Fame Under Fire

Cassie Ventura’s former stylist has testified that he witnessed Sean 'Diddy' Combs being violent towards his ex-girlfriend. Deonte Nash told the court that he and Cassie hid 'too many times to count', because they didn’t want Combs to “attack” them. Plus, the judge presiding over Diddy’s federal trial rejected his defence team's bid for a mistrial. A warning that this episode contains descriptions...

A former employee has testified that Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs threatened to 'go kill' Kid Cudi after finding out about the rapper’s relationship with Cassie Ventura. Capricorn Clark, who was an assistant to both Diddy and Cassie, also said she had her life repeatedly threatened by Sean Combs. In testimony last week, Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi alleged that Clark called him to say that her boss had broken i...

Rapper Kid Cudi has told the trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs that his car was set on fire by a Molotov cocktail. He testified that it happened after Diddy found out about his relationship with Cassie Ventura. Also giving evidence on Thursday, Cassie Ventura’s make-up artist and friend, along with Diddy’s former executive assistant. A warning, this episode contains descriptions of violence and sexual v...

A warning, this episode contains references to domestic abuse and drugs A Homeland Security agent gave further evidence on what was seized from Sean Combs’ Miami property during federal raids, including parts of a semi-automatic rifle, drugs including MDMA and ketamine, and lingerie, baby oil and high heels. Expert witness Dr Dawn Hughes testified as a clinical psychologist and outlined how trauma...

A warning, this episode contains descriptions of violence and graphic descriptions of sex. On Tuesday, Cassie’s mother Regina Ventura testified for the prosecution. She told the court that in 2011 she took out a loan to pay Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs $20,000, so he would not release explicit tapes of her daughter. He repaid the money shortly after. Exotic dancer Sharay Hayes, known as ‘The Punisher’, test...

Three witnesses are called by the prosecution, as week two of Diddy’s trial begins. A warning that this episode contains descriptions of violence. Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard finished her testimony and was questioned by Diddy’s defence lawyers. During a cross-examination, Richard admitted to giving different versions of events. Cassie Ventura's former best friend, Kerry Morgan, claimed she saw...

Lawyers for Sean 'Diddy' Combs have finished questioning Cassandra Ventura after asking her about text messages exchanged between the pair. The R&B singer says she would give back the $20m legal settlement she was paid the day after she accused Combs of rape and sex trafficking - if it meant never having done a "freak off". Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty speaks to the BBC’s Nada Tawfik about Cassi...

Diddy’s defence team has tried to establish that the so-called ‘freak-offs’ - sexual encounters in which Cassie Ventura would have sex with male escorts while Diddy watched - may have been consensual. It’s been the first day of Cassie’s cross-examination by one of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyers. Anna Estevao asked Ventura about the more loving side of the pair's time together, after she testified ove...

Cassie Ventura has claimed she was raped by Diddy at the end of her relationship with him. The singer also told a New York court that she endured abuse at the hands of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs during the ‘freak-off’ sessions, and that videos of the episodes were later used as blackmail. Jurors in the case have watched videos of the sexual encounters with male escorts, which Cassie says Diddy demanded, p...

The singer Cassie has been on the witness stand giving emotional and graphic testimony for most of the day. She is Diddy’s former partner and is testifying against him for the prosecution. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has denied all charges. If found guilty, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. Anoushka...

On the first day of Diddy’s trial, jurors have watched a video showing him assaulting his former long-time partner, the singer Cassie. The prosecution’s first witness, a former hotel security guard, says he was called on the night the CCTV video was filmed to help a "woman in distress", where he found Cassie sitting in the corner covering her face. Both the prosecution and defence gave their openi...

The jury is finalised and opening statements are expected in day 1 of Diddy’s trial. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty is in New York as the trial gets underway. She sees Diddy in court and up close for the first time, and meets the crowds gathering outside. Sean 'Diddy' Combs is accused of sex trafficking, racketeering with conspiracy and transportation for prostitution. He denies the charges and allega...

The trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is set to begin on Monday. He denies the charges of sex trafficking, racketeering with conspiracy and transportation for prostitution. So what should we expect at the start? Criminal defence attorney Shaun Kent explains how lawyers for the prosecution and defence will be making their opening statements as persuasive as possible. Veteran sketch artist Jane Rosenberg...

