Sean 'Diddy' Combs Tells Judge He Will Not Testify at His Trial
After federal prosecutors completed six weeks of evidence and testimony backing up their indictment of hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs on Tuesday, the defendant told the judge at his federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial that he will not be taking the stand to testify in his own defense.
Federal prosecutors rested their case Tuesday afternoon after six weeks of testimony from Combs' ex-girlfriends, personal assistants, federal agents and various members of his once powerful media and music empire, which the feds argue was a 'criminal enterprise' used to traffic men and women and coerce others into sex marathons. The defense rested later in the afternoon without calling a single witness. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian asked how Combs was and whether he would be testifying at the trial where, if found guilty, he could face life in prison.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
The Sphere Worked Modern Magic on the Soundtrack for 'The Wizard of Oz'
J-Pop Duo Yoasobi on Why Their Unique Concept Has Helped Lead to Global Success
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Make Casual Red Carpet Debut at His Tight End University's Opening Night
'I'm doing great, your honor,' Combs told Subramanian. 'I want to tell you thank you, you're doing an excellent job.' Combs then told the judge that he had 'thoroughly' discussed the pros and cons of testifying with his team of attorneys and ultimately decided against taking the stand.
'That is my decision, your honor. That is solely my decision,' he said adding to clarify, 'I mean, it's my decision with my lawyers…. My decision to make. I'm making it.'
The judge asking the defendant directly if they wish to testify before the court is a formality and ensures that he is making the decision on his own. During the trial, Judge Subramanian had to admonish Combs for interactions with the jury. On several occasions during testimony, the defendant gestured at jurors following a successful cross-examination; prosecutors noted this to the judge as a form of testifying without cross-examination. Comb was threatened with removal from his trial if he did not stop the interactions.
On Tuesday, the defense asked the judge to toss out the case, arguing that the charges were not proven by the prosecutors; this is also a formality in a criminal trial. Judge Subramanian has not yet issued a decision.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to five counts contained in an indictment, including sex trafficking and racketeering. He has remained incarcerated without bail in Brooklyn after three judges concluded he would be a danger to the community and may potentially attempt to influence witnesses ahead of the trial.
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025
Harvey Weinstein's "Jane Doe 1" Victim Reveals Identity: "I'm Tired of Hiding"
'Awards Chatter' Podcast: 'Sopranos' Creator David Chase Finally Reveals What Happened to Tony (Exclusive)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
an hour ago
Beyoncé and Jay-Z become the main event as Paris crowns celebrity the world's hottest trend
PARIS -- If any force dominated the global fashion industry this season — eclipsing fabric, form and even the wildest silhouettes — it was the spectacle of celebrity. In a year marked by global anxiety and a hunger for fantasy, star power flooded Paris Fashion Week, turning runways into gladiator arenas where A-list icons, K-pop idols and digital megastars became the main event. Beyoncé and Jay-Z didn't just attend Louis Vuitton's blockbuster show — they became the show. As they swept into the Pompidou Center, cameras flashed and phones shot skyward. Before the first look even hit the runway, images of the couple ricocheted across the globe. K-pop idols like J-Hope and Jackson Wang livestreamed their arrival to millions, while crowds outside flooded social feeds with every glimpse of a star. As the industry's spring season wraps up Sunday, it's clear: Fashion's global audience is focused less on what's worn and more on who's wearing it. This interplay between celebrity and fashion is hardly new, but in 2025, the desire for escapism and star-driven spectacle is peaking like never before. 