Sean “Diddy” Combs is speaking out amid his criminal trial.
On May 20, the hip-hop tycoon, currently facing allegations of sex trafficking, racketeering, and facilitating prostitution (charges for which he maintains his innocence), made an oral statement within the New York City courtroom where his trial was underway.
As the court session ended for the day, Combs expressed, “I love each one of you,” and in a quieter tone, he murmured, according to People: “Absolutely, I do.
He continued talking to a woman in the audience, mentioning his son, Justin Combs, who is 31 years old, and said, “Could you please tell Justin that I’m thinking about him?
However, it wasn’t the first time Combs expressed his affection publicly during his trial. In courtroom sketches from May 13, the 55-year-old could be seen making a heart shape with his hands while being escorted to his seat at the defense table.
So far, Combs hasn’t appeared on the stand, but some significant individuals from his past have already given their testimonies. This group includes an ex-girlfriend known as Cassie Ventura.
In her statement, Ventura asserted that she took part in numerous sex events, referred to as “freak offs,” where hired escorts were involved at the behest of Combs. The performer claimed she was compelled to engage in these activities, despite experiencing severe urinary tract infections (UTIs), because Combs had threatened to disclose recordings from their sexual encounters if she refused to continue participating.
In her testimony, as reported by NBC News, Ventura, aged 38, described experiencing sores on her tongue due to the side effects of drug use, as well as from performing oral sex and coming into contact with objects that had oil, Astroglide, or other lubricants.
Ventura ultimately left Combs in 2018 after more than a decade of dating.
In his testimony, Ventura stated that there had always been a lingering suspicion that he might get harmed by Sean. “Sean is quite divisive,” he added, “He could be incredibly charismatic, making it difficult to judge in the moment what his intentions were. I simply couldn’t predict the outcome.
For more details about Combs’ court trial, keep reading.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former assistant, David James, testified to the jury that among the items Combs often kept in his overnight bag were at least $10,000 in cash, as well as pain relievers like Advil and Tylenol, Viagra, and pills intended to boost sperm production.
Additionally, James claimed that Combs possessed both Percocet and Ecstasy in his possession, a fact that his former assistant allegedly observed him consuming.
The prosecution provided a brief look at the rapper’s room at the Park Hyatt hotel in New York, where he was apprehended on September 16th.
As a dedicated follower reporting on the evidence presented, I’d like to share that the photos, which were taken by Special Agent Yasin Binda and corroborated by his testimony, revealed several key items: Ziploc bags containing baby oil and Astroglide lubricant, five bottles of baby oil in a bathtub, two additional bottles of lubricant found in a drawer, two bags of a powdery substance, and a cash sum totaling $9,000.
As per Binda’s findings, a prescription bottle contained two bags that tested positive for both ketamine and a combination of ketamine and MDMA.
Cassie Ventura’s ex-friend stated on May 19th that they had personally seen Diddy, or Sean Combs, physically abuse Ventura during their trip to Jamaica, as well as at a home he was renting in the Hollywood Hills.
Kerry Morgan declared that her 17-year friendship with Ventura concluded following an assault by Combs at his apartment in 2018. According to NBC News, she was there enjoying some music when Combs suddenly approached from behind, tightened his grip around her neck leaving finger marks, and struck her on the head with a wooden hanger. At that time, Cassie was in the bathroom; the blow landed at the back of Morgan’s right ear.
In the course of our discussion, it was mentioned that she retained a legal representative, yet failed to initiate a court case. Instead, she consented to put her signature on a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) as part of receiving a sum of $30,000.
Morgan stated, “Since that point, I haven’t exchanged words with Sean, and the last conversation I had with Cassie was on the night of the incident. The last time I encountered Cassie was when I agreed to the Non-Disclosure Agreement.
Additionally, during her testimony, Morgan mentioned that she had already moved forward in her life but agreed to appear due to a legal summons from the authorities.
she declared that she suggested Ventura to part ways with Combs, but she explained that due to her employment, her vehicle, and her residence, she was unable to do so.
During questioning by lawyer Marc Agnifilo, Morgan stated that she no longer communicated with Ventura as he failed to offer support following the 2018 event. Moreover, she emphasized that she has a firm boundary against any form of physical violence.
Dawn Richard, a former member of the group Danity Kane, stated on May 16th that she observed Richard Woolworth chasing his then-girlfriend Ventura with a skillet loaded with eggs back in 2009.
He stormed down the stairs in a rage, shouting about his missing eggs and accusing Cassie of always making mistakes regarding his food, Richard testified based on the court transcript provided by NBC News. ‘He then approached the skillet containing the eggs and attempted to strike her head with it, causing her to fall to the ground.’
