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The Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald
Trump: No requests to pardon Sean ‘Diddy' Combs, but will look at facts
Trump has made extensive use of his power to pardon or commute the sentences of people accused of or convicted of federal crimes, a break with tradition, as presidents normally wait until near the end of their terms before granting clemency. Trump, a Republican, said he had not seen or spoken to Combs in years. Combs could face life in prison if convicted on all counts. Also known throughout his career as Puff Daddy and P Diddy, Combs is known for turning artists including Notorious BIG and Mary J Blige into stars. In the process he elevated hip-hop in American culture and became a billionaire. The criminal charges filed last September and dozens of civil lawsuits accusing Combs of sexual abuse have left his reputation in tatters. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan alleged over two decades Combs coerced women to take part in drug-fuelled sexual performances known as 'freak-offs' with male sex workers. Two women have testified Combs raped them. His lawyers have acknowledged he was at times abusive in romantic relationships but argued the women who took part in 'freak-offs' did so consensually. Reuters
Sky News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Diddy trial live: Kid Cudi reacts to car fire and accuses Diddy of 'messing with' dog during break-in
Diddy's lifestyle 'like drinking from a fire hose' Cross-examination of George Kaplan, Sean "Diddy" Combs's ex-assistant, begins after the prosecution finishes their questions. Kaplan worked for Diddy for several years up to December 2015 and was subpoenaed to appear at court and has an immunity order, meaning his testimony will not be used against him. Marc Antony Agnifilo, Diddy's lead lawyer, begins by asking Kaplan to expand on the "incredible time" he had while working for Diddy. Kaplan says he was young at the time, just realising how big the world was, and says Diddy "made my world so much bigger". He describes Diddy's knowledge of business and his way of living as being like "drinking from a fire hose". He says he has been a fan of Diddy since his childhood, adding: "I use [his] work ethic every day, without those lessons I wouldn't have the jobs I have now." Kaplan describes Diddy as pushing him to his "deepest depths," adding that working for Diddy was "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity". We learn that the birthday of the late rapper Notorious BIG - which was yesterday - is marked at Combs Enterprises with a holiday for all staff.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Live updates: Sex-trafficking trial for Sean 'Diddy' Combs
Sean 'Diddy' Combs and his vast empire Image source, Reuters Sean "Diddy" Combs is one of the most successful music moguls in the US. He's had many aliases, going by Puffy, Puff Daddy, P Diddy, Love, and Brother Love at one point or another. His career has spanned decades, from launching the careers of Notorious B.I.G and Mary J. Blige in the 1990s, to a Grammy nomination for a solo album in 2023. Though his discography as a rapper is well-known, his vast empire was built through his label - Bad Boy Records. Over the years, it has collaborated with Faith Evans, Ma$e, 112, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez. Outside of music, he has also appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows - including starring alongside Russel Brand and Jonah Hill in the 2010 comedy Get Him to The Greek.
New York Times
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Live Updates: Sean Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Set to Begin in Manhattan
Pinned The trial of the music mogul Sean Combs, who is facing charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, is set to begin Monday at Federal District Court in Lower Manhattan. For up to eight weeks, jurors are expected to hear graphic testimony accusing Mr. Combs, 55, of violence and of coercing several women — including his former girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, the singer known as Cassie — into sex. Here's what else to know: The day at court: The selection and swearing-in of 18 jurors, including six alternates, is expected to be completed Monday morning. Then the prosecution and the defense are expected to make their opening statements to jurors, and the first witnesses are set to be called by prosecutors. The prosecution: Prosecutors are expected to argue that Mr. Combs is a serial abuser of women and the leader of a criminal enterprise that worked to fulfill his sexual desires and cover up his abuse. The defense: His defense lawyers are expected to argue that the sex between Mr. Combs and the women who are part of the case was entirely consensual, and that the government has painted an unfair picture of Mr. Combs's businesses and employees. No video or photography: In keeping with longstanding rules at federal courts, there will be no video or photography from the courtroom. Who is Sean Combs? Combs played a significant role in making hip-hop a global cultural force, and helped turn rap and R&B artists like the Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige into household names. Who is the judge? Judge Arun Subramanian, who is presiding over the trial, is relatively new to the federal bench. He is the first judge of South Asian descent at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. And he likes karaoke. Show more
Asharq Al-Awsat
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
A Timeline of the Rise and Fall of Sean 'Diddy' Combs
