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Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Sean 'Diddy' Combs story - From recording studio to courtroom
By Jack Queen (Reuters) - Sean "Diddy" Combs, the hip-hop mogul who discovered the Notorious B.I.G. and ran one of the genre's most iconic record labels, is set to stand trial in New York on Monday in a case accusing the onetime industry kingmaker of running a multi-decade racketeering and sex-trafficking conspiracy. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. Here is a timeline of his rise and fall from music industry A-lister to criminal defendant. Here is a timeline of his career and legal troubles: 1993 - Combs establishes his record label Bad Boy Records, bringing along rapper Christopher Wallace (the Notorious B.I.G.) from their former label. 1996 - Under the name 'Puff Daddy,' Combs releases his first solo album, titled No Way Out, which later wins a Grammy Award for best rap album. 1999 - Combs pleads guilty in New York state court to harassment for attacking another rapper's manager and is sentenced to one day of anger management class. Several months later, Combs is charged with weapons offenses over a shooting at a club in New York's Times Square, but is acquitted at trial. 2001 - A Detroit radio host sues Combs for assault, claiming the rap mogul's associates roughed him up and destroyed an interview tape. Combs denies wrongdoing and is ultimately cleared by a jury. 2003 - A former business partner sues Combs for allegedly threatening him with a baseball bat. Combs denies the allegations, and the case is dismissed after an appeals court finds the statute of limitations had expired. 2008 - Combs privately settles a lawsuit by a man who claimed the mogul punched him outside a Hollywood nightclub. 2015 - Combs is arrested for aggravated assault after an argument with his son's football coach in Los Angeles. The charges are later dropped. 2017 - Combs' former personal chef sues the mogul for sexual harassment and retaliation. The case is settled for an undisclosed amount two years later. November 16, 2023 -- Combs' former girlfriend Cassie Ventura sues Combs in New York federal court for rape, sex trafficking and physical abuse. Combs and Ventura settle the case for an undisclosed sum days later. November 23, 2023 - A California woman named Joi Dickerson-Neal files a lawsuit accusing Combs of drugging and raping her when she was a university student in 1991, one of dozens of sexual abuse lawsuits Combs would ultimately face. May 17, 2024 -- CNN releases footage purporting to show Combs violently assaulting Ventura at a hotel in Los Angeles on March 5, 2016. May 19, 2024 -- Combs posts an apology video for the Ventura incident, saying he is "truly sorry" for his "inexcusable" actions. October 14, 2024 -- Combs is accused of assault in six new civil lawsuits filed by an attorney who said he was representing 120 people who accused Combs of abuse. September 16, 2024 -- Combs is arrested in New York and charged with racketeering, sex trafficking by force and transportation for purposes of prostitution. He pleads not guilty the following day, and a judge denies him bail. April 4, 2025 -- Federal prosecutors in Manhattan file an expanded indictment charging Combs with five criminal counts. Combs pleads not guilty two weeks later. May 5, 2025 -- Combs' trial begins with jury selection before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan federal court.
Straits Times
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
The Sean 'Diddy' Combs story - From recording studio to courtroom
FILE PHOTO: Rapper Sean Diddy Combs arrives at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, U.S., August 28, 2016. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/ File Photo FILE PHOTO: Sean \"Diddy\" Combs performs at the BET Awards 2022 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 26, 2022. REUTERS/David Swanson/ File Photo Sean "Diddy" Combs, the hip-hop mogul who discovered the Notorious B.I.G. and ran one of the genre's most iconic record labels, is set to stand trial in New York on Monday in a case accusing the onetime industry kingmaker of running a multi-decade racketeering and sex-trafficking conspiracy. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. Here is a timeline of his rise and fall from music industry A-lister to criminal defendant. Here is a timeline of his career and legal troubles: 1993 - Combs establishes his record label Bad Boy Records, bringing along rapper Christopher Wallace (the Notorious B.I.G.) from their former label. 1996 - Under the name 'Puff Daddy,' Combs releases his first solo album, titled No Way Out, which later wins a Grammy Award for best rap album. 1999 - Combs pleads guilty in New York state court to harassment for attacking another rapper's manager and is sentenced to one day of anger management class. Several months later, Combs is charged with weapons offenses over a shooting at a club in New York's Times Square, but is acquitted at trial. 2001 - A Detroit radio host sues Combs for assault, claiming the rap mogul's associates roughed him up and destroyed an interview tape. Combs denies wrongdoing and is ultimately cleared by a jury. 2003 - A former business partner sues Combs for allegedly threatening him with a baseball bat. Combs denies the allegations, and the case is dismissed after an appeals court finds the statute of limitations had expired. 