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NBC News
9 hours ago
- NBC News
Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial live updates: Ex-girlfriend 'Jane' returns for cross examination
What to know about the sex trafficking trial A former girlfriend of Sean "Diddy" Combs, identified by the pseudonym "Jane," returns to the stand after more emotionally wrenching testimony yesterday. Over the past few days, "Jane" has testified about "hotel nights," graphic sexual encounters that were nearly identical to what Combs' another former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, described on the stand as "freak offs." Combs faces five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has vociferously denied the allegations against him. This live briefing may include graphic descriptions of sexual violence. For resources on sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline. Sign up for the 'Diddy on Trial' newsletter for key developments and analysis, and listen to the 'Dateline' nightly podcast.


The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Jury hears more of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' 'debauchery'
Sean "Diddy" Combs dismissed requests by one of his former girlfriends to stop having sex with other men at his behest, and threatened to stop paying her rent, the woman has testified at the hip-hop mogul's sex trafficking trial. Testifying on Thursday under the pseudonym Jane to protect her privacy, the woman said she was Combs' girlfriend between 2021 and 2024. She is the third woman who prosecutors say was sexually abused by Combs to take the stand at his trial in Manhattan federal court, which is in its fourth week. Combs has pleaded not guilty to five counts including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He could face life in prison if convicted on all counts. Jane, a model and social media influencer, said she felt "exhilarated" the first time she had sex with a male escort in front of Combs in May 2021, about five months into their relationship. But she said she thought it would be a one-time occurrence. Instead, she said she had sex with other men in front of Combs about 90 per cent of the time she saw him. When she eventually told him she did not want to have sex with other men anymore, Combs - whose net worth Forbes estimated at above $US1 billion ($A1.5 billion) in 2022 - threatened to stop paying her rent, Jane said. "He just was dismissive or wanted to move on from the subject," Jane said. Jane said she and Combs would call the events with other men "debauchery" or "hotel nights". Her description of the events resembled what another former girlfriend of Combs', Casandra Ventura, referred to as "Freak Offs". Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known professionally as Cassie, said she participated in "Freak Offs" with Combs and male sex workers for nearly a decade - at first to please him, and later because he blackmailed her with videos of the encounters. Earlier on Thursday, Combs' lawyer Nicole Westmoreland accused another witness, Ventura's friend Bryana Bongolan, of falsely testifying that Combs dangled her over Ventura's 17th-storey Los Angeles balcony in September 2016. Westmoreland suggested Combs was on the East Coast at the time of the alleged attack. "You came in here and you lied to the ladies and gentlemen of this jury, didn't you?" Westmoreland asked. "I can't agree with you," Bongolan replied. Under further questioning from prosecutor Madison Smyser, Bongolan said she did not know the exact date of the incident but said she had no doubt it took place. Prosecutors later displayed a text message Ventura sent an associate on September 30, 2016, stating that Combs' had dangled Bongolan's feet over the balcony. Outside the jury's presence following Bongolan's testimony, US District Judge Arun Subramanian said he had observed Combs "nodding vigorously" in the jury's direction during Westmoreland's questioning, and threatened to kick him out of the courtroom if he did that again. "There should be no efforts whatsoever to have any interactions with this jury," Subramanian said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Sean "Diddy" Combs dismissed requests by one of his former girlfriends to stop having sex with other men at his behest, and threatened to stop paying her rent, the woman has testified at the hip-hop mogul's sex trafficking trial. Testifying on Thursday under the pseudonym Jane to protect her privacy, the woman said she was Combs' girlfriend between 2021 and 2024. She is the third woman who prosecutors say was sexually abused by Combs to take the stand at his trial in Manhattan federal court, which is in its fourth week. Combs has pleaded not guilty to five counts including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He could face life in prison if convicted on all counts. Jane, a model and social media influencer, said she felt "exhilarated" the first time she had sex with a male escort in front of Combs in May 2021, about five months into their relationship. But she said she thought it would be a one-time occurrence. Instead, she said she had sex with other men in front of Combs about 90 per cent of the time she saw him. When she eventually told him she did not want to have sex with other men anymore, Combs - whose net worth Forbes estimated at above $US1 billion ($A1.5 billion) in 2022 - threatened to stop paying her rent, Jane said. "He just was dismissive or wanted to move on from the subject," Jane said. Jane said she and Combs would call the events with other men "debauchery" or "hotel nights". Her description of the events resembled what another former girlfriend of Combs', Casandra Ventura, referred to as "Freak Offs". Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known professionally as Cassie, said she participated in "Freak Offs" with Combs and male sex workers for nearly a decade - at first to please him, and later because he blackmailed her with videos of the encounters. Earlier on Thursday, Combs' lawyer Nicole Westmoreland accused another witness, Ventura's friend Bryana Bongolan, of falsely testifying that Combs dangled her over Ventura's 17th-storey Los Angeles balcony in September 2016. Westmoreland suggested Combs was on the East Coast at the time of the alleged attack. "You came in here and you lied to the ladies and gentlemen of this jury, didn't you?" Westmoreland asked. "I can't agree with you," Bongolan replied. Under further questioning from prosecutor Madison Smyser, Bongolan said she did not know the exact date of the incident but said she had no doubt it took place. Prosecutors later displayed a text message Ventura sent an associate on September 30, 2016, stating that Combs' had dangled Bongolan's feet over the balcony. Outside the jury's presence following Bongolan's testimony, US District Judge Arun Subramanian said he had observed Combs "nodding vigorously" in the jury's direction during Westmoreland's questioning, and threatened to kick him out of the courtroom if he did that again. "There should be no efforts whatsoever to have any interactions with this jury," Subramanian said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Sean "Diddy" Combs dismissed requests by one of his former girlfriends to stop having sex with other men at his behest, and threatened to stop paying her rent, the woman has testified at the hip-hop mogul's sex trafficking trial. Testifying on Thursday under the pseudonym Jane to protect her privacy, the woman said she was Combs' girlfriend between 2021 and 2024. She is the third woman who prosecutors say was sexually abused by Combs to take the stand at his trial in Manhattan federal court, which is in its fourth week. Combs has pleaded not guilty to five counts including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He could face life in prison if convicted on all counts. Jane, a model and social media influencer, said she felt "exhilarated" the first time she had sex with a male escort in front of Combs in May 2021, about five months into their relationship. But she said she thought it would be a one-time occurrence. Instead, she said she had sex with other men in front of Combs about 90 per cent of the time she saw him. When she eventually told him she did not want to have sex with other men anymore, Combs - whose net worth Forbes estimated at above $US1 billion ($A1.5 billion) in 2022 - threatened to stop paying her rent, Jane said. "He just was dismissive or wanted to move on from the subject," Jane said. Jane said she and Combs would call the events with other men "debauchery" or "hotel nights". Her description of the events resembled what another former girlfriend of Combs', Casandra Ventura, referred to as "Freak Offs". Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known professionally as Cassie, said she participated in "Freak Offs" with Combs and male sex workers for nearly a decade - at first to please him, and later because he blackmailed her with videos of the encounters. Earlier on Thursday, Combs' lawyer Nicole Westmoreland accused another witness, Ventura's friend Bryana Bongolan, of falsely testifying that Combs dangled her over Ventura's 17th-storey Los Angeles balcony in September 2016. Westmoreland suggested Combs was on the East Coast at the time of the alleged attack. "You came in here and you lied to the ladies and gentlemen of this jury, didn't you?" Westmoreland asked. "I can't agree with you," Bongolan replied. Under further questioning from prosecutor Madison Smyser, Bongolan said she did not know the exact date of the incident but said she had no doubt it took place. Prosecutors later displayed a text message Ventura sent an associate on September 30, 2016, stating that Combs' had dangled Bongolan's feet over the balcony. Outside the jury's presence following Bongolan's testimony, US District Judge Arun Subramanian said he had observed Combs "nodding vigorously" in the jury's direction during Westmoreland's questioning, and threatened to kick him out of the courtroom if he did that again. "There should be no efforts whatsoever to have any interactions with this jury," Subramanian said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Sean "Diddy" Combs dismissed requests by one of his former girlfriends to stop