Latest news with #celebrityscandal
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Hugh Grant still haunted by sordid brush with the law 30 years ago as 'lewd' incident resurfaces among young fans
Hugh Grant is known for some of his iconic roles in classic romcoms like Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral (and his cameo in the horror movie Heretic). But thanks to a recently resurfaced news article, many younger fans are only just learning about a brush with the law he had 30 years ago. One Reddit user recently shared a picture of the front page of The Sun newspaper on June 28, 1995 which featured the headline, 'HUGH AND HIS HOOKER.' Right as he was riding the high of his rising stardom thanks to Four Weddings and a Funeral, Grant was arrested for having sex in his car with Divine Brown who happened to be a sex worker. Grant was caught on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, where he had met Brown (whose legal name is Estella Marie Thompson) and paid $60 to have oral sex performed on him. At the time, he faced the possibility of six months in jail for 'lewd conduct' in a public place. Instead, he got away with just paying a $1,000 fine (which, in today's terms would be a little over $2,000) and attending an AIDs education program. Brown, on the other hand, was sentenced to 180 days in prison, as she had violated her parole for previous prostitution charges. Divine Brown, the sex worker who Grant was caught with, had to face 180 days in jail while Grant had to pay a fine and attend an AIDs education program After making headlines, Grant - who was linked to long term girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley at the time - released a statement the day after getting arrested. 'Last night I did something completely insane,' he said. 'I have hurt people I love and embarrassed people I work with. 'For both things I am more sorry than I can ever possibly say.' But even 30 years later, some Hurley fans can't believe Grant was unfaithful to her. 'He was dating Elizabeth Hurley... some people are never satisfied with what they have,' one user said. 'How could you do that to Elizabeth Hurley,' another wrote followed by a sad face. Other Redditors seemed more concerned with the disproportionate sentences that he and Brown received. Other Reddit users expressed their anger over the disproportionate punishments Grant and Brown received for the act 'The double standard in that sentencing is insane,' one Redditor commented. 'The f**k, I never knew she spent time in jail for this,' another said. 'I shouldn't be surprised I guess at how unfair she was treated.' 'This is whyyyyy we need [decriminalization]. Complete insanity for her to be in prison for SIX MONTHS,' another user shared.
Free Malaysia Today
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs was ‘coercive and criminal', jury hears
Sean Combs (centre) makes a heart sign to his family as he's escorted out of lock-up by US Marshals on the trial's first day in New York. (AP pic) NEW YORK : Sean 'Diddy' Combs used violence and threats of reputational ruin to control women he abused for years, New York jurors heard Monday during opening statements of the federal sex trafficking trial that was followed by the case's intitial graphic testimonies. The panel of 12 jurors and six alternates responsible for determining Combs's fate heard of the famed artist's explosive outbursts and an attempt to preserve his own reputation and power of celebrity through bribery. But the 55-year-old music mogul's defence team insisted that while some of his behaviour was questionable – and at times constituted domestic abuse – it did not amount to evidence of the racketeering and sex trafficking he's charged with. Combs has pleaded not guilty on all counts, including the racketeering charge that the hip-hop pioneer led a sex crime ring that included drug-fuelled sex parties by use of force, threats and violence. Prosecutor Emily Johnson alleged Combs 'brutally' beat his former girlfriend, singer Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, threatening to release videos of her participating in elaborate sexual 'freak-offs' if she defied him. Ventura's testimony is core to the case, and she is expected to take the witness stand as soon as Tuesday. Johnson also told jurors Combs had set a man's car ablaze and dangled a woman from a balcony, and made impossible demands of his lovers and employees alike. 'Let me be clear,' US attorney Johnson said, 'this case is not about a celebrity's private sexual preferences.' 'It's coercive and criminal.' 'Toxic relationship' claim But Combs's defence lawyer Teny Geragos told jurors the 'case is about love, jealousy and infidelity and money.' Combs, appearing aged with his once jet-black hair now gray, dramatically stood up and looked at the jury box when Geragos introduced him, his hands clasped. Geragos called Combs's accusers 'capable, strong adult women,' and said his situation with Ventura was a 'toxic relationship' but 'between two people who loved each other.' 'Being a willing participant in your own sex life is not sex trafficking,' she said, adding that the defence would admit there was domestic violence – but that Combs is not charged with such crimes. Combs was joined at the courthouse by his children, including 18-year-old twin daughters, as well as his mother Janice. 