Dawn Richard is having her say in court.
A former member of the group Danity Kane, who initially collaborated with Sean “Diddy” Combs on his reality show ‘Making the Band’ back in 2004, testified during the fifth day of Diddy’s sex trafficking trial. (Diddy is currently facing charges including sex trafficking, prostitution, racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, as well as transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.)
In her testimony, the singer known as “Boomerang”, who joined Diddy – Dirty Money following the break-up of Danity Kane in 2009, informed jurors that she witnessed Combs striking his label mate Cassie Ventura with a skillet filled with eggs at his home in Los Angeles during the year 2009.
According to NBC News’ report of her courtroom testimony on May 16, she stated that he suddenly descended the stairs and demanded to know where his phone was. In a startling turn of events, he pushed her forcefully to the ground. When she tried to protect herself, she fell to the floor and curled up in a ball, shielding her head as best she could.
Besides hitting Ventura with the skillet, Richard claimed that Combs also wrapped his arm around the singer’s neck, guided her up the stairs, followed by the sound of broken glass being heard.
Richard added, “I was scared for her, I was scared to do anything.”
Eight months ago, Richard provided his testimony during Combs’ current trial. This followed an accusation made by him against the “I’ll Be Missing You” artist in a lawsuit, where he claimed that she had endured years of harsh working conditions under his control. These conditions allegedly involved inappropriate touching, assault, and unlawful confinement.
The lawsuit, filed in September and acquired by TopMob News, claims that Mr. Combs often conducted meetings with Ms. Richard while wearing only his undergarments. Remarkably, this took place even though she objected and repeatedly asked him to dress properly.
As a die-hard admirer, I must share this revelation: In her statement, the 41-year-old claimed that Combs demanded she undress to just her underwear, made disrespectful comments about her physique, barged into her private dressing room when she was bare, and inappropriately touched her, all under the pretense of instructing his stylist.
In simpler terms, Richard alleged that Combs had committed sexual harassment, shown bias against women, and fostered an unpleasant work atmosphere by being involved in instances of “sexual misconduct” or “inappropriate sexual behavior.
Back in 2010, I found myself in an unsettling situation that was unfortunately marked by false confinement. As detailed in my filing, it all started with a heated argument between me and Mr. Combs. In the heat of our disagreement, he reportedly swung his fist towards my face. Following this incident, according to my account, his bodyguard is said to have locked me inside a Bentley for an extended period exceeding two hours. This unfortunate sequence of events left me feeling trapped and vulnerable.
In her court attire, Richard argued she was claiming both compensatory and punitive damages, along with additional expenses related to post-traumatic stress, anxiety, emotional distress, and financial losses she incurred due to the actions attributed to Combs. However, Combs has refuted these accusations.
According to Mr. Combs’ attorney, TopMob News reported that Mr. Combs is both surprised and disheartened by this legal action. In an attempt to distort the truth, Dawn Richard has allegedly fabricated a string of untrue accusations, primarily for the purpose of securing financial gain—a timing coincidence that aligns with her album release and promotional tour.
It’s regrettable that Ms. Richard ended their long-standing friendship for the purpose of seeking money from him, as his lawyer stated. However, Mr. Combs remains steadfast in his belief in honesty and is eager to present this truthfulness in the upcoming court proceedings.
Keep reading for more revelations from Combs’ trial…
According to Cassie Ventura’s testimony on May 15, there were no drugs blended into the baby oil that Sean “Diddy” Combs preferred for their “freak offs.
2024 saw a legal claim made against Combs in October, accusing him of adding GHB (also known as the ‘date rape drug’ – Rohypnol) to the oil.
During questioning under defense, on May 15th, Ventura stated that Combs could become angry and react violently when Ventura socialized with drugs and not with him.
She stated that Combs had experienced an overdose from painkillers, and when questioned by attorney Anna Estevao regarding potential connections between her ex’s mood changes and medications, Ventura replied that “this was indeed a contributing factor.
Inquired about it during the daytime, she responded by stating, “I’d label him as an addict.
Her response affirmed that Combs indeed grew agitated or temperamental 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 proceedings as Combs’ defense presented graphic emails and texts during their cross-examination.