Ventura “went into the fetal position,” Richard continued, “literally trying to hide her head.”
During “freak offs,” Combs didn’t have any drug mixtures added to the baby oil he preferred, according to Ventura’s testimony on May 15th.
In October 2024, a lawsuit was brought forward accusing Combs of adding GHB (also known as the “date rape drug” – Rohypnol) to the oil he supplied.
During the questioning under defense, Ventura stated on May 15th that Combs would become envious and react in a volatile manner if she used drugs with others instead of him.
She mentioned that Combs had experienced an overdose with painkillers. When questioned by defense attorney Anna Estevao about whether her former partner’s mood changes might be linked to medications, Ventura confirmed that it was indeed a factor.
Previously inquired about whether Combs might be a drug addict, she responded by stating, “I’d describe him as an addict.
And her response indicated “yes” when questioned about whether Combs grew agitated or uncontrollable during his withdrawal period.
“I’m not a doctor,” Ventura said, but “coming off of certain pills he would be pretty irritated.”
During Ventura’s testimony on May 15, Judge Arun Subramanian paused the court proceedings as Combs’ defense presented graphic emails and texts during their cross-examination.
In response to defense attorney Estevao revealing sexually suggestive texts exchanged by the ex-couple dating back to 2009 as evidence of a consensual relationship, the prosecution voiced their objection, which the judge agreed with and upheld.
After hearing the objection, Ventura was spotted having a quiet conversation with the judge, which prompted the official to announce an immediate 10-minute recess.
Before the jury’s arrival, a lively disagreement arose between the prosecution and defense, with the lead defense attorney, Marc Agniflio, advocating for additional texts to be presented in court. However, the judge stated that certain messages didn’t comply with federal guidelines regarding evidence.
Nevertheless, several pieces of evidence were allowed, revealing explicit discussions between Combs and Ventura concerning their intimate relationships.
On May 15th, I openly admitted that I can’t precisely count the number of times I were involved in “unusual incidents” with Combs. However, I estimated it to be well over a hundred.
She claimed that her former partner secretly recorded their intimate acts with the intention of threatening or extorting her. She asserted he had warned her that he would expose these recordings, potentially damaging her professional reputation.
Ventura stated, “He often brought them up when he was upset or troubled. It happened quite frequently,” he added. “I was concerned about the impact on my job and my family. It was a source of immense shame and humiliation, truly appalling and distasteful. Such actions should never be inflicted upon anyone.
On May 14th, Ventura testified that she received a $20 million settlement from her former boyfriend Combs, following a lawsuit she filed against him in November 2023. The lawsuit claimed that he had sexually assaulted and physically abused her throughout their relationship.
Testifying about events from 2018, Ventura stated that after enjoying a pleasant dinner with Combs at a restaurant in Malibu, where he appeared particularly amiable, he subsequently escorted her to her apartment and allegedly committed a sexual assault against her. It’s worth noting that she was already involved romantically with Alex Fine, whom she later married in 2019.
She testified that I entered, then assaulted her on our living room floor. All I can recall is sobbing, pleading ‘no,’ but it happened quickly. His eyes were dark, he didn’t seem like himself; it was as if a part of me was being stolen.
Combs’ legal team has consistently asserted that he never partook in any instances of unwanted sexual acts, and furthermore, the individuals accusing him of sexual misconduct willingly took part in any sexual activities they were involved with.
On another instance following the alleged attack, Ventura stated that she willingly engaged in sexual activity with Combs. When questioned about her decision to be intimate with him again, she explained, “You can’t simply switch off feelings like that. I still held a positive image of who he was as an individual.
Toward the close of 2011, Ventura ended her relationship with Scott Mescudi, better known as Kid Cudi, due to threats made by Combs that his vehicle would be destroyed. This is according to her testimony.
Ventura stated in court that the situation was too risky and uncertain, with the potential consequences of continuing their meetings being unclear. He mentioned that Sean had threatened them with harm.
Departures from Ventura were associated with cases of urinary tract infections, mouth ulcers, and digestive problems, as stated on May 14.
In her testimony, Ventura stated that there were multiple instances where we’d engage in what she called ‘freak offs’, which often followed each other closely. On some occasions, I even had a ‘freak off’ while dealing with an infection. I attempted to clean it out using water. Eventually, the antibiotic CIPRO became ineffective. It was quite a chaotic situation.
She continued, “It was really painful for a long time. I can’t believe I actually dealt with that.”
