Diddy trial recap: Kid Cudi set to testify after Combs’s ex-assistant recounted cleaning up baby oil in hotel rooms
Rapper Kid Cudi, who dated Cassie Ventura in 2011, is set to testify on Thursday in Sean Combs’s sex trafficking trial
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-assistant George Kaplan testified today in the music mogul’s New York sex trafficking trial.
After Diddy's hotel room stays — which could span from 12 hours to days — Kaplan said he was asked to grab the rapper's belongings from the room and ensure it was in a "polished state." This usually included picking up empty bottles of Gatorade, liquor and baby oil, he testified.
It was "implied" that he was asked to complete this task to "protect Mr. Combs," because hotels would frequently sell videos and images of celebrities to embarrass them, Kaplan said.
Rapper Kid Cudi, who dated Cassie Ventura in 2011, is expected to take the stand Thursday.
Earlier today, forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes testified as an expert witness on sexual abuse. Homeland Security Investigations special agent Gerard Gannon also testified about the 2024 raid on Combs’s 20,000-square-foot Miami home. He said agents found AR-15 rifle parts, a handgun, 25 bottles of baby oil and MDMA on the property.
Combs is facing sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy charges. Combs was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged he threatened, abused, and coerced victims “to fulfill his sexual desires” between 2004 and 2024. Combs has denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
Kid Cudi set to take the stand and testify against Diddy. Here’s what’s been said at trial so far
Diddy brought three handguns to confront Suge Knight at a diner in LA, his former assistant testified
Diddy trial recap: Male escort ‘The Punisher’ testified about first ‘freak off’ with Sean Combs and Cassie at Trump Tower
‘Greatest support system’: Who are Cassie Ventura’s relatives as her mom is set to take stand in Diddy trial
LIVE: Follow along as Kid Cudi is expected to testify Thursday
Click the link below to follow The Independent’s live blog of Thursday’s coverage of Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sex trafficking trial.
Kid Cudi is expected to testify Thursday about his relationship with Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’s ex-girlfriend and the prosecution’s star witness.
Diddy trial latest: Kid Cudi set to testify about relationship with Cassie Ventura
Kid Cudi expected to take stand today
Scott Mescudi, better known as the rapper Kid Cudi, is set to testify in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s New York sex trafficking trial later this week.
In 2011, Mescudi dated Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’s on-and-off girlfriend for over a decade. Now, the Day ‘N’ Nite singer will be testifying in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday or Thursday.
Last week, Ventura testified that Combs abused her after learning about her relationship with Mescudi. The prosecution’s star witness told jurors that Combs lunged at her with a wine bottle after he found emails between her and Mescudi during a “freak off.”
Katie Hawkinson has outlined what witnesses have said about Mescudi so far:
Kid Cudi set to take the stand and testify against Diddy. Here’s what’s we know
Recap: What happened in yesterday’s hearing?
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sex trafficking trial entered its seventh day of Testimony Thursday and began with his former assistant, David James, returning to the stand.
James, who worked for Combs between 2007 and 2009, recounted feeling afraid for his life while driving with Combs to a diner where he had spotted his rival, Suge Knight. Combs had three handguns with him as he rode in the backseat, James testified.
Cassie Ventura’s mother, Regina Ventura, testified next.
Regina said that Combs became angry when he discovered her daughter was dating rapper Kid Cudi in 2011. Combs then wanted to “recoup” the money he spent on Cassie and demanded $20,000 from her family, or else he’d release explicit footage of her, Regina testified.
The elder Ventura said she took out a home equity loan to make the payment. The money ended up back in Regina’s account a few days later, but Combs never spoke to her about it, she testified.
Sharay Hayes, a male exotic dancer known as “The Punisher,” then testified about his “freak-offs” with Combs and Cassie. Hayes said he never sensed any discomfort from Cassie, adding that he never saw Combs film her or hurt her.
The day ended with testimony from special agent Gerard Gannon, who was involved in the raid on Combs’s Florida mansion last year. Gannon testified that officials found AR-15 rifle parts, bottles of baby oil, sex toys and platform high heels inside a bedroom closet.
