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Graziadaily
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
Was Mila Kunis Mentioned In The Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial?
Since Sean 'Diddy' Combs was arrested for charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation, his many A-list friends have come under scrutiny. Diddy, who denies all allegations and has pleaded not guilty in court, threw infamous partied throughout the 2000s which were attended by countless celebrities- a lot of whom have now been mentioned during his trial. So far, plenty of people have taken to the stand and testified against Diddy, including his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard, rapper Kid Cudi, Diddy's former personal assistant David James and an escort Diddy allegedly paid for 'freak offs' called Daniel Phillip. Various celebrities have also been mentioned during the course of the trial including Lauren London, Usher, who previously described Diddy as a mentor and Michael B. Jordan, who reportedly had a brief flirtation with Ventura during the period of their on-off relationship. However, it's not yet clear where they would fit into the case and there's been no suggestion that they were involved in the alleged crimes, nor are they accused of any wrongdoing. Another celebrity that's come under fire is Mila Kunis and her husband Ashton Kutcher. Although neither of them have explicitly been mentioned in the trial so far and have not been accused of any crime, their close ties to the music mogul has meant that they've come under intense media scrutiny ever since he was arrested last year. After his arrest, photos emerged showing a young Kutcher with Combs, including one of him co-hosting the record producer's annual White Party in 2009. It remains uncertain whether either of them will be called to testify in the Diddy trial. Kutcher has reportedly been friends with Diddy ever since 2003, right around the time the actor launched his prank show Punk'd. Diddy told James Corden on The Late Late Show in 2018, 'I gave [Kutcher] a call one day and said, 'I heard that you are going to punk me, and I just don't think that's a good idea."' Appearing on the YouTube series Hot Onesin 2019, Ashton Kutcher declined to share details about the rapper's parties, saying, 'I've got a lot I can't tell.' He also recalled that the pair began training for the New York City Marathon together shortly after they first became friends. 'We had paparazzi all around us at the time and [Diddy] was like, 'You gotta slow down, but make it look like you're not slowing down, because I don't want to look like I'm not going to be able to finish this thing.' Kunis has been forced to deny rumours that she and Ashton are splitting up due to tension placed on the marriage during the trial. Unfortunately for the actress, this Diddy trial follows another public relations controversy for her and her husband. In 2023, they both voiced their public support for their That '70s Show co-star Danny Masterson after he was accused of sexual assault. The couple faced backlash when their character letters were made public in which they praised their friend as a 'role model' and an 'exceptional person.' Shortly afterwards, Masterson was sentenced to 30 years in prison when a jury found him guilty of two counts of rape. With Diddy's trial predicted to end in early July, we'll need to wait and see if Mila or Ashton are mentioned or even called to the stand. Sarah O'Byrne has worked for Bauer Media since May 2023. She writes for Grazia, heat, Closer, Bella and Yours.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Which charges does Sean 'Diddy' Combs face – and could he go to jail?
The trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs is beginning, and with it comes the potential legal undoing of a one-time media and music titan. Combs, whose label Bad Boy Records helped make him a king-maker in the world of hip-hop, was toppled from on high in September, when authorities arrested him on federal charges, alleging he was helping run a criminal sex trafficking operation. Now behind bars as he awaits the court proceedings, Combs has simultaneously faced a torrent of civil suits painting the music mogul as a longtime abuser, following a quickly-settled lawsuit from ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura − who alleged Combs raped and assaulted her. As Combs arrives for his day in court May 5, here's a look at the charges he faces. 'Coercive control' is the phrase you won't hear about at the Diddy trial. Why it's still important. Combs is charged with two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and one count of racketeering. Federal authorities claim Combs turned his "multi-faceted business empire" into a "criminal enterprise" in which he and his associates engaged in kidnapping, arson and physical violence, sex trafficking and forced labor, among other alleged crimes. A psychologist will testify about domestic violence at Diddy's trial. Why that matters A superseding indictment filed April 3 — the third revised indictment following an amended indictment in January and a superseding indictment in March — added two additional counts to the three from his original charging: one of sex trafficking and one of transportation to engage in prostitution. 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 claim they have video of. : Step inside the courtroom with USA TODAY as Sean 'Diddy' Combs faces sex crimes and trafficking charges. Subscribe to the newsletter. The federal charges against Combs echo some of the allegations in the more than 70 civil lawsuits filed against him. The claims of sexual abuse, drugging and physical assault span three decades, and include the lawsuit filed by Cassie in November 2023 through to the most recent suit in April 2025. Diddy's star-studded parties were cultural extravaganzas: Inside the White Party Yes. If convicted on the racketeering charge, Combs could face life in prison, while the statutory minimum sentence for sex trafficking is 15 years and for transportation to engage in prostitution is a maximum of 10 years. The disgraced music mogul is already in custody, and, despite repeated attempts at bail, has remained confined to the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. He has been in jail since his arrest on Sept. 16, 2024. Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, KiMi Robinson, Edward Segarra, Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diddy charges: What does he face at trial – and could he go to jail?
Mint
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs trial: Who are the key protagonists involved in the case? Check list
The trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, 55, a prominent figure in hip-hop and pop culture, has been ongoing in Manhattan Federal Court, which officially began on May 5. The protagonist of this case comprises his former partner Casandra Ventura, 38, the R&B singer and actor, Daniel Phillip, Judge Arun Subramanian. Others include Joseph 'Big Joe' Sherman, Jacob 'The Jeweler' Arabo, DeVante Swing, Cuba Gooding Jr and Shane Pearce. Combs has been jailed since September and faces at least 15 years in prison if convicted. Casandra on Tuesday testified in Sean 'Diddy' Combs ' sex trafficking trial and is likely to return to the stand on Wednesday. She sued Combs in 2023 alleging rape and abuse for years. Within hours, the suit was settled; however, it was followed by dozens of similar legal claims and touched off a criminal probe. Phillip, a male escort who testified about an incident where Casandra hired him for sex at Manhattan's Gramercy Park Hotel, with Combs present. He described witnessing Combs allegedly hitting Casandra, leading to her appearing apparently traumatised and focussed her emotional distress during the encounter. 3. Sherman is Combs' previous bodyguard, named in a lawsuit claiming he raped a woman alongside Combs in 2001. 4. Arabo is a Jewellery designer mentioned in a lawsuit alleging he was among the men coerced to have sex with a woman at a 'White Party' organised by Combs. 5. Swing is a R&B artist from Jodeci, listed in a lawsuit claiming he trafficked and forced an underage girl to travel for sex acts with Combs. 6. Gooding Jr is an actor named in a lawsuit claiming he fondled a producer on Combs' yacht. 7. Shane Pearce is the accused of inviting a woman to his home with the intention of permitting Combs to assault her. 8. Subramanian is the presiding over the trial in Manhattan Federal Court. Combs' legal team refused the allegations and has accused the federal government of leaking the 2016 video to damage his reputation. On the first day of testimony, Casandra said about being pressured into degrading sexual encounters with paid sex workers, while recounting being hit several times by Combs when she did things that upset him, such as smiling at him the wrong way. 'You make the wrong face and the next thing I knew I was getting hit in the face,' news agency AP quoted her as saying. In 2005, Casandra met Combs, when she was 19 and just at the beginning of a career as a singer, model and actor. She had a popular song, 'Me & U,' in 2006 off an album which the Combs' Bad Boy Records released.