'Woman in distress' The case's first witness was Israel Florez, a Los Angeles police officer who 'at the time' was a security officer – and who responded to a call of 'a woman in distress' on March 5, 2016 at the Los Angeles-area InterContinental Hotel. Florez's testimony provided the foundation for the prosecution to introduce evidence of now-infamous security footage – published by CNN last year – of Combs in a towel chasing Ventura throughout the hotel hallways, at times striking her. The jury was repeatedly shown the video on Monday, including a cell phone-recorded version that Florez filmed himself of the original footage. Florez detailed his interaction with Combs and Ventura in painstaking detail, including saying that after the officer escorted the rapper back to his room, Combs offered him a wad of cash. The officer understood this was intended as a bribe: 'He was telling me, 'Don't tell nobody,'' Florez said. Florez's testimony was followed by a male dancer who engaged in a sexual relationship, often in exchange for money, with Combs and Ventura from 2012 to approximately the end of 2013. In lurid detail, Daniel Phillip described his encounters with the pair, which generally involved sex with Ventura while Combs watched. But eventually, Phillip said, Combs physically abused Ventura in front of him. 'Why is she doing this, why is she staying with this guy?' Phillip recalled thinking. 'I tried to explain to her that she was in real danger if she stayed with him.' Day one of testimony in the blockbuster trial saw hoards of journalists, influencers and members of the public descend on the downtown Manhattan courthouse. If convicted, the one-time rap producer and global superstar, who is often credited for his role in bringing hip-hop into the mainstream, could spend the rest of his life in prison. The selected jurors will remain anonymous, but not sequestered – meaning they must individually ensure they stay away from media coverage and social media commentary about the high-profile case. The proceedings are expected to last eight to 10 weeks.
Malay Mail
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
‘This is coercive and criminal': Prosecutor lays out case against Sean ‘Diddy' Combs in sex trafficking trial
NEW YORK, May 13 — Sean 'Diddy' Combs used violence and threats of reputational ruin to control women he abused for years, New York jurors heard Monday during opening statements of the federal sex trafficking trial that was followed by the case's initial graphic testimonies. The panel of 12 jurors and six alternates responsible for determining Combs's fate heard of the famed artist's explosive outbursts and an attempt to preserve his own reputation and power of celebrity through bribery. But the 55-year-old music mogul's defence team insisted that while some of his behaviour was questionable — and at times constituted domestic abuse — it did not amount to evidence of the racketeering and sex trafficking he's charged with. Combs has pleaded not guilty on all counts, including the racketeering charge that the hip-hop pioneer led a sex crime ring that included drug-fuelled sex parties by use of force, threats and violence. Prosecutor Emily Johnson alleged Combs 'brutally' beat his former girlfriend, singer Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, threatening to release videos of her participating in elaborate sexual 'freak-offs' if she defied him. Ventura's testimony is core to the case, and she is expected to take the witness stand as soon as Tuesday. Johnson also told jurors Combs had set a man's car ablaze and dangled a woman from a balcony, and made impossible demands of his lovers and employees alike. 'Let me be clear,' US attorney Johnson said, 'this case is not about a celebrity's private sexual preferences.' 'It's coercive and criminal.' 'Toxic relationship' claim But Combs's defense lawyer Teny Geragos told jurors the 'case is about love, jealousy and infidelity and money.' Combs, appearing aged with his once jet-black hair now grey, dramatically stood up and looked at the jury box when Geragos introduced him, his hands clasped. Geragos called Combs's accusers 'capable, strong adult women,' and said his situation with Ventura was a 'toxic relationship' but 'between two people who loved each other.' 'Being a willing participant in your own sex life is not sex trafficking,' she said, adding that the defence would admit there was domestic violence — but that Combs is not charged with such crimes. Combs was joined at the courthouse by his children, including 18-year-old twin daughters, as well as his mother Janice. 'Woman in distress' The case's first witness was Israel Florez, a Los Angeles police officer who 'at the time' was a security officer — and who responded to a call of 'a woman in distress' on March 5, 2016 at the Los Angeles-area InterContinental Hotel. Florez's testimony provided the foundation for the prosecution to introduce evidence of now-infamous security footage — published by CNN last year — of Combs in a towel chasing Ventura throughout the hotel hallways, at times striking her. The jury was repeatedly shown the video on Monday, including a cell phone-recorded version that Florez filmed himself of the original footage. Florez detailed his interaction with Combs and Ventura in painstaking detail, including saying that after the officer escorted the rapper back to his room, Combs offered him a wad of cash. The officer understood this was intended as a bribe: 'He was telling me, 'Don't tell nobody,'' Florez said. Florez's testimony was followed by a male dancer who engaged in a sexual relationship, often in exchange for money, with Combs and Ventura from 2012 to approximately the end of 2013. In lurid detail, Daniel Phillip described his encounters with the pair, which generally involved sex with Ventura while Combs watched. But eventually, Phillip said, Combs physically abused Ventura in front of him. 