In the courtroom scenario, when lawyer Estevao showed Ventura explicit messages about their past sexual relationship (from 2009) as evidence of consent, the prosecution objected, and the judge agreed with them.
After hearing the objection, it was noticed that Ventura leaned towards the judge and whispered something, promptly causing the judge to call for a short pause lasting 10 minutes.
Before the jury’s arrival, a passionate disagreement arose between the prosecution and defense as the main defense lawyer, Marc Agniflio, contended for the presentation of additional text messages in court. However, the judge stated that certain messages breached federal guidelines regarding evidence.
In the course of my research or discussions, certain personal details about intimate relationships have come to light, which I’ve found myself privy to. These particular aspects were subsequently acknowledged as valid pieces of evidence in the case at hand, providing a candid insight into the lives of Combs and Ventura.
On May 15th, Ventura admitted that she couldn’t precisely determine the number of instances where she and Combs engaged in such activities, but she estimated it to be around hundreds.
She claimed that her former partner secretly recorded their intimate moments with the intention of threatening or extorting her. She stated that he threatened to disclose these recordings, potentially damaging her professional reputation.
Ventura stated, “He often brought up those things when he was upset. It happened quite frequently. It was just a typical occurrence,” Ventura explained. “I was worried for my job and my family. It was all extremely humiliating. It’s awful and despicable. No one should subject anyone to such treatment.
Testifying on May 14, Ventura admitted to receiving 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.
In 2018, Ventura stated that after enjoying a friendly dinner with Combs at a restaurant in Malibu, he later went to her apartment and allegedly committed a sexual assault against her. She was in a relationship with Alex Fine at the time, whom she married in 2019.
She testified in court that “I entered inside, then he followed and violently assaulted me on the living room carpet.” All I can recall is sobbing and pleading for him to stop, but it happened so swiftly. His eyes were dark, he seemed not like himself, as if a stranger was stealing from me.
As a loyal supporter, I’d like to clarify my stance on the allegations made against Combs. While his legal representatives assert that he never partook in any form of non-consensual intimacy, they also suggest that those who have accused him of such offenses consented to any sexual encounters they were involved in.
Ventura stated that she engaged in consensual sexual activity with Combs on another occasion following the alleged assault. When questioned about her decision to be intimate with Combs again, she explained, “You can’t just switch off feelings like that. I still retained a positive image of who he was as an individual.
Toward the close of 2011, Ventura decided to part ways with Scott Mescudi, also known as Kid Cudi, primarily due to threats made by Combs that his vehicle might be destroyed. This was her testimony.
I couldn’t ignore the risk or predict the potential consequences if our meetings persisted,” I confided in the court. “Sean had warned me that he intended harm, not just towards me.
Departures from Ventura were associated with instances of urinary tract infections, oral ulcers, and digestive problems, as stated during the testimony on May 14.
During her court testimony, Ventura stated that there were repeated instances where she had what they referred to as ‘freak offs’, and these events happened one after another. On certain occasions, she even had a ‘freak off’ while battling an infection. She attempted to clean it using water, but unfortunately, the antibiotic CIPRO was no longer effective. It became a chaotic situation for her.
She continued, “It was really painful for a long time. I can’t believe I actually dealt with that.”
I’m sorry.
On his second day of testimony, Ventura narrated the 2016 hotel incident, which was recorded on CCTV cameras and broadcast by CNN in May 2024.
She stated that Combs hurled a vase at her following his attempt to prevent her from exiting the Intercontinental Hotel, which later led to him physically attacking her.
As I recall, that vase seemed to be heading straight for me during the court proceedings on May 14th. It collided with the wall instead of me. I didn’t receive any physical impact, but he was shouting at me. I can’t precisely recollect his exact words, but I’m certain he wasn’t using my name. I believe he must have been using another term 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 mentioned that she needed to attend the red carpet event for her movie, “The Perfect Match,” sporting bruises on her face and body together with Combs. To conceal her swollen eye and split lip under layers of makeup, she also noted that she had multiple bruises on her legs, so she adjusted her outfit accordingly.