2008 - Combs privately settles a lawsuit by a man who claimed the mogul punched him outside a Hollywood nightclub. 2015 - Combs is arrested for aggravated assault after an argument with his son's football coach in Los Angeles. The charges are later dropped. 2017 - Combs' former personal chef sues the mogul for sexual harassment and retaliation. The case is settled for an undisclosed amount two years later. November 16, 2023 -- Combs' former girlfriend Cassie Ventura sues Combs in New York federal court for rape, sex trafficking and physical abuse. Combs and Ventura settle the case for an undisclosed sum days later. November 23, 2023 - A California woman named Joi Dickerson-Neal files a lawsuit accusing Combs of drugging and raping her when she was a university student in 1991, one of dozens of sexual abuse lawsuits Combs would ultimately face. May 17, 2024 -- CNN releases footage purporting to show Combs violently assaulting Ventura at a hotel in Los Angeles on March 5, 2016. May 19, 2024 -- Combs posts an apology video for the Ventura incident, saying he is "truly sorry" for his "inexcusable" actions. October 14, 2024 -- Combs is accused of assault in six new civil lawsuits filed by an attorney who said he was representing 120 people who accused Combs of abuse. September 16, 2024 -- Combs is arrested in New York and charged with racketeering, sex trafficking by force and transportation for purposes of prostitution. He pleads not guilty the following day, and a judge denies him bail. April 4, 2025 -- Federal prosecutors in Manhattan file an expanded indictment charging Combs with five criminal counts. Combs pleads not guilty two weeks later. May 5, 2025 -- Combs' trial begins with jury selection before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan federal court. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
NDTV
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
The Sean 'Diddy' Combs Story - From Record Labels To Courtroom
Sean "Diddy" Combs, the hip-hop mogul who discovered the Notorious B.I.G. and ran one of the genre's most iconic record labels, is set to stand trial in New York on Monday in a case accusing the onetime industry kingmaker of running a multi-decade racketeering and sex-trafficking conspiracy. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. Here is a timeline of his rise and fall from music industry A-lister to criminal defendant. Here is a timeline of his career and legal troubles: 1993 - Combs establishes his record label Bad Boy Records, bringing along rapper Christopher Wallace (the Notorious B.I.G.) from their former label. 1996 - Under the name "Puff Daddy," Combs releases his first solo album, titled No Way Out, which later wins a Grammy Award for best rap album. 1999 - Combs pleads guilty in New York state court to harassment for attacking another rapper's manager and is sentenced to one day of anger management class. Several months later, Combs is charged with weapons offenses over a shooting at a club in New York's Times Square, but is acquitted at trial. 2001 - A Detroit radio host sues Combs for assault, claiming the rap mogul's associates roughed him up and destroyed an interview tape. Combs denies wrongdoing and is ultimately cleared by a jury. 2003 - A former business partner sues Combs for allegedly threatening him with a baseball bat. Combs denies the allegations, and the case is dismissed after an appeals court finds the statute of limitations had expired. 2008 - Combs privately settles a lawsuit by a man who claimed the mogul punched him outside a Hollywood nightclub. 2015 - Combs is arrested for aggravated assault after an argument with his son's football coach in Los Angeles. The charges are later dropped. 2017 - Combs' former personal chef sues the mogul for sexual harassment and retaliation. The case is settled for an undisclosed amount two years later. November 16, 2023 -- Combs' former girlfriend Cassie Ventura sues Combs in New York federal court for rape, sex trafficking and physical abuse. Combs and Ventura settle the case for an undisclosed sum days later. November 23, 2023 - A California woman named Joi Dickerson-Neal files a lawsuit accusing Combs of drugging and raping her when she was a university student in 1991, one of dozens of sexual abuse lawsuits Combs would ultimately face. May 17, 2024 -- CNN releases footage purporting to show Combs violently assaulting Ventura at a hotel in Los Angeles on March 5, 2016. May 19, 2024 -- Combs posts an apology video for the Ventura incident, saying he is "truly sorry" for his "inexcusable" actions. October 14, 2024 -- Combs is accused of assault in six new civil lawsuits filed by an attorney who said he was representing 120 people who accused Combs of abuse. September 16, 2024 -- Combs is arrested in New York and charged with racketeering, sex trafficking by force and transportation for purposes of prostitution. He pleads not guilty the following day, and a judge denies him bail. April 4, 2025 -- Federal prosecutors in Manhattan file an expanded indictment charging Combs with five criminal counts. Combs pleads not guilty two weeks later. May 5, 2025 -- Combs' trial begins with jury selection before US District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan federal court.