'Why is she doing this, why is she staying with this guy?' Phillip recalled thinking. 'I tried to explain to her that she was in real danger if she stayed with him.' Day one of testimony in the blockbuster trial saw hoards of journalists, influencers and members of the public descend on the downtown Manhattan courthouse. If convicted, the one-time rap producer and global superstar, who is often credited for his role in bringing hip-hop into the mainstream, could spend the rest of his life in prison. The selected jurors will remain anonymous, but not sequestered — meaning they must individually ensure they stay away from media coverage and social media commentary about the high-profile case. The proceedings are expected to last eight to 10 weeks. — AFP
Arab News
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs was ‘coercive and criminal,' jury hears
NEW YORK: Sean 'Diddy' Combs used violence and threats of reputational ruin to control women he abused for years, New York jurors heard Monday during opening statements of the federal sex trafficking trial that was followed by the case's intitial graphic testimonies. The panel of 12 jurors and six alternates responsible for determining Combs's fate heard of the famed artist's explosive outbursts and an attempt to preserve his own reputation and power of celebrity through bribery. But the 55-year-old music mogul's defense team insisted that while some of his behavior was questionable — and at times constituted domestic abuse — it did not amount to evidence of the racketeering and sex trafficking he's charged with. Combs has pleaded not guilty on all counts, including the racketeering charge that the hip-hop pioneer led a sex crime ring that included drug-fueled sex parties by use of force, threats and violence. Prosecutor Emily Johnson alleged Combs 'brutally' beat his former girlfriend, singer Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, threatening to release videos of her participating in elaborate sexual 'freak-offs' if she defied him. Ventura's testimony is core to the case, and she is expected to take the witness stand as soon as Tuesday. Johnson also told jurors Combs had set a man's car ablaze and dangled a woman from a balcony, and made impossible demands of his lovers and employees alike. 'Let me be clear,' US attorney Johnson said, 'this case is not about a celebrity's private sexual preferences.' 'It's coercive and criminal.' But Combs's defense lawyer Teny Geragos told jurors the 'case is about love, jealousy and infidelity and money.' Combs, appearing aged with his once jet-black hair now gray, dramatically stood up and looked at the jury box when Geragos introduced him, his hands clasped. Geragos called Combs's accusers 'capable, strong adult women,' and said his situation with Ventura was a 'toxic relationship' but 'between two people who loved each other.' 'Being a willing participant in your own sex life is not sex trafficking,' she said, adding that the defense would admit there was domestic violence — but that Combs is not charged with such crimes. Combs was joined at the courthouse by his children, including 18-year-old twin daughters, as well as his mother Janice. The case's first witness was Israel Florez, a Los Angeles police officer who 'at the time' was a security officer — and who responded to a call of 'a woman in distress' on March 5, 2016 at the Los Angeles-area InterContinental Hotel. Florez's testimony provided the foundation for the prosecution to introduce evidence of now-infamous security footage — published by CNN last year — of Combs in a towel chasing Ventura throughout the hotel hallways, at times striking her. The jury was repeatedly shown the video on Monday, including a cell phone-recorded version that Florez filmed himself of the original footage. Florez detailed his interaction with Combs and Ventura in painstaking detail, including saying that after the officer escorted the rapper back to his room, Combs offered him a wad of cash. The officer understood this was intended as a bribe: 'He was telling me, 'Don't tell nobody,'' Florez said. Florez's testimony was followed by a male dancer who engaged in a sexual relationship, often in exchange for money, with Combs and Ventura from 2012 to approximately the end of 2013. In lurid detail, Daniel Phillip described his encounters with the pair, which generally involved sex with Ventura while Combs watched. But eventually, Phillip said, Combs physically abused Ventura in front of him. 'Why is she doing this, why is she staying with this guy?' Phillip recalled thinking. 'I tried to explain to her that she was in real danger if she stayed with him.' Day one of testimony in the blockbuster trial saw hoards of journalists, influencers and members of the public descend on the downtown Manhattan courthouse. If convicted, the one-time rap producer and global superstar, who is often credited for his role in bringing hip-hop into the mainstream, could spend the rest of his life in prison. The selected jurors will remain anonymous, but not sequestered — meaning they must individually ensure they stay away from media coverage and social media commentary about the high-profile case. The proceedings are expected to last eight to 10 weeks.
