Fame Under Fire

Does hip hop have a problem? Diddy denies the federal offences he’s accused of, but has previously apologised for physically assaulting Cassie Ventura, seen in a video widely shared online. That moment of violence and other incidents involving high-profile stars mean there’s a spotlight on the wider genre. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty speaks to Mark Anthony Neal, professor of African-American studie...

What is sex trafficking? The rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is currently in a New York prison awaiting trial in May on charges of sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution and racketeering with conspiracy. He denies all the allegations. We’re going to be examining what each of these federal charges mean over the coming weeks, hearing from experts and people affected in other cases involving thes...

As Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs awaits trial on charges of kidnapping, drugging and sex trafficking women, industry insiders who knew him during his meteoric rise in the 1990s speak exclusively to the BBC about their experiences. Daniel Evans, who worked at Bad Boy Records between 1994 and 1997, has told the BBC’s Investigations team that women were flown in for sex. He and other employees also recall a cul...

Emergency episode alert! Prosecutors in New York have expanded their case against Diddy, adding more women to the indictment against him. The BBC’s Music Correspondent Mark Savage assesses what it all means. Combs has been in jail since September after an initial indictment charged him with racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He denies all the accu...

Diddy fights back with a $50m lawsuit against accusers. Meanwhile new investigations by other media outlets publish more allegations, including from Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, former assistant and yacht staff. He denies all allegations against him. Criminal Defence Attorney Shaun Kent and Rolling Stone’s Senior Investigative Reporter Cheyenne Roundtree explain all to Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty. The Di...

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyers say video evidence from the prosecution shows he is innocent. They have been allowed to watch sex videos said to be from the so-called ‘freak-off’ parties ahead of the trial scheduled for May. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty hears from Criminal Defence Attorney Shaun Kent about the latest on the build-up to the trial. The Diddy on Trial podcast is here to investigate the rum...

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty examines the claims made in the latest documentary about Sean 'Diddy' Combs, called ‘Making of a Bad Boy’ by Peacock. Rolling Stone’s Senior Investigative Reporter Cheyenne Roundtree helps Anoushka analyse the documentary’s interviews from a former Bad Boy Records employee, a childhood friend and an alleged victim of sexual assault. Diddy’s team has told us, “this docume...

What’s life like for Diddy in the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in New York? He’s awaiting trial for federal charges of sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution and racketeering with conspiracy. Diddy denies them all. Catana Yehudah served a sentence in the MDC for fraud and federal public defender Andrew Dalack has represented people who have been detained there. They tell...

You asked for a special episode with all the background to the Sean “Diddy” Combs story, and here it is. From starting Bad Boy Records in 1993 and signing the Notorious BIG, to becoming a billionaire business mogul, through to the recent federal charges. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty traces Diddy’s history with Rolling Stone Senior Investigative Reporter Cheyenne Roundtree and Criminal Defence Attorn...

Broadcaster Precious Muir used to be a model and worked for the Playboy Bunny brand. Parties were a big part of the job, and she tells Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty about her experiences in early 2000s New York. Precious says she experienced a terrifying moment at one event, but didn’t feel able to speak out. Plus she takes Anoushka into the world of a Diddy Hamptons party, where there was glamour an...

It’s bombshell time. Rap superstar Jay-Z - real name Shawn Carter - has been dragged into the Diddy allegations. He’s been mentioned in a US civil lawsuit which alleges that he, along with Sean "Diddy" Combs, drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl at a party after the Video Music Awards in 2000. Jay-Z has dismissed the legal action as a "blackmail attempt" and Diddy has denied the new accusations. A...

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty assesses news of a bombshell allegation, as Jay-Z is now named as the previously anonymous ‘Celebrity A’ in a US civil lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges he and Sean "Diddy" Combs, drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl. Jay-Z dismissed the legal action as a "blackmail attempt". Mr Combs also denied the latest accusation. The exact wording of the lawsuit says “defendant Sean Com...

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty examines the latest lawsuit filed against Diddy with criminal defence attorney Shaun Kent and Cheyenne Roundtree, who is senior investigations reporter at Rolling Stone. This week a new civil lawsuit has been filed, by LA creative Bryana ‘Bana’ Bongolan who alleges that Diddy dangled her from the 17th-floor balcony of an apartment. She says it happened in 2016, while she...

Emergency episode alert! Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty and guests discuss the outcome of Diddy’s latest bail hearing. Rolling Stone reporter Cheyenne Roundtree dials in with the latest as the judge files the decision. BBC correspondent Mark Savage assesses what it all means, and outlines what’s on the menu for Thanksgiving dinner at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Diddy is accused of k...

Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty weighs up Diddy’s latest bid for bail with lawyer Shaun Kent and Rolling Stone reporter Cheyenne Roundtree. Cheyenne was in court for the hearing and has the lowdown, while Shaun considers what the judge will be thinking as he makes the crucial decision. Accused of kidnapping, drugging, and coercing women into sexual acts, Diddy finds himself behind bars in a notorious N...

Diddy on Trial is the podcast that dives deep into the shocking allegations and jaw-dropping conspiracies swirling around one of hip-hop’s biggest moguls, Sean “Diddy” Combs. For decades, “Diddy”, also known as known as “Puff Daddy”, “P. Diddy”, and “Love”, to name a few, has ruled the music industry, earning his place as rap royalty. But now, he’s at the centre of claims that are shaking the very...