The Irish Sun
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Celebrities who should be ‘worried they'll be next' as Diddy's Freak Off guest list set to be exposed in bombshell trial
THE guest list of Sean "Diddy" Combs' supposed freak-offs is set to be exposed in his upcoming federal trial, and any celebrity who engaged in the alleged drug-fueled sex marathons should be concerned, experts have warned. Opening statements in the highly anticipated sex trafficking trial of Advertisement 7 Sean 'Diddy' Combs at the 6th Annual Diddy White Party in Bridgehampton, New York, in July 2004 Credit: Getty Images 7 Combs sits at the defense table as he listens to his lead attorney Marc Agnifilo speak during jury selection of his federal trial on May 9 Credit: Reuters 7 Combs pictured during the 2005 MTV VMA Credit: Getty Images - Getty 7 Diddy pictured with celebrities including actor Leonardo DiCaprio (who is not accused of any wrongdoing) during his 1994 White Party in the Hamptons on Long Island, New York Credit: The Mega Agency At the core of the federal government's case against Combs is the disturbing 2016 hotel surveillance footage depicting Prosecutors said Combs, with the help of his assistants, managers, and security team, organized and hosted freak-off events at hotel rooms and undisclosed locations. Combs ensured female and male prostitutes were present and stocked the rooms with drugs, alcohol, as well as baby oil and lubricant, according to the five-count federal indictment. The guests would be forced into drug-fueled, days-long sex marathons with commercial sex workers, which would often leave victims disoriented and requiring IV fluid to recover, prosecutors allege. Advertisement Federal prosecutors said Combs would participate in, masturbate, and secretly record the sex gatherings. DAMNING EVIDENCE "I wouldn't be surprised if we start hearing the names of other people who participated in the freak-off," said Rahmani, the president and co-founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers. "Now, they haven't been charged in this case, but some of them have been named in civil lawsuits brought by Diddy's victims, many of whom are represented by attorney Tony Buzbee. Advertisement Most read in Celebrity "So, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the victim witnesses in this case mentions another celebrity. "Now, that celebrity being mentioned may not result in criminal charges, but it will certainly tarnish their reputation. I was paralysed like a zombie after being spiked at P Diddy's White Party says traumatised dancer as lawyer reveals she's had 2,500 calls sharing horror stories "And the last thing any celebrity wants right now is to be associated with Sean Diddy Combs." Rahmani told The U.S. Sun that if the alleged freak-off recordings exist, two sets of people should be concerned. Advertisement "The most powerful evidence that was seized by the government has to be the videos," he added. "And we've only seen one video of Diddy seemingly beating Cassie Ventura at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles in about 2016. "Criminal defendants can lie. Only when CNN got a copy of that video in May of last year did Diddy finally issue an apology. "That's how powerful video evidence is. And that's why the government wanted to get the hard drives, the iPhones, the iPads, because Diddy reportedly videotaped these freak-offs. Advertisement "And if you believe Cassie Ventura, and I do, he did so for his own sexual gratification and pleasure, but also potentially to maintain control over the participants." 7 Sean Combs his White Party at Nikki Beach in St Tropez, France, in 2006 Credit: Getty Images 7 Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, and Cassie (none of whom are accused of wrongdoing) celebrate their 2016 MTV Video Music Award wins with Combs in August 2016 Credit: Getty Images - Getty 7 Combs sits before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian as jury selection continued on May 6 Credit: Reuters Advertisement Rahmani continued, "The video of the freak-offs, if they exist, may be the most damning evidence in this case. "It may be the reason Combs gets convicted. "There are two sets of people that should potentially be worried. Obviously, if anyone participated in these freak-offs and sexually assaulted victims, they can be charged or sued civilly. "But there are also individuals in Diddy's entourage that maybe helped set up the freak-offs. Advertisement "People buying the baby oil, people contacting prostitutes, people getting the hotel rooms, setting up the lights and cameras. "Those individuals could potentially also be charged." Diddy locked eyes with us as he entered the courtroom - inside the trial of the decade By Israel S-Rodriguez, Senior News Reporter at The U.S. Sun: The federal sex trafficking trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs began with jury selection on May 5. Combs is standing trial at the Southern