On May 13, the singer declared under oath that Combs assaulted her in a Los Angeles hotel corridor back in March 2016, as he was furious over her departure from a “freak-off” incident. (Footage of the event obtained from the hotel’s surveillance system was later released by CNN in 2024, and the defense failed to prevent this footage being used as evidence.)
Ventura explained to the court that he decided to depart, and Sean subsequently exited as well, following him into the corridor. Once there, Sean seized me, pushed me down, kicked me, and then forcibly returned me to the room, taking my belongings with him.
She initially didn’t want to join in, but she had a movie premiere scheduled just a few days ahead and felt the need to keep Combs content, so she stated. “If I could appease him by going along with his request,” Ventura said, “then my premiere would proceed smoothly.
After he inflicted a black eye on her, she added, “At that moment, all I could focus on was escaping there safely. My debut was upcoming and I didn’t wish to ruin it.” Upon being shoved onto the floor in the hallway, Ventura stated, she remained prone because “I didn’t want him to cause any further harm than he already had.
Testifying under oath, Ventura admitted to consuming alcohol and using ecstasy during her first sexual encounter with an escort in Combs’ presence. Moreover, she explained that to cope with their encounters, which she referred to as “freak offs,” she would often resort to using marijuana, ketamine, mushrooms, or whatever the popular drug was at that time.
“I couldn’t imagine myself doing any of that without having some sort of buffer,” she said.
At times, she’d become physically sick during heated arguments, Ventura stated, and Combs would urge me to stand up and keep going despite the disruption.
She expressed to Combs that the behavior she referred to as “freak offs” left her feeling extremely bad about herself, both awful and valueless, according to Ventura. However, he seemed to disregard her worries, acting rather indifferent.
Following an unexpected incident, traces of baby oil were found throughout the hotel room, Ventura testified. If Combs had requested someone to soil the bedsheets, there might also be urine stains present. Furthermore, if she was menstruating during this occurrence, Ventura suggested there could be bloodstains not only on the sheets but also on the surrounding furniture.
According to Ventura, the act left her feeling deeply embarrassed. She described it as an experience that was revolting and overwhelming. She struggled, wishing she wasn’t in such a situation, one from which she found it difficult to escape.
In this situation, I found myself compelled to comply with his instructions, as it was something that ignited me. However, when questioned by Emily A. Johnson about not resisting his commands in these instances, I made it clear that my intentions were never to participate willingly, as I believed it was self-evident that I didn’t want to engage in such activities.
On May 13th, Ventura stated that Combs instructed herself and the other “freak off” participants to coat themselves with baby oil.
She stated in court that Sean desired the item both warm and shiny, so we applied heat treatment approximately every five minutes.
At the Montage Beverly Hills, during a surprising turn of events, Ventura recalled that Combs suggested she enter an inflatable pool brimming with baby oil, while she was still dressed.
Despite her reluctance, if it was something Combs desired, then that’s exactly what would transpire, she added. “We employed a total of ten standard-sized baby oil bottles,” she said.
On May 13, Ventura shared with prosecutors that during the initial year of her ten-year association with Combs, he suggested incorporating voyeurism into their intimate activities. This started when she arranged for an escort and set up a scenario, allowing her to “perform” for Combs, who would observe her with another person.
Ultimately, she found herself engaged in organizing sex shows that Combs referred to as “freak offs,” which would often extend from 36 hours up to four days. This role of hers transformed into a regular occupation.
She remembered, “At first, Sean arranged everything, including the setup in our hotel room, and I had the connections to make it happen.
Ventura said that her “stomach churned” when he first proposed the experience.
She admitted she didn’t initially understand why it would arouse him, but she took on the task. To put it simply, she was puzzled, anxious, yet deeply cared for him and desired his happiness. It wasn’t an action she found appealing, particularly not as often as it turned out to be, but her love for him overpowered these feelings. In essence, she wanted to make him happy.
She admitted, “At some point, I felt I didn’t have much of a choice.”
In their relationship spanning from 2007 to 2018, Ventura claimed that Combs often displayed violent behavior towards her.
She told the jury that indeed their discussions often escalated into aggressive confrontations, which frequently led to physical harm such as being shoved, knocked down, dragged across the floor, and kicked.
