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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy's Former Assistant Testifies She Had to Beg to Attend Grandmother's Funeral: 'Had to Get Permission'
Diddy's former assistant "Mia" says she had to beg to attend her grandmother's funeral She described working conditions as extreme, saying she had 'no time' for a personal life Mia also alleges years of sexual and physical abuse while employed by CombsA former assistant to Sean "Diddy" Combs has testified she was mistreated in myriad ways by the music mogul — claiming she even had to beg to go to her grandmother's funeral. The woman, who is testifying under the pseudonym "Mia," was cross-examined by one of Combs' attorneys, Brian Steel, on Friday, May 30. Mia said she had friends outside of work, but didn't have time to see them due to how demanding her job was. 'No, there was absolutely no time, and I had to get permission to leave or do things,' she told Steel. 'I had to beg to go to my grandma's funeral.' Mia has testified Combs physically and sexually assaulted her during her eight years of employment. Steel questioned her about posts from her Instagram account showing her with Combs in which she praised him, years after she said he first sexually assaulted her. She defended the posts as reflective of good times in her life, and said that she had to support the things Combs supported. "It was very confusing," she said, adding that the two experienced ups and downs in their relationship. When things were good, she said, she felt safe. She said she tried to ensure Combs was happy "to make sure" she was safe. When Steel asked why she had posted positive things about someone she previously said she was 'terrified' of, she responded firmly: 'Yes — especially about the person I was terrified of.' On Thursday, May 29, Mia testified that Combs once threw a bowl of spaghetti at her after she went to change her tampon after working many hours without a break, instead of rounding up guests at his house for an outing, which he had asked her to do. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges. His attorneys have admitted that he has a bad temper and could be violent at times but have denied that he ever trafficked anyone or that he ran a criminal enterprise. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to . Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy's Former Assistant Testifies She Had to Beg to Attend Grandmother's Funeral: 'Had to Get Permission'
Diddy's former assistant "Mia" says she had to beg to attend her grandmother's funeral She described working conditions as extreme, saying she had 'no time' for a personal life Mia also alleges years of sexual and physical abuse while employed by CombsA former assistant to Sean "Diddy" Combs has testified she was mistreated in myriad ways by the music mogul — claiming she even had to beg to go to her grandmother's funeral. The woman, who is testifying under the pseudonym "Mia," was cross-examined by one of Combs' attorneys, Brian Steel, on Friday, May 30. Mia said she had friends outside of work, but didn't have time to see them due to how demanding her job was. 'No, there was absolutely no time, and I had to get permission to leave or do things,' she told Steel. 'I had to beg to go to my grandma's funeral.' Mia has testified Combs physically and sexually assaulted her during her eight years of employment. Steel questioned her about posts from her Instagram account showing her with Combs in which she praised him, years after she said he first sexually assaulted her. She defended the posts as reflective of good times in her life, and said that she had to support the things Combs supported. "It was very confusing," she said, adding that the two experienced ups and downs in their relationship. When things were good, she said, she felt safe. She said she tried to ensure Combs was happy "to make sure" she was safe. When Steel asked why she had posted positive things about someone she previously said she was 'terrified' of, she responded firmly: 'Yes — especially about the person I was terrified of.' On Thursday, May 29, Mia testified that Combs once threw a bowl of spaghetti at her after she went to change her tampon after working many hours without a break, instead of rounding up guests at his house for an outing, which he had asked her to do. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges. His attorneys have admitted that he has a bad temper and could be violent at times but have denied that he ever trafficked anyone or that he ran a criminal enterprise. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to . Read the original article on People
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Traumatized' Assistant Testifies Diddy Pursued Her Relentlessly After Cassie's Lawsuit: 'It's Not Going to Stop'