District of New York Courthouse in Lower Manhattan - an intimidating federal courthouse where the cases of Ghislaine Maxwell, Donald Trump, and Bernard Madoff, among others, were tried. Once a powerful founder of a music and business empire, Combs has been reduced to a defendant, inmate 37452-054, stripped of his mogul status, and now standing trial on five federal charges with the full wrath of the United States government against him. When I attended Day 3 of jury selection at the federal courthouse on May 7, the buzz around the start of the trial was palpable. Hours before the courthouse opened its doors, more than a dozen reporters and members of the public stood in line in hopes of securing a seat in the gallery for the high-profile trial. As you walk through the glass door entrance of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse, you are met by bulletproof vest-clad court officers. All visitors must separate their electronic devices from their personal belongings, which are passed through a metal detector. Visitors walk through a metal detector before a court officer hands them a poker chip. The courthouse uses a poker chip system to sort the number of electronic devices visitors are in possession of. Electronic devices, such as Bluetooth-powered headphones, voice recorders, laptops, cellphones, and smart watches, are confiscated before you're allowed to enter the courthouse's main hallway. As about a half-dozen reporters and I waited in the gallery for jury selection, we witnessed how Combs entered the courtroom shackle-free. Combs entered with his hands pressed together, greeted his defense team before he examined the gallery, and locked eyes with reporters and potential jurors. The 55-year-old disgraced Bad Boy Records executive was attentive and engaged with his counsel as they grilled dozens of potential jurors. As jury selection wrapped up for the day, Combs embraced each of his female defense attorneys before he mouthed "thank you" to a handful of supporters in the gallery. Combs' trial is being held on the 26th floor in Judge Arun Subramanian's courtroom and is expected to last for eight weeks. We'll bring it all to you on The U.S. Sun. BOMBSHELL LIST OF NAMES On the first day of jury selection, potential jurors were given an expansive 17-page form containing a list of 31 personal and triggering questions regarding history of domestic violence, sexual assault, or harassment. In addition to the questions, the pool of prospective jurors received a list of people and places connected to Combs in various ways and who could come up during the trial. Advertisement The list of people included well-known names like actors However, why the celebrities could be named in the trial remains unclear. The celebrities have not been accused of any wrongdoing. Rahmani warned that the celebrities named in civil lawsuits should be concerned if Combs is convicted. Advertisement "The other celebrities, they've been able to avoid potential criminal charges, but if Diddy is convicted and others are implicated, they should certainly be worried that they may be next," the former federal prosecutor said. "I can tell you that [Richards] wants justice to be done," Bloom, the founder of the Bloom Firm, told The U.S. Sun. "Of course, it's a time of high anxiety, I think, for all of the accusers. And, you know, glad I think that the trial is finally getting underway." Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun Judge Arun Subramanian, who is presiding over the case, said the trial is expected to last eight weeks. Combs has pleaded not guilty on all five federal counts and rejected a last-minute plea deal from prosecutors a week before the start of jury selection. What happened during Sean Combs' 'freak offs'? Sean Combs' infamous drug-fueled freak offs, first revealed by his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura's lawsuit in November 2023, have become a central narrative of the indictment, which alleges: The music mogul "manipulated women to participate in highly orchestrated performances of sexual activity with male commercial sex workers." Freak offs "occurred regularly, sometimes lasted multiple days, and often involved multiple commercial sex workers." Combs "distributed a variety of controlled substances to victims, in part to keep the victims obedient and compliant." He and the victims "typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use" after the freak offs. Cops "seized various Freak Off supplies, including narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant" from his homes in Los Angeles and Miami. Combs "hit, kicked, threw objects at, and dragged victims, at times, by their hair," during and separate from the freak offs, which "often resulted in injuries that took days or weeks to heal." He also used the "sensitive, embarrassing, and incriminating recordings" that he made during freak offs as "collateral to ensure the continued obedience and silence of the victims."
