Diddy trial recap: Kid Cudi testified he believes Sean Combs firebombed his Porsche and broke into his home
Scott ‘Kid Cudi’ Mescudi testified that Sean Combs broke into his home and that a Molotov cocktail later damaged his Porsche
Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi testified today in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sex trafficking trial.
Mescudi briefly dated Cassie Ventura, Combs’s on-and-off-again girlfriend of 11 years, in 2011. Mescudi testified that Combs broke into his house and locked his dog in a bathroom after discovering his relationship with Ventura.
Mescudi said his car was then set on fire with a Molotov cocktail in early 2012. He told the jury he knew Combs “had something to do with” the bombing. Combs has denied any involvement.
Frederic Zemmour, manager at the L’Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills, also testified today. Zemmour said Combs’s customer profile had several notes to staff, including one that warned he “always spills candle wax on everything and uses excessive amounts of oil.”
Combs and Ventura’s former makeup artist, Mylah Morales, also told the jury she once witnessed Ventura leave a room with injuries after arguing with Combs. The makeup artist said she didn’t call the police because she was afraid of Combs and feared for her life.
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.
Court will resume on Tuesday.
Dreary weather isn't keeping crowds at bay
It’s already busy today outside the courthouse in downtown Manhattan. It appears as though some of the crowds have returned, despite the drizzly day, to see Kid Cudi take the stand.
What did Cassie's mom say about Kid Cudi?
Regina Ventura said that Sean Combs became angry when he discovered her daughter was dating rapper Kid Cudi in 2011.
Combs, who dated Cassie on-and-off between 2007 and 2018, said he 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 Ventura testified.
Regina Ventura said Combs also threatened to release her daughter’s sex tape after finding out about her new romantic fling.
“I was physically sick,” she told jurors. “I did not understand it, the sex tape threw me. He was trying to hurt my daughter.”
The elder Ventura said she took out a home equity loan to make the payment. The money ended up back in her account a few days later, but Combs never spoke to her about it, she testified.
Judge is on the bench with jury yet to arrive
Judge Arun Subramanian is on the bench, but the jury hasn’t yet been brought into the courtroom, according to CNN.
George Kaplan, Combs’s former assistant, is expected to continue his testimony, which began yesterday, once the hearing is underway.
Court begins as George Kaplan returns to the stand
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-assistant George Kaplan is back on the witness stand for day nine of the music mogul’s sex trafficking trial.
Kaplan testified yesterday about his duties as Combs’s assistant.
Read more about his previous testimony from Kelly Rissman:
Diddy’s ex-assistant describes cleaning hotel rooms after ‘freak off’ sex marathons
George Kaplan has immunity
George Kaplan was granted immunity yesterday to testify, meaning he can’t be prosecuted for what he reveals on the stand.
However, he can still be prosecuted for perjury if he lies to the jury.
The prosecutor questioning Kaplan asked him about the order this morning. Kaplan said he understands that immunity allows him to “testify truthfully and allows for this testimony to not be used against me.”
Kaplan testifies Diddy was violent toward Cassie
George Kaplan told the jury he witnessed Sean “Diddy” Combs being violent toward his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
The group was on Combs’s private jet in 2015, he testified. Kaplan said he heard glass break, and when he turned around, Combs was standing over Ventura holding a whiskey glass. Ventura’s legs were out to try and create space between her and Combs, Kaplan added.
Kaplan said Cassie shouted, “Isn't anybody seeing this?"
Combs’s security didn’t intervene, he testified.
George Kaplan recalls seeing Cassie's injuries
George Kaplan testified about another instance in which he saw Cassie Ventura with visible bruising on her face in late 2015.
Kaplan said Combs then asked him to buy several products to help with the bruising, such as witch hazel.
Diddy's ex-assistant says violence made him quit
George Kaplan testified he left his job as Sean “Diddy” Combs’s assistant in December 2015 because he wasn’t comfortable with the violence he witnessed.
Kaplan initially resigned in September 2015, citing an illness in his family. But he said he didn’t leave the role until December.
“The central reason that I left my job as Mr. Combs’ assistant was that I was not comfortable or aligned with the physical behavior that had been going on that I had seen pieces of over the course of a couple months,” he testified.
Kaplan recalled witnessing Combs throwing decorative apples at a woman named Gina, who tried to shield herself as it happened. Kaplan said he heard commotion, including screaming back and forth, later that evening.
Kaplan told Combs’s chief of staff that the Gina incident was his “last straw,” he testified.
Cross-examination begins as Kaplan reveals he had 'incredible' time working for Diddy
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s attorney is now cross-examining George Kaplan.
Kaplan said working for Combs was one of the most “incredible” times of his life.
“Working for Mr. Combs made my world so much bigger in such a short period of time,” Kaplan testified.