She mentioned that her injuries were frequently noticeable, stating, “I’d develop lumps on my forehead, have black and red eyes, as well as bruises covering various parts of my body.
On May 13, it was planned for Ventura to testify following Daniel Philip, and Combs’ defense asked that she be positioned at the witness stand prior to the jury’s entrance, as she is eight months pregnant.
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo explained to the judge that he perceived a biased aspect, saying, “I find it admirable and enchanting when someone is pregnant. It’s a situation that can evoke compassion in people as well.
After the jury had already been selected, I was subsequently introduced, suggesting that my legal team’s motion had not been successful earlier.
On one specific instance when Ventura didn’t immediately respond to Combs’ call, Philip testified on May 12 that Combs allegedly hurled a bottle of liquor in her proximity, subsequently grabbed her by the hair and forced her into the bedroom. “She was screaming,” Philip recounted, and from his location in another room, it sounded like he heard him hitting her. Philip also recalled hearing Combs say something along the lines of, “I’ve told you to come here, you come here now, not later.
Phillip said he was “terrified” and did not intervene.
He also declared that on another instance, he believed he heard Combs physically attacking Ventura at the Essex House hotel in New York. “I caught her voice saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry,’ there was someone being hit and shoved around the room,” Philip stated. “Peeking around the corner, I observed Mr. Combs exiting the hotel completely, possibly only covered by a towel.
In the account I provided, I was the one who stepped out of the room and found myself seated on Philip’s lap. He went on to describe how Ventura seemed determined to reassure me, saying things like “it’s alright” and “you’ll be alright.” However, I firmly stated that it wasn’t acceptable and urged her to seek help instead.
“I tried to explain to her that she was in real danger if she stayed with him,” Phillip said.
In response to a question from prosecutor Maureen Comey about why he didn’t contact the police, Philip stated that he perceived Combs as an individual with immense power. He suggested that even if he had reported the matter to the police, there was a possibility that his life could still have been at risk.
Daniel Philip, who claimed to be managing a male stripper show during the specified period, declared that he received “a few thousand dollars” for engaging in intimate activities with Ventura, while Combs observed at New York City’s Gramercy Hotel in 2012. Philip identified Combs by his voice despite the fact that Combs was wearing a robe, a baseball cap, and a bandanna concealing his face.
Ventura compensated him and mentioned, “I’ll give you a tip when you depart,” Philip shared with the court. “Later, we engaged in sexual activity, applied baby oil to one another for a few moments. Combs was positioned in a corner, self-pleasuring.
Afterward, the witness continued, Ventura gave him “a couple of thousand more.”
Over the course of the following year, Philip claimed to have been reached several times for more encounters, both with Ventura and Combs, at various hotels as well as their homes in New York. He alleged that Combs videotaped him and Ventura engaging in sexual activities on one or two occasions, and occasionally, Combs would join in and have sex with Ventura while Philip was present.
In the 2023 lawsuit she filed against her former partner for charges of sexual assault and physical violence, Ventura claimed that Combs compelled her into having sexual encounters with male escorts.
According to Florez’s testimony, Ventura appeared frightened. She huddled in the corner, with her hood up and her body concealed. Her face was hidden, and I couldn’t get a clear look at it because she was tucked away in the corner. A shattered flower vase lay on the floor nearby.
After Ventura departed from the hotel, she was reportedly sporting a purple eye according to Florez. Subsequently, when Ventura was no longer present, Florez and the desk manager went up to the room where Combs was staying to discuss the hotel’s rules. Combs allegedly believed that the manager was secretly recording him on his phone and attempted to seize it, as Florez recounted. Furthermore, when Combs tried to take Florez’s phone, according to Florez, he held Combs against a wall. “We told him we weren’t recording him,” Florez testified, “and de-escalated the situation.
In court, the prosecution played back the slowed-down version of the CCTV footage from May 2024, which showed Combs seemingly striking, kicking, and pulling Ventura – an incident that the defense had earlier suggested was made to look more violent due to speeding up in the original clip. The jury also watched a video taken by Florez on his phone when he responded to a distress call on the sixth floor, which he recorded himself.