Toronto Sun
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial to delve into the seediest side of rap's 'bad boy'
Published May 03, 2025 • Last updated 7 minutes ago • 4 minute read Sean "Diddy" Combs arrives at the annual Independence Day 'White Party' at the PlayStation 2 Estate in Bridgehampton, New York, July 4, 2004. Photo by JENNIFER SZYMASZEK / AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. NEW YORK — Hip-hop impresario Sean 'Diddy' Combs once presided like a prince over his White Parties in the Hamptons, attracting A-list celebrities, gossip columnists and photographers. But at a trial starting Monday, prosecutors will cast the entertainer as a criminal sexual deviant who exploited his fame to abuse women at gatherings held far out of public view. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account For over two decades, prosecutors allege, the Bad Boy Records founder used the power and prestige he'd gained in building a hip-hop empire to destroy young lives. He faces an indictment that includes descriptions of 'Freak Offs,' drugged-up orgies in which women were forced to have sex with male sex workers while Combs filmed them. Numerous witnesses have come forward to accuse Combs of terrorizing people into silence by choking, hitting, kicking and dragging them, often by the hair, prosecutors say. Once, the indictment alleges, he even dangled someone from a balcony. Combs' lawyers contend prosecutors are trying to police consensual sexual activity. And while Combs, 55, has acknowledged one episode of violence — the caught-on-camera beating of his former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie — his lawyers say other allegations are false. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday at a federal courthouse in Manhattan. Testimony will likely start the following week. If convicted on all charges, which include racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transporting people across state lines to engage in prostitution, Combs faces a possible sentence of decades in prison. Investigation followed Cassie lawsuit Although dozens of men and women have alleged in lawsuits that Combs abused them, this trial will highlight the claims of four women. One of them is Cassie, who filed a lawsuit in late 2023 saying Combs had subjected her to years of abuse, including beatings and rape after they met in 2005. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, did. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Her lawsuit, which offered the first public account of the Freak Offs described in the indictment, was settled in a day. Four months later, though, federal investigators raided Combs homes in Los Angeles and Miami and confronted him at a private airport in Florida, seizing 96 electronic devices. They also found three AR-15-style rifles with defaced serial numbers. The three-time Grammy winner was indicted last September. He has since been held in a federal jail in Brooklyn after judges ruled that he would be a threat to intimidate witnesses and victims if released. The 17-page indictment against Combs accuses him of using employees of his business endeavors — including record labels, a recording studio, an apparel line, an alcoholic spirits company, a marketing agency, a television network and a media company — to facilitate his crimes through acts that included kidnapping, arson and bribery. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Prosecutors plan to show jurors travel records, text messages and emails, hotel records and videos to supplement testimony and support their claims about what they call 'Freak Off activity.' Jurors will also see security camera video showing Combs punching, kicking and then dragging Cassie in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. After the video aired on CNN last year, Combs apologized, saying, 'I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I'm disgusted now.' Defence says Freak Offs were consensual Combs' attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said at a bail hearing that Combs wrote 'a very large check' to Cassie after she filed her lawsuit. The lawyer said the payout motivated others to come forward with false claims. Agnifilo said Combs was 'not a perfect person' and that there had been drug use and toxic relationships, but he said the rapper was undergoing therapy before his arrest. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He said Cassie and Combs were in a 10-year relationship that was 'very loving at times' and sometimes chose to bring a third person into their intimacy. 'That was their thing,' he said. 'It was a sought-after, special part of their relationship.' The trial is not Combs' first. In 2001, he was acquitted of bringing an illegal handgun into a crowded Manhattan dance club where three people were wounded by gunfire. A rapper in Combs' entourage, Jamal Barrow, who performed under the name Shyne, was convicted in the shooting and served nearly nine years in prison. At a pretrial conference Thursday, Combs confirmed to a judge that he turned down a plea offer that would have carried a lesser penalty than what he might face if he is convicted at his upcoming trial. Just before he left the courtroom after the hearing, he defiantly shook his fist in the air. 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