Latest news with #Ventura
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stylist testifies Cassie dated Michael B. Jordan, Andre Branch during Diddy relationship
NEW YORK — Sean 'Diddy' Combs' former stylist testified on Thursday to the former flames of Cassie Ventura, saying she dated both Michael B. Jordan and Andre Branch during her contentious on-and-off relationship with the hip-hop mogul. Deonte Nash — who worked for Diddy from 2008 to 2018 — took the stand for a second day in the rapper's federal sex trafficking trial, testifying that he set up Ventura with 'Sinners' star Jordan after she found out Diddy was seeing another woman in 2015. Nash also confirmed he knew that Ventura had dated Branch, now a 35-year-old former NFL linebacker, but that he 'never met him' during their brief relationship in 2016. Branch was alluded to earlier in the trial when Ventura testified that she cheated on Diddy with an NFL player, though she didn't identify him by name. While Ventura's relationships with other men have nothing to do with the charges against Combs, prosecutors have used them in attempt to paint a picture of his possessive, controlling and violent behavior. The R&B singer also testified to her relationship with rapper Kid Cudi, revealing the pair briefly dated in 2011 during a time when she and Combs were 'not in the greatest place.' She said Combs filled with rage upon learning of the romance, allegedly telling Ventura 'he was going to hurt' the two of them and blow up Cudi's car. In January 2012, police did in fact respond to a vehicle arson at Cudi's address in L.A., where his car was found engulfed in flames. No suspects were ever arrested. On Wednesday, Nash testified to witnessing Combs physically abusing Ventura on numerous occasions and hearing him threaten 'to beat her a–,' get her parents fired from their jobs and send out humiliating sex tapes recorded during 'freak-offs.' Nash's testimony brought into focus the power imbalance between Combs and Ventura, 17 years his junior. Prosecutors have used this to back up their claims that Combs coerced her into sex sessions with male escorts, which his lawyers have tried to frame as consensual. If convicted of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution, Combs faces life behind bars. He has maintained his innocence.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stylist testifies Cassie dated Michael B. Jordan, Andre Branch during Diddy relationship
NEW YORK — Sean 'Diddy' Combs' former stylist testified on Thursday to the former flames of Cassie Ventura, saying she dated both Michael B. Jordan and Andre Branch during her contentious on-and-off relationship with the hip-hop mogul. Deonte Nash — who worked for Diddy from 2008 to 2018 — took the stand for a second day in the rapper's federal sex trafficking trial, testifying that he set up Ventura with 'Sinners' star Jordan after she found out Diddy was seeing another woman in 2015. Nash also confirmed he knew that Ventura had dated Branch, now a 35-year-old former NFL linebacker, but that he 'never met him' during their brief relationship in 2016. Branch was alluded to earlier in the trial when Ventura testified that she cheated on Diddy with an NFL player, though she didn't identify him by name. While Ventura's relationships with other men have nothing to do with the charges against Combs, prosecutors have used them in attempt to paint a picture of his possessive, controlling and violent behavior. The R&B singer also testified to her relationship with rapper Kid Cudi, revealing the pair briefly dated in 2011 during a time when she and Combs were 'not in the greatest place.' She said Combs filled with rage upon learning of the romance, allegedly telling Ventura 'he was going to hurt' the two of them and blow up Cudi's car. In January 2012, police did in fact respond to a vehicle arson at Cudi's address in L.A., where his car was found engulfed in flames. No suspects were ever arrested. On Wednesday, Nash testified to witnessing Combs physically abusing Ventura on numerous occasions and hearing him threaten 'to beat her a–,' get her parents fired from their jobs and send out humiliating sex tapes recorded during 'freak-offs.' Nash's testimony brought into focus the power imbalance between Combs and Ventura, 17 years his junior. Prosecutors have used this to back up their claims that Combs coerced her into sex sessions with male escorts, which his lawyers have tried to frame as consensual. If convicted of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution, Combs faces life behind bars. He has maintained his innocence.