The conversation between Ventura and Combs, as shown in court, revealed that Ventura informed him about soreness on her tongue. He responded by saying, “I apologize.
On his second day on the stand as a witness, Ventura described the 2016 hotel incident that had been captured on security cameras and later broadcast by CNN in May of 2024.
She stated that Combs hurled a vase at her following an attempt to depart from the Intercontinental Hotel, prior to physically attacking her.
Ventura stated about the vase on May 14, “I recall it moving towards me.” After that, it struck the wall, not me. He was shouting at me; I believe he threw it at me, though I can’t precisely recall his words. I’m certain he wasn’t just using my name to address me.
However, she said that Combs told her “that I wasn’t going to leave him, that I couldn’t.”
Immediately following the hotel incident, Ventura revealed that she attended the premiere of her film “The Perfect Match” with Combs, sporting bruises on her face and body. To hide her black eye and swollen lip, she needed to apply heavy makeup. Furthermore, she had several bruises on her legs, which led her to alter her outfit for the event.
On May 13th, the singer declared that Combs assaulted her in a Los Angeles hotel corridor back in March 2016 due to his anger over her exiting a “freak-off” incident. (Footage of the event from the hotel’s surveillance cameras was released by CNN in 2024. The defense failed to get the video dismissed as evidence.)
Ventura explained to the court that he decided to depart. Upon exiting, Sean accompanied him down the hallway, seized him, pushed him to the floor, kicked him, and dragged him back into the room before collecting his belongings.
She had initially declined participation, as she had a film premiere scheduled just a few days ahead. However, she wished to keep Combs content, so she stated, “If I could appease him by complying with his request,” Ventura added, “then my premiere event would proceed without a hitch.
After receiving a black eye from him, she expressed, “At that moment, all I could focus on was leaving there safely. My debut was approaching and I didn’t want to ruin it.” Upon being shoved to the ground in the hallway by him, Ventura stated, she remained on the floor because “I didn’t want him to cause any more harm than he already had.
Testified Ventura, she consumed alcohol and used ecstasy during her initial sexual encounter with an escort, which occurred in the presence of Combs. Furthermore, she mentioned that she relied on various substances such as marijuana, ketamine, mushrooms, or whatever drug was most popular at the time, to help her get through “freak offs.
“I couldn’t imagine myself doing any of that without having some sort of buffer,” she said.
At times, she would physically retch during an intense argument, Ventura added, and he was urged by Combs to persevere and carry on with the dispute.
She expressed to Combs that the “freak offs” left her feeling “awful” and “insignificant,” according to Ventura, but he seemed to disregard her issues.
Following an unexpected incident, the hotel room was covered in baby oil according to Ventura’s testimony. Moreover, if Combs had ordered someone to wet the bed, traces of urine might be found on the linens. Additionally, if she was on her period at that time, there could potentially be blood stains not only on the sheets but also on the furniture.
According to Ventura, the act left her feeling “deeply embarrassed.” She added, “It was revolting, it was excessive. I gagged, I didn’t wish to participate, I found myself in a situation from which I struggled to escape.
According to Ventura, he found it appealing, which led to the occurrence of events. When Emily A. Johnson, the prosecutor, asked her why she didn’t resist Combs’ instructions in these instances, she explained that she believed it was clear that she didn’t want to comply with them.
Testified on the 13th of May, Ventura stated that Combs instructed her and others participating in the “freak off” event to apply baby oil all over their bodies.
She stated in court that Sean desired it to be both hot and shiny, so we applied it every five minutes.
At a spontaneous event held at the Montage Beverly Hills, Ventura recounted that Combs invited her to step into an inflatable pool brimming with baby oil, all while she was still dressed.
Even though she didn’t feel like it, if Sean “was determined for it to occur, that’s exactly what would transpire,” she emphasized. “We employed ten standard-sized bottles of baby oil.
Ventura disclosed to prosecutors on May 13 that during the early stages of her ten-year relationship with Combs, he suggested incorporating voyeurism into their intimate activities. This started when she arranged for an escort and set up a situation so that she could perform in front of Combs, who would observe her with another person.
In the end, she found herself engaging in extended sexual performances that Combs referred to as “freak offs,” which could span from 36 hours up to four days, became a regular occupation for her.
She remembered, “I arranged for it to happen in our hotel room and everything else, initially Sean had organized it.
Ventura said that her “stomach churned” when he first proposed the experience.
She admitted, “I didn’t initially understand how it would arouse him, yet I took on the role.” She confessed, “I was bewildered, apprehensive, but also deeply cared for him and wished to bring joy into his life. It wasn’t my desire to engage in such activities, especially with the frequency it evolved into, but my love for him overpowered this discomfort.