Lawyers for Sean 'Diddy' Combs preview his legal defence in his sex trafficking case, arguing that the rapper led the 'lifestyle' of a 'swinger' and was not a criminal. Jury selection gets underway on 5 May, with potential jurors asked a range of questions, including whether they watch crime shows. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty goes through all the latest pre-trial news with criminal defence attorney...

Judge tells Diddy’s team his trial will go ahead as planned, with opening statements set for 12 May. That’s despite his lawyers asking for a delay. Judge Subramanian did agree to some of the requests from Diddy’s team, allowing access to outtakes from a documentary and old drafts of an alleged victim’s memoir. Meanwhile, Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing many alleged victims bringing civil cl...

This is your quick round-up so you’re ready for the start of Diddy’s trial, which is set to start on 12 May. Since we launched this podcast in November 2024, we have had five criminal counts against Diddy, he’s been denied bail three times, faced accusations of witness tampering, lost a lawyer, featured in a Kanye - or Ye - track from behind bars, gone grey, demanded a gag order, launched an Insta...

It’s the month before Diddy stands trial and the news keeps coming. Mr Combs is now facing new criminal charges of sex trafficking and prostitution, relating to a second victim between 2021 and 2024. Diddy denies all allegations and his team say the prosecution is making it ‘impossible for Mr Combs to receive a fair trial’ by adding new evidence. Meanwhile the woman referred to as ‘Victim 1’ says...

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s trial begins in May. What’s happening right now as the prosecution and defence prepare? Criminal defence attorney Shaun Kent joins Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty to talk about pseudonyms, choosing juries, and picking the right expert. They’ll consider what cases like that of Michael Jackson’s doctor or OJ Simpson tell us about how US trials work. Meanwhile - Texan lawyer Tony Buzb...

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s former chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, has made her first public statement since Diddy was arrested and charged. Meanwhile Texan lawyer Tony Buzbee pulls out of 15 cases. Criminal defence attorney Shaun Kent and Rolling Stone’s senior investigative reporter Cheyenne Roundtree join Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty. The Diddy on Trial podcast is here to investigate the rumours, conf...

There is a lot going on in the ‘Diddyverse’ this week, from the ongoing row between Jay-Z and Tony Buzbee through to Kanye, or Ye, releasing a song which appears to feature Diddy in prison. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering with conspiracy and transportation for prostitution. He denies them all. Criminal defence attorney Shaun Kent and Rolling Stone’s...

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs appears in court for a pre-trial hearing. He pleads not guilty to forced labour charges which are part of an updated indictment. Lawyers also argue over the inclusion of the CNN leaked footage which shows Combs kicking his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura in the hallway of a hotel in 2016. It was agreed that jury selection will begin on 5 May, with opening trial statements on 12...

Celeb names have been added to one of the Diddy civil lawsuits in explicit allegations over 87 pages. It names celebrity co-defendants, new complainants, alleged trafficking over state lines, has a separate Michael Jackson element, and accuses Diddy of racketeering with conspiracy. Diddy denies all allegations against him. His team says no sane person reading this complaint could credit this story...

Breaking news, as an updated superceding indictment is issued. An indictment is a formal document filed by the US government detailing all the crimes that P Diddy has been charged with. This updated indictment accuses Diddy of threatening staff members and forcing one into a sex act. He denies the accusations, and says many employees stand by his side. Rolling Stone’s Investigative Reporter Cheyen...

Jay-Z files a lawsuit against the woman who accused him of rape and her lawyer Tony Buzbee, who said: "This case is baloney and has no legal merit". Plus the new civil cases against Diddy and his mum Janice Combs. Diddy’s team has told us the case against his mum ‘is another frivolous attempt to relitigate claims that have been repeatedly thrown out of court over the past 30 years’ and a civil sui...

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s legal team say he’s been ‘singled out because of his race’ and ask for a charge to be dropped. Meanwhile one of his attorneys, Anthony Ricco, asks to leave the case. Plus how unsubstantiated necromancy conspiracy theories about Diddy have gone wild on social media. Diddy remains in jail, awaiting trial on three federal charges of transportation for prostitution, sex traffickin...