Reuters
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
The Sean 'Diddy' Combs story - From recording studio to courtroom
May 5 (Reuters) - Sean "Diddy" Combs, the hip-hop mogul who discovered the Notorious B.I.G. and ran one of the genre's most iconic record labels, is set to stand trial in New York on Monday in a case accusing the onetime industry kingmaker of running a multi-decade racketeering and sex-trafficking conspiracy. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. Here is a timeline of his rise and fall from music industry A-lister to criminal defendant. Here is a timeline of his career and legal troubles: 1993 - Combs establishes his record label Bad Boy Records, bringing along rapper Christopher Wallace (the Notorious B.I.G.) from their former label. 1996 - Under the name 'Puff Daddy,' Combs releases his first solo album, titled No Way Out, which later wins a Grammy Award for best rap album. 1999 - Combs pleads guilty in New York state court to harassment for attacking another rapper's manager and is sentenced to one day of anger management class. Several months later, Combs is charged with weapons offenses over a shooting at a club in New York's Times Square, but is acquitted at trial. 2001 - A Detroit radio host sues Combs for assault, claiming the rap mogul's associates roughed him up and destroyed an interview tape. Combs denies wrongdoing and is ultimately cleared by a jury. 2003 - A former business partner sues Combs for allegedly threatening him with a baseball bat. Combs denies the allegations, and the case is dismissed after an appeals court finds the statute of limitations had expired. 2008 - Combs privately settles a lawsuit by a man who claimed the mogul punched him outside a Hollywood nightclub. 2015 - Combs is arrested for aggravated assault after an argument with his son's football coach in Los Angeles. The charges are later dropped. 2017 - Combs' former personal chef sues the mogul for sexual harassment and retaliation. The case is settled for an undisclosed amount two years later. November 16, 2023 -- Combs' former girlfriend Cassie Ventura sues Combs in New York federal court for rape, sex trafficking and physical abuse. Combs and Ventura settle the case for an undisclosed sum days later. November 23, 2023 - A California woman named Joi Dickerson-Neal files a lawsuit accusing Combs of drugging and raping her when she was a university student in 1991, one of dozens of sexual abuse lawsuits Combs would ultimately face. May 17, 2024 -- CNN releases footage purporting to show Combs violently assaulting Ventura at a hotel in Los Angeles on March 5, 2016. May 19, 2024 -- Combs posts an apology video for the Ventura incident, saying he is "truly sorry" for his "inexcusable" actions. October 14, 2024 -- Combs is accused of assault in six new civil lawsuits filed by an attorney who said he was representing 120 people who accused Combs of abuse. September 16, 2024 -- Combs is arrested in New York and charged with racketeering, sex trafficking by force and transportation for purposes of prostitution. He pleads not guilty the following day, and a judge denies him bail. April 4, 2025 -- Federal prosecutors in Manhattan file an expanded indictment charging Combs with five criminal counts. Combs pleads not guilty two weeks later. May 5, 2025 -- Combs' trial begins with jury selection before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan federal court.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial gets underway with jury selection
Jury selection starts Monday in the sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs, beginning the first courtroom test of whether one of hip-hop's most important figures used power and wealth amassed in the music, clothing and spirits industries to sexually abuse, coerce and exploit alleged victims for decades. Known by various names through the years – Puffy, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy and Love – Combs became a rap impresario in the 1990s, launching the careers of Mary J. Blige, Usher and the Notorious B.I.G. and lending his hip-hop credentials to the songs of Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez. Combs, who once proclaimed himself "Bad Boy for Life," now faces what could amount to a life sentence if convicted. Federal prosecutors in New York allege he "abused, threatened and coerced women" into prolonged, drug-fueled sexual orgies with male prostitutes he called "freak offs" and threatened them into silence. "After Freak Offs, Combs and the victims typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use," the indictment said. He has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution charges -- five counts in all. His defense attorneys have said all of his sexual encounters were consensual and have described Combs as a swinger who invited third parties into his bedroom. At a hearing last month, Agnifilo seemed to preview the defense strategy, telling the judge, "There's a lifestyle, call it swingers, that he was in that he thought was appropriate. The reason he thought it was appropriate is because it's so common." MORE: Here's what's in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs indictment By coincidence, jury selection begins the same day as the Met Gala, where Combs was once a fixture. Potential jurors began answering written questions last week to test what they may have heard about the case, whether they can be fair and whether they can endure a two-month trial expected to feature sexually explicit evidence. The evidence includes a surveillance tape, first broadcast by CNN in May 2024, that shows Combs striking, kicking and dragging then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel in March 2016. Ventura's civil lawsuit, settled a day after it was filed in 2023 with no admission of wrongdoing, provided prosecutors with a basis to initiate the criminal investigation that led to Combs' arrest in September 2024. Combs apologized for the video at the time, saying, "I hit rock bottom -- but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video." Ventura is an anticipated witness, along with three other as-yet-unidentified alleged victims, two of whom were given permission to testify under pseudonyms. MORE: Sean 'Diddy' Combs rejects plea deal ahead of sex trafficking trial Prosecutors are also expected to introduce items seized when federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations raided Combs' homes in Los Angeles and Miami, including more than a dozen electronic devices and AR-15-style rifles with defaced serial numbers. Days before trial, federal prosecutors offered Combs a chance to plead guilty and spare himself the possibility of a prolonged prison sentence. Asked if he rejected the offer, Combs answered, "Yes I do your honor." He has appeared in court wearing drab beige jail garb but the jury will see him in ordinary dress clothes. Members of his family, including his mother, are expected to attend. His defense team includes Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos. They represented NXIVM founder Keith Raniere who was convicted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, the same charges Combs faces. The defense team also includes Brian Steel, who represented rapper Young Thug at a racketeering trial in Atlanta, and Alexandra Shapiro, a leading appellate litigator who also represents Sam Bankman-Fried. The all-female prosecution team includes Maureen Comey, who successfully prosecuted Ghislaine Maxwell for sex trafficking, and Emily Johnson, Mitzi Steiner and Madison Smyser, who have prosecuted violent crime, and gang prosecutor Christy Slavik. Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial gets underway with jury selection originally appeared on