She admitted, “At some point, I felt I didn’t have much of a choice.”
During their on-again, off-again relationship from 2007 to 2018, Ventura claimed that Combs often displayed violent behavior towards her.
She told the court that their discussions often escalated into aggressive confrontations, leading to physical harm such as hitting her head, causing her to fall, dragging her across the floor, and kicking her.
I, being her devoted follower, noticed she’d frequently display signs of injury. She’d share, “Knots would form on my forehead, my eyes – both black and red at times, my eyes swollen too, and bruises would dot my entire body.
On May 13th, it was planned for Ventura to testify following Daniel Philip, a male escort. Combs’ legal team asked to have her seated in the witness stand before the jury arrives as she is eight months pregnant.
In my perspective, there seems to be a bias at play here. To me, pregnancy is an exquisite and awe-inspiring experience. It’s not just that; it’s a situation that can evoke deep empathy in people.
It was made clear that Ventura joined the case later on, suggesting that his legal team’s motion had been denied earlier.
On one particular instance when Ventura didn’t promptly respond to Combs’ call, as testified on May 12th, I, an ardent fan, can only imagine the scene unfolding. It seems that upon Ventura’s absence, Combs is said to have hurled a bottle of liquor in her vicinity, followed by forcefully grabbing her by the hair and dragging her into the bedroom. The distressing cries I heard echoed through the house, and what sounded like him striking her from the next room was unbearable. According to my understanding, Combs’ words were, “I tell you to come here, you come here now, not later.
Phillip said he was “terrified” and did not intervene.
He also stated that he witnessed an incident where it appeared to him that Combs was physically harming Ventura in another occurrence at the Essex House hotel in New York. “I heard her saying ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry,’ and there were sounds of someone being struck and moved roughly around the room,” Philip testified. “Peeking around the corner, I saw Mr. Combs exiting the hotel completely, possibly wearing just a towel.
Ventura exited the room and hopped onto Philip’s lap, as testified. “She attempted to reassure me that ‘everything’s fine’ and ‘I’ll be alright,'” Philip added. “To which I responded, ‘This is not acceptable and you need professional assistance.’
“I tried to explain to her that she was in real danger if she stayed with him,” Phillip said.
During questioning by prosecutor Maureen Comey, Philip explained that he didn’t contact the police because he viewed Combs as someone with immense influence, and there was a possibility that even if he had reported the matter, he might still have faced dire consequences.
Daniel Philip claimed he was operating a male revue show during that specific period, and under oath testified that he received “a few thousand dollars” for engaging in intimate acts with Ventura, while Combs observed from Manhattan’s Gramercy Hotel in 2012. Philip identified Combs by his voice despite the fact that he wore a robe, a baseball cap, and a bandanna concealing his face.
In the court, Philip stated that Ventura promised to tip him upon departure, but instead, they engaged in sexual activity. Furthermore, he mentioned that they both used baby oil and then Ventura sat in a corner while masturbating.
Afterward, the witness continued, Ventura gave him “a couple of thousand more.”
Over the course of the following year, I found myself being reached out to repeatedly for similar experiences – meetings with Ventura and Combs – at various hotels as well as their residences in New York City. According to me, Combs videotaped one or two instances where Ventura and I were involved intimately, and on certain occasions, Combs would step in and engage sexually with Ventura while I was present.
In a 2023 lawsuit she filed against her former partner for claims of sexual assault and physical violence, Ventura stated that Combs compelled her into engaging in intimate acts with hired males.
According to Florez, Ventura appeared fearful. She huddled in a corner, with her hood pulled over and concealed. Her face wasn’t visible, as she stayed primarily in the corner. A shattered flower vase lay on the ground nearby.
After Ventura departed from the hotel, she sported a noticeable purple eye according to Florez. Following her exit, Florez and the hotel manager ascended to their room to remind Combs of the “hotel regulations.” Combs suspected that the manager was capturing him on his phone, Florez went on, and when Combs attempted to seize it, Florez stated he restrained Combs against a wall. “We assured him we weren’t recording him,” Florez testified, “and diffused the situation.
In court, the prosecution team displayed the slowed-down version of the footage showing the assault – where Combs appears to be striking, kicking and pulling Ventura – that had initially been broadcasted by CNN in May 2024. Previously, the defense claimed that the original clip was accelerated, making the altercation appear more intense than it actually was. Additionally, the jury watched a video taken by Florez on his phone when he responded to an emergency call regarding a distressed woman on the sixth floor.
