Aubrey O'Day could testify in Sean 'Diddy' Combs federal sex-crimes trial
Danity Kane singer Aubrey O'Day, once a rising star in Combs' orbit, has been subpoenaed to testify in his trial, according to a person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly to USA TODAY.
Combs recruited O'Day when he formed the girl group Danity Kane on MTV's "Making the Band" in 2005.
On May 14, the 41-year-old O'Day chronicled being in New York City on her Instagram stories, writing, "Hey New York!!! Where y'all think I should head first?" with the scales of justice emoji.
Diddy trial updates: Sean Combs' lawyers hone in on turbulent Cassie relationship
In June 2024, O'Day opened up about Combs' legal trouble, telling People magazine that "there's no vindication when you're a victim of someone. … Anyone being exposed, or any truths being told, don't change the reality of what you experienced."
The "Celebrity Apprentice" alum added: "It's a forever thing that you have to wake up every day and choose to evolve past. It doesn't go away. It's like childhood trauma. We don't like to think it just disappears in our thirties, but really we start realizing how bad it really is in our thirties."
Federal prosecutors are expected to call O'Day's fellow Danity Kane alum Dawn Richard to testify next in court, following Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine's harrowing testimony this week.
Combs was arrested in September 2024 on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, remains in custody at the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center.
He is currently on trial, and his ex-girlfriend Ventura Fine took the stand during the week of May 12. In court, she testified that Combs repeatedly threatened to release videos of her participation in his alleged drug-fueled "freak offs," raped her after their 2018 split and was physically abusive on numerous occasions.
What kind of a physical toll does an emotionally abusive relationship take on someone?
Ventura Fine's testimony – which comes a year after CNN released 2016 hotel surveillance video that showed Combs kicking, hitting and dragging her at a now-closed Los Angeles luxury – has lasted several days. She also detailed portions of the hotel incident in her testimony.
Shortly after Ventura Fine's May 14 testimony ended, O'Day wrote on X that "so many people have thumbs that are more active than their minds. Fear yields a heavy hand- It's easy to say, it could never be me when you have never been handed those shoes to walk in #Cassie."
Aubrey O'Day likens experience with Sean 'Diddy' Combs to 'childhood trauma'
Combs formed Danity Kane with Aundrea Fimbres, D. Woods, Shannon Bex, Richard and O'Day. The pop group disbanded and reunited several times since their formation, most notably with O'Day being removed from the group in 2008, although she later returned.
In a December 2022 episode of the hit "Call Her Daddy" podcast hosted by Alex Cooper, O'Day alleged that Combs fired her because she wouldn't do things he requested "in other areas" besides music.
Contributing: Naledi Ushe
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diddy trial: Aubrey O'Day of Danity Kane could testify
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