A former assistant testifying under the pseudonym "Mia" says Sean "Diddy" Combs relentlessly tried to contact her after Cassie filed her 2023 lawsuit Mia told the court she was terrified by Combs' attempts to reach her, recalling: 'Oh my God, it's not going to stop.' She alleges Combs sexually assaulted her multiple times during her employmentAfter Casandra "Cassie" Ventura filed her bombshell lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs in November 2023, accusing him of years of physical and sexual abuse, he contacted an assistant who had worked for him for several years, the woman testified Friday, May 30, at his sex trafficking and racketeering trial. The woman, who is testifying under the pseudonym "Mia," said she had received phone calls and text messages from Combs and one of his close associates, D-Roc, asking to speak with her, but that she avoided Combs. In December 2023, weeks after Combs and Ventura privately settled the lawsuit she had filed against him, Mia said D-Roc messaged her again and told her Combs wanted her to call him. "I was terrified," she said. She said she remembered thinking, 'Oh my God, it's not going to stop." Jurors were shown a Feb. 7, 2024, message Combs sent Mia in which he asked to speak by phone to have his "memory jogged on some things." 'I knew the nice messages were a front," Mia testified. She said she didn't respond. "I wanted nothing to do with him," she said. "He was the person I was traumatized by.' She said she believed Combs feared she would tell people about what she had witnessed him do over the years. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. She testified Thursday that in the eight years she worked for Combs, she was subjected to violence and sexual assault on multiple occasions and that she endured grueling work conditions. She alleged Thursday that Combs had put his hand up her dress, forced her to perform oral sex and climbed into her bed while she was asleep and had sex with her against her will. She is the second woman to testify about alleged sexual abuse by Combs. Mia, who worked for Combs from 2009 to 2017, also testified Thursday that she witnessed Combs assault Ventura, his on-and-off girlfriend of more than a decade, who was signed to his music label as Cassie, numerous times. Ventura testified for four days during the first week of the trial. Combs is not accused of sex trafficking Mia. Prosecutors allege he subjected her to forced labor — part of the broader racketeering charge that claims Combs ran a criminal enterprise to commit and conceal crimes. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to . Read the original article on People
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Diddy trial updates: Sean Combs' alleged sexual abuse exposed in emotional testimony
Diddy trial updates: Sean Combs' alleged sexual abuse exposed in emotional testimony This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing. Sean "Diddy" Combs' alleged pattern of sexual and physical abuse is coming into focus as more of the hip-hop mogul's former associates speak out during his criminal trial. After harrowing testimony from Combs' ex-assistant, a woman going by the pseudonym "Mia," prosecutors returned to court on May 30 to continue building their case against the Grammy-winning rapper in his sweeping federal sex-crimes case. During her May 29 testimony, Mia was emotional, slow and considered in her responses. Her voice often cracked as she teared up while alleging Combs attacked her and his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura Fine multiple times. "He's thrown things at me. He's thrown me against the wall. He's thrown me into a pool," she said. Mia's testimony followed similar allegations from Deonte Nash, a friend and stylist of Ventura Fine, who claimed Combs tried to control all aspects of Cassie's life during their decadelong relationship. Combs, 55, was arrested in September 2024 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty. Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges. Why is Diddy on trial? Combs is facing federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling lawsuit that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry. He was arrested in September 2024 and later charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The rapper has pleaded not guilty to all five counts against him. What is racketeering? Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations that contribute to criminal activity. Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in "freak offs" — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors allege they have video of. Where can I watch the Diddy trial? The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings. USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom. Sign up for our newsletter for more updates. Contributing: USA TODAY staff If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (4673) and and en Español If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788.
NBC News
3 days ago
- NBC News
Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial live updates: Testimony continues after ex-assistant alleged Combs sexually assaulted her
What to know about the sex trafficking trial A woman who is only being referred to by a pseudonym, "Mia," testified on Thursday that she used to work as Combs' personal assistant for several years. She accused Combs of sexually assaulting her on multiple occasions during that time. 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 denied the allegations against him. This live blog may include graphic descriptions of sexual violence. For resources on sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Sign up for the ' Diddy on Trial ' newsletter for key developments and analysis, and listen to Dateline's nightly podcast.