'It's about celebrity clickbait, and it's at a tipping point now. Celebrities have replaced the designers and stylists as the tastemakers,' said Anna Barr, a fashion magazine editor who attended shows. Beyoncé's appearance this week encapsulated a truth that every major brand — from Louis Vuitton to Dior, Hermès to Saint Laurent — now understands: The real front row isn't in Paris, but on Instagram, TikTok and Weibo. And nothing sells quite like a star. The pop star's head-to-toe denim — custom Louis Vuitton by Pharrell Williams — wasn't just viral. Within 24 hours, clips of her arrival amassed millions of views on TikTok, outpacing even Louis Vuitton's own campaign content. When Williams presented her with a Speedy bag straight from the runway in the Paris dusk, the moment went viral — underlining that Beyoncé isn't just an attendee, but a face of Louis Vuitton's creative vision. But even as Beyoncé's look became the week's most shared image, her presence in Paris also sparked debate: a Buffalo Soldiers T-shirt she wore during her 'Cowboy Carter' tour ignited criticism from some Indigenous and Mexican communities, reminding the industry that every viral moment can be a flash point. This is the new dynamic of luxury: The most coveted runway seat is now in your hand, and what matters most isn't just what you see, but who you see wearing it. What once was a private preview for buyers and editors is now a worldwide entertainment event. Designers don't just stage shows — they produce spectacles. Williams, Louis Vuitton's showman-in-chief, turned his runway into a snakes-and-ladders fantasy with a guest list to match: Beyoncé, Jay-Z, K-pop royalty J-Hope and Jackson Wang, reggaeton star Karol G, and Hollywood names like Bradley Cooper and Mason Thames. Each arrival triggered waves of posts and stories — making the crowd as newsworthy as the collection itself. The modern runway has become a stage for celebrity, where the applause is measured in views and viral moments, and the line between performer and spectator disappears. No other force is shifting menswear trends faster than K-pop. This season, stars like J-Hope, Jackson Wang, GOT7's Bambam, and NCT's Yuta were everywhere, livestreaming shows and igniting fashion frenzies from Seoul to Sao Paulo. These idols are both tastemakers and trend translators, instantly transmitting what they see in Paris to millions of fans. Their attendance has become a commercial event in itself, driving the adoption of new styles on a global scale. Even the clothes themselves now chase celebrity. Beyoncé's ' Cowboy Carter ' moment and Louis Vuitton's nod to Western style sent cowboy hats, flared denim, and rhinestone shirts trending worldwide. Brands scramble to turn these viral moments into wearable trends — knowing that what Queen Bey wears in Paris will be copied in malls and on apps within weeks. 'We make fashion, but we're a house of travel,' Williams told reporters. In truth, it's the celebrity's journey through fashion that matters most. The old fashion cycle is gone. It's been said before. Where trends once took months to trickle down, now a celebrity-worn look can reach the high street soon after the show lights dim. TikTok and fast fashion brands move at the speed of the repost. At Hermès, even the discreet luxury of woven leather tees and wide trousers took on new meaning as athletes and music stars documented their attendance. Their posts quickly turn exclusive details into mass-market 'must-haves.' Shein and Temu, the global fast-fashion juggernauts, have weaponized the viral moment — turning celebrity sightings into shoppable trends worldwide, sometimes in a matter of hours. The result: What debuts on the Paris catwalk can show up in online shopping carts from Atlanta to Addis Ababa almost instantly. Beneath the celebrity glow, classic trends endure. Streetwear is still king, with oversized silhouettes, soft tailoring and activewear influences everywhere from Dior to Dolce & Gabbana. The Hermès 'cool city guy' and Dolce's pajama dressing — rumpled but rich — are direct answers to how men want to live and move now. But even these trends go mainstream through star power, not just design. The models might debut the look, but it's the front-row faces who make it stick. The celebrity ascendancy isn't just a front-row phenomenon — it's woven into the industry itself. When LVMH 's Bernard Arnault tapped Williams, a global pop icon, to lead Louis Vuitton menswear in 2023, it wasn't just a creative risk. It was a declaration that celebrity now runs the show. All this spectacle reflects a bigger shift. Fashion isn't just about what's in — it's about who's in the room, and who's watching. At Armani in Milan, at Saint Laurent in Paris, at every show, a galaxy of K-pop, Hollywood, and music stars now drive the narrative. For Gen Z and Alpha, the runway is no longer about aspiration — it's about participation, sharing, and living in the moment. The 'show' has become the product. In 2025, the hottest look in men's fashion isn't a garment — it's the spectacle. In the world's most-watched runway season, celebrity is the new couture, and every scroll puts you in the front row.
Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Jury due to begin deliberating in Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial
Advertisement In closing arguments last week, federal prosecutors and Combs' defense team took their last shots at convincing jurors to convict or acquit the Grammy Award-winning founder of Bad Boy Records. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said. 'He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law.' Defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo countered, 'This isn't about crime. It's about money.' He noted that one of Combs' accusers in the criminal case also sued him in civil court. In all, 34 witnesses testified, headlined by Combs' former girlfriends Cassie — the R&B singer born Casandra Ventura — and " Jane," who testified under a pseudonym. Both women said he often was violent toward them and forced them into hundreds of sexual encounters with paid male sex workers. Advertisement Jurors also saw now-infamous security camera video of Combs beating, kicking and dragging Cassie at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016 and clips from videos of sexual encounters. Combs chose not to testify, and his lawyers didn't call any witnesses in their defense case. His attorneys elected instead to challenge the accusers' credibility during lengthy cross-examination questioning. The defense has acknowledged that Combs veered into violence, but his lawyers maintain that the sex acts were consensual. They contend that prosecutors are intruding in Combs' personal life and that he's done nothing to warrant the charges against him.
Elle
11 hours ago
- Elle
Will There Be a 'The Waterfront' Season 2?
The Waterfront released its first eight-episode season on Netflix on June 19. The show is based on creator Kevin Williamson's actual family and his life growing up in North Carolina, and the dramatic story was a hit with viewers immediately. Fans are wondering if they'll get more of the Buckleys and their dynastic shenanigans. Here's what we know about a potential season 2 of The Waterfront so far. Warning: some spoilers for season 1 ahead. There has been no official order for a season 2 yet. The show just came out in June, which means that Netflix may still be assessing the success of the series. Williamson told The Hollywood Reporter a day after the show premiered that he 'went in there pitching three [seasons].' 'The good news is, with a family, I feel like we have such a great cast of actors that we could explore beyond three seasons,' he said. 'I went in there pitching three—that's [Netflix's] magic number.' Williamson added, 'In the back of my head, [I was thinking], 'Oh, this could go four [seasons]. It's only eight episodes.' I mean, three seasons is one season of network [television]. I could go five seasons if it's a success, but I'd be happy with three. Three would be a solid number.' In another interview with Screen Rant, Williamson said, 'I've just sort of figured out who these actors are in these roles, and I would love a chance to write for them, and lean into them, and I think the show can just go up. There's a whole second season that I have planned out, and a third season, quite frankly. I'm hoping I get the chance to tell those stories. I do think it's a fun show, and it's unlike anything I've ever done, and I just hope people enjoy it.' The Buckley family owns a North Carolina fishing empire on the edge of financial ruin. In season 1, one of the sons, Cane, starts smuggling drugs in the fishing boat, but slipping his toe into illegal activities soon has the whole family drowning as they're caught between two drug kingpins. The Parker family and local smuggler, Grady, already have a hand in the criminal market and they don't appreciate the Buckleys moving into their territory. The Buckleys and Parkers work to end Grady's operation, leading to a dramatic showdown where Bree Buckley and her son, Diller, end up on Grady's boat, held hostage to lure in big daddy Harlan Buckley. Bree gets shot and she and Diller narrowly escape, before Cane dispatches Grady and sends him overboard. Williamson told The Hollywood Reporter that Grady was 'definitely dead,' adding they were 'paving the way for an equally [evil] new villain next year.' 'The Parker family would become season 2's big conflict. We've only met Emmett and his father,' he continued. 'There are more Parker family members and they will prove to be equally as complicated as the Buckleys—and more dangerous than Grady could ever be.' Grady, played by Topher Grace, is no longer alive in The Waterfront universe, so he will probably not be returning. The Buckleys currently include Jake Weary, Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, Danielle Campbell, Brady Hepner, and Melissa Benoist. Other recurring characters in season 1 included Rafael Silva, Terry Serpico, Humberly Gonzalez, Dave Annable, Matthew Davis, Gerardo Celasco, and Michael Gaston.