Diddy 'brought three handguns' to confront Suge Knight at LA diner
Sean “Diddy” Combs brought three handguns to a famous diner after learning that his record executive rival Suge Knight would be there, the music mogul’s former personal assistant testified Tuesday.
David James, who worked for Diddy from May 2007 through May 2009, told a New York federal court Tuesday about an incident from November 2008 at Mel’s Drive-in, a famous diner chain in Los Angeles.
On the November 2008 night, James and D-Roc, Diddy’s security guard, drove to get their boss cheeseburgers around 3 a.m. one morning. When they arrived at the diner’s parking lot, D-Roc noticed just three parking spots away was Knight, then-CEO of Death Row Records and one of Diddy’s “competitors,” James testified.
Kelly Rissman, who was at Tuesday’s hearing, has the details:
Diddy’s assistant says rapper brought three handguns to confront Suge Knight at diner
Cassie's mom took the stand yesterday. But who are the Venturas?
Regina Ventura, the mother of Sean Combs’s ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, delivered testimony Tuesday.
During her quarter of an hour at the witness stand, the elder Ventura testified that Combs became angry when he discovered her daughter was dating rapper Kid Cudi in 2011.
Cassie has been supported by loved ones throughout the trial, including her husband, Alex Fine, who was a mainstay in the courtroom while she testified last week.
Reporting from New York, Isabel Keane details what we know about the star witness’s family:
What to know about Cassie Ventura’s family life as her mom takes the stand
Diddy 'took Obama-shaped ecstasy pills'
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s daily drug cocktail included ecstasy pills in the shape of former president Barack Obama’s head, according to the disgraced mogul’s former personal assistant.
David James testified about his ex-boss’ alleged drugs of choice on Tuesday.
“There were various pills, but one was in the form of a former president’s face,” James told prosecutor Christy Slavik.
“Which former president?” Slavik probed, before James responded: “President Obama.”
Erin Keller has more:
Diddy took Obama-shaped ecstasy pills: ex-assistant
How has Diddy reacted to witness testimony?
As the seventh day of testimony in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s trial drew to a close, it’s clear the music mogul is keeping a close eye on what’s happening, writes Kelly Rissman, who attended Tuesday’s hearing.
Combs wore a light blue sweater with a white collared shirt underneath. He spoke constantly with his attorneys and passed them notes on colorful post-its. He often shifted his gaze between the attorney and the witness testifying.
Combs has also formed a habit of hugging his attorneys whenever he leaves or enters for the courtroom.
Homeland Security agent to continue reviewing evidence from Diddy mansion raid this morning
Investigations Special Agent Gerard Gannon is set to continue his testimony this morning.
Gannon helped plan the raid on Sean “Diddy” Combs’s Florida home in March last year, before the hip-hop mogul was arrested six months later.
Gannon said 80 to 90 law enforcement officers were dispatched to search Combs’s 20,000-square-foot Miami mansion. Agents found parts of AR-15 rifles, bottles of baby oil, sex toys and platform high heels inside a bedroom close, he testified.
He is due to continue reviewing the evidence recovered from the mansion. Rapper Kid Cudi is expected to take the stand after Gannon.
In sketches: 'Freak off' escort and Cassie's mother testify
Why was Combs 'angry' with Kid Cudi?
Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi and Cassandra “Cassie” Venutura dated in 2011, while she was still involved with Combs.
Ventura, the prosecution’s star witness, testified last week about how Combs discovered her relationship with Mescudi. The 55-year-old music mogul allegedly found emails between Ventura and Mescudi’s staff on her phone during a “freak off.”
Combs then lunged at her with a wine bottle opener, according to her testimony.
When Ventura went home for Christmas that year, her family took photos of bruises she says Combs inflicted after she visited him to talk about Mescudi.
Ventura also testified that she used a burner phone to contact Mescudi because it would be “too dangerous” for Combs to find out they were talking.
She testified that Combs told her he would blow up Mescudi’s car: “Sean wanted Scott’s friends to see Scott’s car get blown up.”
Mescudi’s car was scorched between December 2011 and 2012. Combs denies the allegations and any wrongdoing.