Diddy trial recap: Male escort ‘The Punisher’ testified about first ‘freak off’ with Sean Combs and Cassie
Exotic dancer Sharay Hayes and Cassie Ventura’s mother testified in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s New York sex trafficking trial on Tuesday
Male exotic dancer Sharay Hayes, also known as “The Punisher,” testified about his “freak offs” with Sean “Diddy” Combs and Cassie Ventura on day seven of the music mogul’s trial.
Hayes said he first met Combs and Ventura at a Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York City. Hayes explained he didn’t recognize the pair at first and thought he was there to perform a striptease. But Ventura told him that “her and [her] husband liked to create a sexy scene” and handed him $800, he testified.
Hayes said he met the pair again eight to 12 times and eventually recognized them.
Ventura’s mother also testified Tuesday, claiming Combs threatened to release explicit footage of Cassie unless her family paid him $20,000. Regina Ventura took out a home equity loan to make the payment, she said, but the money was returned to her account several days later.
Rapper Kid Cudi, who dated Ventura in 2011, is expected to take the stand later this week.
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.
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Follow our latest blog for live coverage of Wednesday’s hearing
The Independent’s live coverage of Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial for Tuesday (May 20) has ended.
For the latest updates about Wednesday’s hearing, click the link below:
Diddy trial live: Kid Cudi set to testify as Trump Tower ‘freak off’ detail revealed
'Freak off' escort the 'Punisher' and Cassie Ventura's mother may take the stand
Prosecutors said that Tuesday’s witnesses will include an alleged escort and exotic dancer known as “The Punisher,” Sharay Hayes, as well as Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura’s mother, Regina Ventura.
Without mentioning Hayes by name, Ventura testified last week that a man known as “The Punisher” participated in several drug-fueled marathon sex sessions known as“freak-offs” with her and Combs.
Combs’ former personal chef, Jourdan Atkinson, is also expected to be called to the stand Tuesday.
Recap: Dawn Richard and Kerry Morgan testify about Diddy abuse
Monday’s hearing began with more testimony from Dawn Richard, a singer who worked with Sean “Diddy” Combs and sued him for abuse last year.
Richard testified that she saw Combs attack his then-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura with a skillet. Afterward, Richard said Combs told her not to say anything about the incident, telling her, “where he comes from, people go missing.”
But the defense tried to poke holes in Richard’s testimony, claiming her story on the skillet incident had changed and that she failed to tell prosecutors last year that Combs threatened her.
In response, Richard said she’s remembering the details “to the best of her ability.”
Meanwhile, formerly of Ventura’s closest friends, Kerry Morgan, testified that she saw Combs assault Ventura on multiple occasions. Morgan also testified that Combs assaulted her with a hanger in 2018. Ventura wasn’t supportive in the wake of the assault, Morgan said, which led to the end of their 17-year friendship.
The day ended with a few minutes of testimony from David James, Combs’s assistant from 2007 to 2009. James described gruelling 20-hour work days and became emotional when recalling a staff member once told him, “This is Mr. Combs’s kingdom, we’re all here to serve in it.”
Justin Bieber makes first public appearance since addressing Diddy rumors
Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey were seen together days after the “Sorry” singer addressed whether or not he was a victim of Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The Biebers were at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada, to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Florida Panthers in the NHL playoffs on Sunday.
They were featured in a post on the NHL’s X account as Hailey was decked out in Maple Leafs’ gear while Justin stood out wearing neon orange.
Brittany Miller has the full story:
Justin and Hailey Bieber make first public appearance since addressing Diddy rumors
In full: Cassie Ventura’s ex-best friend says Diddy paid her $30K to stay silent
Kerry Morgan, the former best friend of Cassie Ventura, has told the Diddy trial how the music mogul choked her and beat her with a hanger in 2018 - and then offered her $30,000 in exchange for her silence.
The 39-year-old model was friends with Ventura from 2001 until 2018, and testified on Monday that Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs, attacked her from behind and hit her around the head with the wooden coat hanger.
Morgan said she had been hanging out at Ventura’s house in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, listening to Ventura’s music, when Diddy barged in.
Ventura was in the bathroom and Morgan was in the living room when Diddy came up behind Morgan from behind, choked her and smacked her behind her right ear with a coat hanger, she testified. She said he left “fingermarks” on her neck. Diddy was concerned about who Ventura was cheating on him with; Morgan said she didn’t know.
She suffered a concussion as a result of the attack, she said.
Kelly Rissman has more:
Cassie Ventura’s former best friend testifies how Diddy paid her $30K after abuse
Diddy's personal assistant to continue testimony later this morning
David James was Combs’ personal assistant between 2007 and 2009.
As he took the stand Monday afternoon, he testified of grueling 20-hour workdays, attempting to dissuade Cassie Ventura to “get out” and noting that one employee said that they were “all here to serve” the hip-hop mogul’s “kingdom.”
James is expected to return to the stand Tuesday, with testimony set to resume at about 9.30 a.m.
The prosecution has called a spate of other witnesses to take the stand Tuesday, including Ventura’s mother and an exotic dancer who was involved in Combs’ alleged “freak-offs.”
Who is the ‘The Punisher’?
Prosecutors are expected to call an escort known as “The Punisher” to the stand on Tuesday. But who are they?
During her testimony last week, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura identified more than a dozen male sex workers allegedly hired by her then-boyfriend Sean Combs for his “freak-offs” in Las Vegas, Miami and Los Angeles.
One of them, she said, was nicknamed “The Punisher.” Their real name is Sharay Hayes, according to The New York Times.
Hayes, an exotic dancer, is expected to testify after Combs’ former personal assistant David James on Tuesday.
In sketches: Day six of testimony in Diddy's sex-trafficking trial
What did Dawn Richard say yesterday?
Dawn Richard testified about the “traumatizing” conditions that came with working for Sean Combs and his violent tendencies towards his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
Richard, who was part of the Combs-founded girl group Danity Kane, told the jury that the rapper “would punch her (Ventura), choke her, drag her, slap her in the mouth.”
“I saw him kick her, punch her in the stomach,” she added.
Richard also recalled a 2009 incident, saying she witnessed Combs hit Ventura with a skillet. She testified that Ventura would hide her injuries with makeup.
At one point, Richard told the court that Combs previously told her he “owned” Ventura.
Richard says Combs told her to “stay the f*** out” of his relationship with Ventura or “something bad will happen to you.”
As Ventura allegedly waited for things to resolve, Richard told her she should leave.
“Cas looked torn,” she testified. “She would listen, but I could see the fear.”
Chilly morning outside Manhattan federal court
It’s pretty chilly in downtown Manhattan this morning. Some members of the public are posted up in foldable chairs at the front of the line. One has a sleeping bag and others have blankets.
David James, Combs’ former personal assistant, is expected to return to the stand this morning to testify about incidents related to forced labor allegations.
