. Prosecutors revealed Thursday that Dawn Richard, 41, will be their next witness following Cassie Ventura's bombshell testimony. The California-native has long been vocal about her experiences with Diddy, accusing him of attempting to silence her through nondisclosure agreements and has spoken about alleged mistreatment during her time in Danity Kane. In a 2022 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, O'Day claimed she was fired from Danity Kane for not doing 'what was expected' of her — 'not talent-wise but in other areas.' She celebrated Diddy's September 2024 arrest on X, writing: "The purpose of Justice is to provide an ending and allow us the space to create a new chapter.' "Women never get this. I feel validated. Today is a win for women all over the world, not just me. Things are finally changing,' she added. Diddy's trial resumes Monday.