CBS News
a day ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Sinkhole swallows small Ventura parking lot near construction site
A massive sinkhole swallowed part of a small parking lot near a construction site in Ventura. The sinkhole occurred at the intersection of E. Front Street and S. Kalorama Street, across the street from The Wharf shopping center. It swallowed a few older cars parked in the lot. It's unclear how much damage the sinkhole caused.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy Allegedly Attacked Cassie on Prince's Front Lawn, Security Had to Step In
A former personal assistant to Sean "Diddy" Combs took the witness stand Thursday and told jurors the Bad Boy Records founder, known to his staff as Puff, worked her around the clock and sexually assaulted her multiple times during her employment from 2009 to 2017. The former employee, testifying under the pseudonym Mia — previously identified as Victim-4 in the Southern District of New York's criminal indictment — recounted an incident at a 2010 party hosted by Prince after the Emmy Awards, where the music legend's security had to intervene when Combs attacked Casandra "Cassie" Ventura. Mia said her tenure overlapped with Combs' relationship with singer Ventura, one of the women Combs is accused of sex-trafficking at his federal trial. Mia told jurors Combs kept tight control of Ventura's whereabouts, appearance and music career, and that part of her job was to 'keep tabs' on Ventura. When she and Ventura, who she says became like her 'sister," did something without Combs' permission, the 'punishment' could be 'unpredictable and terrifying,' she testified. Related: Diddy's Former Assistant Mia Says He Sexually Assaulted Her 'Several Times,' Made Her Crack His Knuckles That night, Mia recounted that Combs told her to stay with Ventura at a hotel to keep her company as the music mogul had told Ventura he would be with his kids. Then, Mia claimed, a friend called and told her and Ventura about the party at Prince's house. 'Cass and I debated like little kids if we should sneak out of the house for probably what felt like forever,' Mia testified. Ventura, who took the stand at Combs' sex trafficking trial on Wednesday, May 14, said she was having dinner with friends and wanted to go to Prince's house. Related: Cassie Says She Fled 'Once in a Lifetime' Experience at Prince's House After Learning Diddy Was There Too 'It was a once in a lifetime experience,' Ventura testified. She said she did not want to tell Combs about the experience because she thought "he would say no." Ventura and Mia ultimately went to Prince's party and were having fun dancing and watching him perform, Mia said, but then Combs arrived. Mia recalled seeing his bucket hat and the two locking eyes. Ventura testified earlier she saw BET executives and suddenly heard Combs was there. 'I caught a glimpse of him, left the party and ran out as fast as I could,' Ventura testified. 'I knew he was angry at me.' She said she could see it in his facial expressions 'and then he came after me.' Related: Cassie Says She Fled 'Once in a Lifetime' Experience at Prince's House After Learning Diddy Was There Too Mia claimed they both took off running out of Prince's estate, but 'Puff caught Cass,' the former assistant said. Two weeks ago, Ventura told the jury that she started running before falling into the bushes in Prince's front yard. 'It's a little fuzzy, but the most distinct memory I have is running and falling into the bushes in the front yard,' Ventura added. 'I don't know if at that point he was over me. I have no idea. I just remember falling in the bushes and then getting up quickly and getting in the car to get back to the hotel.' 'He caught up to her and had her on the ground,' Mia said. 'He started attacking her, but Prince's security swiftly intervened.' Mia left and spent the night at a different hotel, she testified. The ex-employee said that the next day, the head of human resources told her Combs was suspending her without pay for attending Prince's party with Ventura. 'Puff said I was being insubordinate,' Mia claimed. She said the HR employee did not mention anything about Combs' behavior the night before. Back at Ventura's Beverly Hills hotel, Combs barged inside the room and allegedly beat Ventura, leaving her with a black eye, knots in her head, and a busted lisp, Ventura and her friend, celebrity makeup artist Mylah Morales, testified last week. Related: Makeup Artist Says Her Nap Was Interrupted by Diddy's Shouting — and What She Saw Next Was Disturbing Ventura, who dated Combs for 11 years, is the key witness for the prosecution at his trial. The artist, 38, welcomed her third baby, a boy, with husband Alex Fine, a source confirmed to PEOPLE on May 28. "We went into the bedroom and he beat me up,' Ventura alleged. 'He threw luggage at me, calling me all kinds of names." Related: Cassie Welcomes Baby No. 3 with Husband Alex Fine Almost 2 Weeks After Testifying in Diddy's Criminal Trial The prosecution has already established that several of Combs' employees and people on his payroll saw the mogul physically abusing Ventura over the course of their relationship. Former assistants George Kaplan and Capricorn Clark, Danity Kane's Dawn Richard, former stylist Deonte Nash and Morales, all testified they had been present when Combs brutally attacked Ventura. The Bad Boy Records founder is currently facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution, which he has adamantly denied. 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 stylist makes unprompted claim he set Cassie up with Hollywood star Michael B Jordan
Sean 'Diddy' Combs's former stylist was keen for the court to know that he allegedly played matchmaker for Cassie Ventura and Hollywood A-lister Michael B Jordan. Deonte Nash did not wait for the defense attorney to finish their question on Thursday, before offering up the information unprompted to the court. The celebrity stylist, who worked for both Combs and Ventura, was being cross-examined about events in 2015, when Ventura was in South Africa shooting a film. As attorney Xavier Donaldson began a question about how Ventura got approval from Combs to shoot the film, Nash cut him off, replying: 'Yes, I did hook her up with Michael B. Jordan. I know where we're going with this,' according to the Washington Post. 'He fine, she fine. I mean why not?' he added. Judge Arun Subramanian told Nash to wait for attorneys to finish their questions before offering information. Nash said that while on the South African shoot, Ventura had found out that Combs had been with another woman, referred to as Gina, but was not as jealous as the defense had previously suggested. 'Honestly, she wasn't that pressed about Gina,' he said. Gina is the pseudonym that one of Combs' alleged victims is being referred to at trial. She had been slated to testify but had a change of heart in the lead up to trial. However, he said, she was concerned about the impact of Combs 'running around with other women' might have on her career. Jealousy may have run the other way however, Nash testified, claiming that Combs contacted him and Ventura when he discovered she was dating Jordan. On Wednesday, Nash testified that he witnessed Combs' violence against his ex-girlfriend firsthand, saying that he and Ventura hid from Combs "too many times to count.' Combs is facing sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy charges. The mogul was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged he threatened, abused, and coerced victims 'to fulfill his sexual desires' between 2004 and 2024. Combs has denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