For more than two decades, Sean 'Diddy' Combs was one of hip-hop's most opportunistic entrepreneurs, spinning his hitmaking talents into a broad business empire that included a record label, a fashion brand, a TV network, deals with companies and a key role in a reality TV show. But US prosecutors say behind the scenes, Combs was coercing and abusing women with assistance from a network of associates who helped silence victims through blackmail and violence. Combs has pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations. Opening statements in his trial are expected Monday. Here is a timeline of major events in his rise and fall: 1990: Combs, then a student at Howard University, gets his start in the music business with an internship at Uptown Records in New York. Dec. 28, 1991: Nine people die at a celebrity basketball game promoted by Combs and the rapper Heavy D when thousands of fans try to get into a gym at the City College of New York. A mayoral report lays part of the blame for the catastrophe on poor planning by Combs. 1992: Combs is one of the executive producers on 'What's the 411?', the debut album by Mary J. Blige. 1993: After being fired by Uptown, Combs establishes his own label, Bad Boy, which quickly cuts a lucrative deal with Arista Records. 1994: Bad Boy releases Notorious B.I.G.'s album 'Ready to Die.' Two months later, Tupac Shakur survives a shooting in New York and accuses Combs and Biggie of having prior knowledge of the attack, which they deny. Shakur was later killed in a 1996 shooting in Las Vegas. 1996: Combs is convicted of criminal mischief after he allegedly threatened a photographer with a gun. 1997: Biggie is killed in Los Angeles. Combs, then known as Puff Daddy, releases 'I'll be Missing You' in honor of his slain star. 1998: Combs wins two Grammys, one for best rap album for his debut 'No Way Out' and another for best rap performance by a duo or group for 'I'll Be Missing You' with Faith Evans. Also that year, Combs' Sean John fashion line is founded. April 16, 1999: Combs and his bodyguards are charged with attacking Interscope Records music executive Steve Stoute in his New York office in a dispute over a music video. Combs is sentenced to an anger management course. Dec. 27, 1999: Combs is arrested on gun possession charges after he and his girlfriend at the time, Jennifer Lopez, fled a shooting that wounded three people at a New York City nightclub. Some witnesses tell police Combs was among the people shooting in the club. He is later charged with offering his driver $50,000 to claim ownership of the 9 mm handgun found in his car. March 17, 2001: Combs is acquitted of all charges related to the nightclub shooting. One of his rap proteges, Jamal 'Shyne' Barrows, is convicted in the shooting and serves nearly nine years in prison. Two weeks after the trial, Combs announces he wants to be known as P. Diddy. 2002: Combs becomes the producer and star of 'Making the Band,' a talent search TV show. Feb. 1, 2004: Combs performs at the Super Bowl halftime show along with Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake and others. A week later, Combs, Nelly and Murphy Lee win a Grammy for best rap performance by a duo or group for 'Shake Ya Tailfeather.' April 2004: Combs makes his Broadway acting debut in 'A Raisin in the Sun.' 2005: Combs announces he is changing his stage name to Diddy, getting rid of the P. March 2008: Combs settles a lawsuit brought by a man who claims Combs punched him after a post-Oscar party outside a Hollywood hotel the previous year. In May, Combs is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 2015: Combs is arrested after a confrontation on the campus of UCLA, where one of his sons played football. Assault charges are later dropped. 2016: Combs launches a Harlem charter school, the Capital Preparatory School. Also that year, he announces he is donating $1 million to Howard University. 2017: Combs is named the top earner on Forbes' list of the 100 highest-paid celebrities, which says he brought in $130 million in a single year. 2018: Kim Porter, Combs' former girlfriend and the mother of three of his children, dies from pneumonia at age 47. 2022: Combs receives a lifetime honor at the BET Awards. Sept. 15, 2023: Combs releases 'The Love Album — Off the Grid,' his first solo studio project since 2006's chart-topping 'Press Play.' Nov. 16, 2023: R&B singer Cassie sues Combs, alleging he subjected her to years of abuse, including beatings and rape. A day later, the lawsuit is settled under undisclosed terms. Combs, through his attorney, denies the accusations. Nov. 23, 2023: Two more women accuse Combs of sexual abuse in lawsuits. Combs' attorneys call the allegations false. Dozens of additional lawsuits follow by women and men who accuse Combs of rape, sexual assault and other attacks. Plaintiffs include singer Dawn Richard, a 'Making the Band' contestant who alleged years of psychological and physical abuse. Combs denies all the allegations. March 25, 2024: Federal agents search Combs' homes in Los Angeles and Miami Beach, Florida. May 17, 2024: CNN airs video that shows Combs attacking and beating Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. Two days later, Combs posts videos on social media apologizing for the assault. Sept. 16, 2024: Combs is arrested at his Manhattan hotel. A sex trafficking and racketeering indictment unsealed the next day accuses him of using his business empire to coerce women into participating in sexual performances. Combs denies the allegations. His attorney calls it an unjust prosecution of an 'imperfect person.' May 5, 2025: Jury selection began for Combs' trial.