As a die-hard admirer, I’d rephrase it like this: Back then, I found myself in a quandary when Florez testified that he chose not to call the police immediately because Ventura refused to answer my questions about the incident and simply expressed her desire to depart.
Police Officer Israel Florez, based in Los Angeles, served as a security guard at the InterContinental Hotel when the incident involving Combs and Ventura occurred on March 5, 2016. During the trial’s opening statement, Geragos referred to the surveillance footage of the attack (initially released by CNN in May 2024) as “compelling evidence of domestic violence,” emphasizing it was not related to allegations of sex trafficking, but rather infidelity found on a mobile device.
On May 12th, Florez stated under oath that he witnessed a scuffle on the day under investigation, and Combs subsequently handed him a pile of cash to ignore what he saw.
During questioning, Florez stated that he was completely certain he perceived Combs’ action as an attempt to bribe him.
In her initial remarks, Teny Geragos, the defense lawyer, argued that the prosecution was attempting to redefine consensual sexual acts as instances of sex trafficking. However, she expressed her belief that this tactic would ultimately be unsuccessful.
“Sean Combs is a complicated man,” she said, “but this is not a complicated case.”
The discussion here revolves around the private, intimate aspects of Sean Combs’ personal life, which hold no relevance to his legitimate business dealings.
As a lifestyle advisor, I’d like to clarify that my client has had challenges in his past, including anger management issues, substance abuse, and at times, behavior that can come across as aggressive or unpleasant. However, it’s important to remember that he stands accused of the specific charges, not for being rude or unkind. He is on trial for those alleged actions, not his overall character.
Geragos stated, “The evidence will reveal an imperfect person, however, it won’t depict them as a racketeer, a sex trafficker, or someone involved in transporting for prostitution.
The prosecutor, Emily Johnson, alleged that Combs had a vast system of workers who executed unlawful activities, such as extended “freak-offs,” as reported by NBC News correspondents present in court, based on information from the federal indictment.
She informed the court that at times he referred to himself as a king, demanding special treatment to fulfill all his whims. It was also disclosed that he exploited his businesses to coerce women, involving male escorts for sexual acts which he observed. He and his close associates ensured they catered to all his desires.
Johnson commenced her presentation to the jury by portraying Combs as an extraordinarily impactful individual who oversaw a criminal organization.
Emphasizing a suspected illegal act, Johnson informed the jury that Sean Combs, the founder of Bad Boys Records, was “pursuing” Ventura one evening following news that she had started a romantic relationship with someone else. Johnson claimed that Combs assaulted her severely, kicking her in the back and tossing her around carelessly, similar to a piece of clothing, after discovering her.
He made a threat, warning her that if she disobeys him once more, he would expose videos of her engaging in intimate acts with male escorts, essentially relics of her most embarrassing moments,” she went on.
The prosecutor alleged that Combs’ inner circle covered up “crime after crime.”
The lead judge, Arun Subramanian, shared with the jury his belief that the ongoing trial might wrap up by the 4th of July. He expressed optimism that the proceedings would end by this date, though he cautioned that there could be extended sessions, but he doesn’t foresee it extending beyond that point.
On May 12, as the rap tycoon stepped up for his initial sex trafficking court hearing, his mother, Janice Combs, was among those present, accompanied by six of his older children.
Quincy Brown, Christian “King” Combs, Jessie Combs, D’Lila Combs (Kim Porter’s kids), Justin Combs (Misa Hylton’s son), and Chance Combs (Sarah Chapman’s daughter) – all of whom are his children – shared a warm embrace with their father before he met with his lawyers.
In the trial, both the prosecution and Chris Combs’ legal team consented to a jury consisting of eight males and four females. Additionally, they also agreed on four male and two female alternates.
Marc Agnifilo, representing Combs, contended that the prosecution appeared to be deliberately excluding potential Black jurors. He expressed this concern to the judge, stating that such a pattern necessitated justification for these dismissals.
Nevertheless, prosecutor Maurene Ryan Comey refuted the allegations, stating, “We’ve acted impartially throughout this process. Our jury is a mix of various ethnicities, including several non-white members.
Twelve jurors reside in New York City or Westchester, among them is a 69-year-old male actor who also provides massages, a 31-year-old male investment analyst, a 51-year-old male scientist, a 30-year-old female deli worker, a 42-year-old female nursing home caregiver, a 41-year-old male clerk at a correctional facility communications department, a 68-year-old retired banker, another 68-year-old retiree from the telecommunications sector, a 43-year-old female physician assistant, a 39-year-old male social worker, a 67-year-old male logistics expert, and a 74-year-old female treatment coordinator.
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2025-05-21 04:19