having sex with other men at his behest, and threatened to stop paying her rent, the woman has testified at the hip-hop mogul's sex trafficking trial. Testifying on Thursday under the pseudonym Jane to protect her privacy, the woman said she was Combs' girlfriend between 2021 and 2024. She is the third woman who prosecutors say was sexually abused by Combs to take the stand at his trial in Manhattan federal court, which is in its fourth week. Combs has pleaded not guilty to five counts including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He could face life in prison if convicted on all counts. Jane, a model and social media influencer, said she felt "exhilarated" the first time she had sex with a male escort in front of Combs in May 2021, about five months into their relationship. But she said she thought it would be a one-time occurrence. Instead, she said she had sex with other men in front of Combs about 90 per cent of the time she saw him. When she eventually told him she did not want to have sex with other men anymore, Combs - whose net worth Forbes estimated at above $US1 billion ($A1.5 billion) in 2022 - threatened to stop paying her rent, Jane said. "He just was dismissive or wanted to move on from the subject," Jane said. Jane said she and Combs would call the events with other men "debauchery" or "hotel nights". Her description of the events resembled what another former girlfriend of Combs', Casandra Ventura, referred to as "Freak Offs". Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known professionally as Cassie, said she participated in "Freak Offs" with Combs and male sex workers for nearly a decade - at first to please him, and later because he blackmailed her with videos of the encounters. Earlier on Thursday, Combs' lawyer Nicole Westmoreland accused another witness, Ventura's friend Bryana Bongolan, of falsely testifying that Combs dangled her over Ventura's 17th-storey Los Angeles balcony in September 2016. Westmoreland suggested Combs was on the East Coast at the time of the alleged attack. "You came in here and you lied to the ladies and gentlemen of this jury, didn't you?" Westmoreland asked. "I can't agree with you," Bongolan replied. Under further questioning from prosecutor Madison Smyser, Bongolan said she did not know the exact date of the incident but said she had no doubt it took place. Prosecutors later displayed a text message Ventura sent an associate on September 30, 2016, stating that Combs' had dangled Bongolan's feet over the balcony. Outside the jury's presence following Bongolan's testimony, US District Judge Arun Subramanian said he had observed Combs "nodding vigorously" in the jury's direction during Westmoreland's questioning, and threatened to kick him out of the courtroom if he did that again. "There should be no efforts whatsoever to have any interactions with this jury," Subramanian said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028


West Australian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Jury hears more of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' 'debauchery'
Sean "Diddy" Combs dismissed requests by one of his former girlfriends to stop having sex with other men at his behest, and threatened to stop paying her rent, the woman has testified at the hip-hop mogul's sex trafficking trial. Testifying on Thursday under the pseudonym Jane to protect her privacy, the woman said she was Combs' girlfriend between 2021 and 2024. She is the third woman who prosecutors say was sexually abused by Combs to take the stand at his trial in Manhattan federal court, which is in its fourth week. Combs has pleaded not guilty to five counts including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He could face life in prison if convicted on all counts. Jane, a model and social media influencer, said she felt "exhilarated" the first time she had sex with a male escort in front of Combs in May 2021, about five months into their relationship. But she said she thought it would be a one-time occurrence. Instead, she said she had sex with other men in front of Combs about 90 per cent of the time she saw him. When she eventually told him she did not want to have sex with other men anymore, Combs - whose net worth Forbes estimated at above $US1 billion ($A1.5 billion) in 2022 - threatened to stop paying her rent, Jane said. "He just was dismissive or wanted to move on from the subject," Jane said. Jane said she and Combs would call the events with other men "debauchery" or "hotel nights". Her description of the events resembled what another former girlfriend of Combs', Casandra Ventura, referred to as "Freak Offs". Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known professionally as Cassie, said she participated in "Freak Offs" with Combs and male sex workers for nearly a decade - at first to please him, and later because he blackmailed her with videos of the encounters. Earlier on Thursday, Combs' lawyer Nicole Westmoreland accused another witness, Ventura's friend Bryana Bongolan, of falsely testifying that Combs dangled her over Ventura's 17th-storey Los Angeles balcony in September 2016. Westmoreland suggested Combs was on the East Coast at the time of the alleged attack. "You came in here and you lied to the ladies and gentlemen of this jury, didn't you?" Westmoreland asked. "I can't agree with you," Bongolan replied. Under further questioning from prosecutor Madison Smyser, Bongolan said she did not know the exact date of the incident but said she had no doubt it took place. Prosecutors later displayed a text message Ventura sent an associate on September 30, 2016, stating that Combs' had dangled Bongolan's feet over the balcony. Outside the jury's presence following Bongolan's testimony, US District Judge Arun Subramanian said he had observed Combs "nodding vigorously" in the jury's direction during Westmoreland's questioning, and threatened to kick him out of the courtroom if he did that again. "There should be no efforts whatsoever to have any interactions with this jury," Subramanian said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028


Perth Now
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Jury hears more of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' 'debauchery'
Sean "Diddy" Combs dismissed requests by one of his former girlfriends to stop having sex with other men at his behest, and threatened to stop paying her rent, the woman has testified at the hip-hop mogul's sex trafficking trial. Testifying on Thursday under the pseudonym Jane to protect her privacy, the woman said she was Combs' girlfriend between 2021 and 2024. She is the third woman who prosecutors say was sexually abused by Combs to take the stand at his trial in Manhattan federal court, which is in its fourth week. Combs has pleaded not guilty to five counts including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. He could face life in prison if convicted on all counts. Jane, a model and social media influencer, said she felt "exhilarated" the first time she had sex with a male escort in front of Combs in May 2021, about five months into their relationship. But she said she thought it would be a one-time occurrence. Instead, she said she had sex with other men in front of Combs about 90 per cent of the time she saw him. When she eventually told him she did not want to have sex with other men anymore, Combs - whose net worth Forbes estimated at above $US1 billion ($A1.5 billion) in 2022 - threatened to stop paying her rent, Jane said. "He just was dismissive or wanted to move on from the subject," Jane said. Jane said she and Combs would call the events with other men "debauchery" or "hotel nights". Her description of the events resembled what another former girlfriend of Combs', Casandra Ventura, referred to as "Freak Offs". Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known professionally as Cassie, said she participated in "Freak Offs" with Combs and male sex workers for nearly a decade - at first to please him, and later because he blackmailed her with videos of the encounters. Earlier on Thursday, Combs' lawyer Nicole Westmoreland accused another witness, Ventura's friend Bryana Bongolan, of falsely testifying that Combs dangled her over Ventura's 17th-storey Los Angeles balcony in September 2016. Westmoreland suggested Combs was on the East Coast at the time of the alleged attack. "You came in here and you lied to the ladies and gentlemen of this jury, didn't you?" Westmoreland asked. "I can't agree with you," Bongolan replied. Under further questioning from prosecutor Madison Smyser, Bongolan said she did not know the exact date of the incident but said she had no doubt it took place. Prosecutors later displayed a text message Ventura sent an associate on September 30, 2016, stating that Combs' had dangled Bongolan's feet over the balcony. Outside the jury's presence following Bongolan's testimony, US District Judge Arun Subramanian said he had observed Combs "nodding vigorously" in the jury's direction during Westmoreland's questioning, and threatened to kick him out of the courtroom if he did that again. "There should be no efforts whatsoever to have any interactions with this jury," Subramanian said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028


NBC News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Live updates: Kid Cudi expected to testify in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex-trafficking trial
What to know about the sex-trafficking trial Combs' former assistant George Kaplan briefly testified yesterday and will return to the witness stand today. Kaplan described the demanding job of being Combs' bag man and cleaning up liquor bottles and baby oil from hotel rooms. Rapper Kid Cudi was slated to take the stand yesterday, but his appearance has been postponed until today. Cudi is expected to testify about his relationship with Cassie Ventura. Combs faces five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has vociferously denied the allegations against him. This live briefing may include graphic descriptions of sexual violence. For resources on sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline. Sign up for the ' Diddy on Trial ' newsletter for key developments and analysis, and listen to Dateline's nightly podcast.