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Cassie, Michael B. Jordan relationship takes center stage in Diddy trial
Cassie, Michael B. Jordan relationship takes center stage in Diddy trial
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Former stylist for Cassie testifies of more alleged abuse by Combs
Deonte Nash, a friend and stylist of Cassie Ventura Fine, testified in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial of more alleged abuse by Combs against Fine.
As the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs stretched into its fourth week, the web of high-profile celebrities name-dropped from the witness stand grew.
Deonte Nash, Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine's longtime stylist, took the stand again on Thursday, May 29, to chronicle his friendship with both Ventura Fine and Combs, and to testify to any abuse he witnessed.
During cross-examination, Combs' attorney Xavier Donaldson asked Nash about being at the Revolt Conference in Miami in 2015 to style Lil Kim while Ventura Fine was shooting a movie in South Africa. Unprompted, Nash jumped in, saying, "Yes, I did hook her up with Michael B. Jordan. I know where you're going with this." Smiling, he clarified that Ventura Fine was "somewhat" pursuing Jordan, and that they were "dating, talking and getting to know each other."
Mia, an ex-assistant of Combs going by a pseudonym who also began testifying Thursday, helped with the set-up, Nash said.
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When defense lawyers began painting the setup as a consolation prize after Ventura Fine had discovered Combs was out with another woman, Nash pushed back.
"Uh, uh, uh. That's not how that happened," he told the court, according to ABC.
The courtroom moment falls into a pattern as Ventura Fine's relationships with other men come under a microscope. Both prosecutors and defense appear interested in discussing her romantic involvements outside of Combs, whom she dated on and off for 10 years. She and others have testified to jealousy and violence on the part of Combs when he felt Ventura Fine was seeing other men.
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Jordan's name appeared on a list of other celebrities shown to potential jurors before opening arguments aimed at filtering out those who might have strong opinions on any of the A-listers mentioned. Also included on the list was Kid Cudi, whom Ventura Fine also briefly dated, and who has testified that he believes Combs broke into his house and set his car on fire as a result of the relationship.
Earlier in the trial, Ventura Fine, who is a key witness for the prosecution, touched on her connection to Jordan, revealing that Combs had suspected she was in a relationship with the actor after the pair broke up in 2015.
At the time of their split, she was filming "Honey 3: Dare to Dance" in South Africa. Asked about Combs' reaction to an alleged relationship with Jordan, Ventura Fine said she "wasn't there to see it," according to NBC News, but added that he had attempted to get in contact with her.
Kerry Morgan testifies on Diddy, Cassie and Michael B. Jordan
During cross-examination earlier this month, Kerry Morgan, a former friend of Ventura's, was asked by defense attorney Marc Agnifilo whether Combs was jealous of Jordan.
Morgan said Ventura Fine began talking to Jordan shortly before a two-month trip to South Africa. "They were not together, and (Combs) was jealous," Morgan explained. "She was trying to leave him."
Obama, Britney Spears, Michael B. Jordan All the celebs mentioned during the Diddy trial
Deonte Nash talks Cassie's relationships with NFL players
Defense lawyers, burrowing in on Ventura Fine's romantic history, asked Nash about her relationship with former NFL linebacker Andre Branch.
"Oh, the cute football player?" he said, seemingly confirming the attachment. He was then asked whether Ventura Fine dated someone named Brandon in the NFL, to which he responded that he did not have details to share.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Jay Stahl
