Fame Under Fire

The judge in the trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has warned his lawyers that he may be removed from the courtroom, unless he stops trying to interact with the jury. Judge Subramanian said that he had seen Diddy nodding towards jurors. Meanwhile, one of Diddy’s former girlfriends, who is testifying under the pseudonym ‘Jane’, has started to give evidence. She told the court that they dated between 2021...

Bryana ‘Bana’ Bongolan has testified about being held over a balcony by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in 2016. She also told the court about her regular drug use with her friend Cassie Ventura. Ms Bongolan was questioned by Diddy’s defence lawyer about her memory of events. Frank Piazza, a forensic audio and video editor, also gave evidence about the CCTV video which showed Diddy assault Cassie in a hotel in...

Former hotel security officer Eddy Garcia has testified that he was given $100,000 after handing over CCTV video to Diddy, which showed the rapper attack Cassie Ventura in 2016. Garcia also told the court that he signed a non-disclosure agreement, which declared the video was the only one that existed. Also on Tuesday, Derek Ferguson, the former chief financial officer at Bad Boy Records testified...

The cross-examination of Diddy’s former assistant has ended, with the woman using the pseudonym ‘Mia’ being asked about positive social media posts and messages she sent about Diddy. Last week, ‘Mia’ told the court she was sexually assaulted and raped by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Plus, Beverley Hills hotel staff member Sylvia Oken has testified about the oil damage and deep cleaning of rooms needed afte...

It's the case that's captured the attention of the world. Three people died and a fourth survived an induced coma after eating beef Wellington at a family lunch, hosted by Erin Patterson. Police allege the beef wellington contained poisonous mushrooms, but Erin Patterson says she's innocent. Now, the accused triple murderer is fighting the charges in a regional Victorian courthouse. Court reporter...

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ former employee, who has given evidence under the pseudonym ‘Mia’, has been questioned by Diddy’s defence lawyer. In court on Thursday, ‘Mia’ told the court she had been raped and sexually assaulted by Diddy. Today, defence lawyer Brian Steel suggested ‘Mia’ had made up sexual assault allegations. He questioned her about a scrapbook she had made for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs birthday,...

A former employee of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, testifying anonymously as ‘Mia’, alleges he sexually assaulted her ‘on more than one occasion’. She also testified about feeling ‘terrified and trapped’ by Diddy. ‘Mia’ told the court that she was in charge of cleaning hotel rooms after ‘freak-offs’, describing them as ‘destroyed’. A warning that this episode contains descriptions of violence, sexual violen...

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...