According to Florez, he chose not to contact the police immediately because Ventura refused to discuss what had occurred and instead expressed a desire to depart.
Police Officer Israel Florez, based in Los Angeles, served as a security guard at the InterContinental Hotel when the altercation involving Combs and Ventura occurred on March 5, 2016. In her opening statement, Geragos referred to the surveillance footage of the incident, initially disclosed by CNN in May 2024, as “compelling evidence of domestic violence,” emphasizing it was primarily due to infidelity uncovered on a mobile device, not sex trafficking.
On May 12th, Florez stated under oath that he witnessed signs of a dispute happening on the specified day, and later, Combs reportedly gave him a large amount of cash in an attempt to persuade him to ignore the incident.
During the questioning, Florez stated that he was certain he perceived Combs’ action as an attempt to bribe him.
In her initial remarks, the defense lawyer Teny Geragos expressed that the prosecution was attempting to redefine consensual sexual acts as instances of sex trafficking. However, he stated emphatically that this strategy would ultimately fail.
“Sean Combs is a complicated man,” she said, “but this is not a complicated case.”
Geragos further explained that the matter at hand revolves around Sean Combs’ private, intimate sexual activities, which hold no relevance to his legitimate business ventures.
In her statement to the court, she explained that her client exhibited aggressive behavior, used illicit substances, and had problems managing his anger. She emphasized that during this trial, it’s essential to remember that he isn’t on trial for being rude or unpleasant; rather, he is being judged for the specific charges against him.
Geragos explained, “The proof will portray an imperfect person, yet it won’t depict them as a racketeer, a sex trafficker, or someone involved in transporting for prostitution.
In the courtroom, as reported by NBC News journalists, Prosecutor Emily Johnson alleged that Combs manipulated a wide range of staff members to perform unlawful activities, including prolonged incidents known as “freak offs.” These actions were outlined in the federal indictment.
On occasion, he referred to himself as a king and demanded special treatment based on
Johnson commenced her speech to the jury by painting Combs as an extraordinarily impactful individual who oversaw an illegal business operation.
Johnson emphasized to the jury an instance seemingly indicating Combs’ criminal behavior, stating that the founder of Bad Boys Record was “pursuing” Ventura one evening following news of her entering into a romantic relationship with someone else. According to Johnson, Combs allegedly assaulted her severely, kicking her in the back and tossing her roughly, like a piece of cloth, upon discovering her.
He warned her, saying that if she disobeys him once more, he would expose videos of her involved in intimate acts with male escorts, effectively unveiling some of her most embarrassing moments,” she went on.
The prosecutor alleged that Combs’ inner circle covered up “crime after crime.”
In simpler terms, Judge Arun Subramanian shared with the jury that he anticipates the trial might end as early as July 4th. He expressed his hope that the case would be wrapped up by then, though he cautioned that it could extend past this date, but he doesn’t foresee that happening.
On the opening day of his sex trafficking trial on May 12, his mother Janice Combs and six of his older children were by his side.
The children of Kim Porter, Quincy Brown, Christian “King” Combs, Jessie Combs, and D’Lila Combs, along with Justin Combs (son of Misa Hylton), Chance Combs (daughter of Sarah Chapman), all had the opportunity to give their father a warm embrace before he met with his lawyers.
In the trial, both the prosecution and Chris Combs’ legal team consented to have an eight-member jury consisting of four men and four women, along with four male and two female alternates.
Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ legal representative, contended that the prosecution appeared to be deliberately excluding potential Black jurors. He claimed this could lead to a recognizable pattern, and urged the judge to ask for justification for these dismissals.
Nevertheless, Prosecutor Maurene Ryan Comey refuted the allegations, stating, “We’ve acted impartially throughout the process. Our jury is multicultural, featuring several panelists who are not white.
This group of twelve jurors hails from New York City or Westchester, and they come from diverse professional backgrounds. They include a 69-year-old male actor and masseur, a 31-year-old male investment analyst, a 51-year-old male scientist, a 30-year-old female deli clerk, a 42-year-old female nursing home aide, a 41-year-old male communications clerk at a correctional facility, 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 analyst, and a 74-year-old female treatment coordinator.
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2025-05-17 00:49