Diddy's star-studded trial: The celebrities mentioned in court
Like it or not, that's part of the reason we've all been so glued to his criminal trial, as the once-untouchable music mogul awaits a verdict on five charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution.
It's why journalists dashed breathlessly through the halls of Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse on June 13, in an attempt to catch a glimpse of rapper Ye as he made a fleeting appearance to show his solidarity with Combs. It's also why dozens of social media influencers waited for nearly four hours in the pouring rain in the early morning hours of May 22, hoping to land a spot in the main courtroom as musician Kid Cudi testified about an alleged arson attack by Combs.
Throughout nearly two months of testimony, attorneys and witnesses alike have name-checked several celebrities as they've excavated nearly two decades of Combs' apparent criminal past.
They've recounted nights of partying with Prince, Stevie Wonder, Muhammad Ali and Rita Ora, some of which ended in Combs allegedly assaulting his girlfriends or forcing them into "freak offs" with escorts. Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross were referenced in court, as defense tried to highlight the powerful connections that Combs helped afford to his ex-lover, singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine. Michael B. Jordan, 50 Cent and Suge Knight were all subjects of Combs' ire, while Usher and Danity Kane's Dawn Richard were both on the sidelines of allegedly violent incidents.
Diddy trial bombshells: What his inner circle said about baby oil, 'freak offs'
There were name drops that sparked dry amusement from reporters, too, like the revelation that Combs once had ecstasy pills shaped like the face of former President Barack Obama. Or that the rapper gave his staff an annual paid holiday on the Notorious B.I.G.'s birthday. (Checking into hotels, Combs often used the alias Frank Black ‒ a nod to Biggie Smalls' nickname, Frank White.)
Combs' lawyer also mentioned Beyoncé in his closing statement. "I don't expect we're going to see Beyoncé in CVS," lead defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said as he argued Combs' employees were not part of a criminal enterprise and that they instead were just doing their jobs.
Here are just a few of the most notable A-listers to find their way into the Diddy trial:
"Mia," a former assistant of Combs who testified under a pseudonym, told jurors that she had been abused and assaulted by the rapper throughout her employment. In a series of texts read aloud in court, she invoked the name of disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly, who is in prison following his own sex-crimes trial.
Jurors saw an exchange from 2019, in which Mia wrote to Combs: "I had a nightmare. I was trapped in an elevator with R. Kelly and you came to rescue me."
In a lengthy text that she sent Combs around 2020, Mia described some of their most "magical, hilarious" and "hysterical" memories together. One was of a night in Paris when Mick Jagger tried to take her home; another was of a night when Jennifer Lopez wouldn't stay out.
Mia also referenced a high-stakes poker game between the hip-hop mogul and DiCaprio. She wrote that Combs said, while cursing: "That 'Titanic' (guy) doesn't know (anything). He won $10,000, I won $650,000."
What to expect: Diddy trial is ending, jury deliberation underway
In a message from August 2020, Mia texted Combs, "Thinking of you with Chadwick Boseman," following the actor's death. Mia said on the stand that Combs was "auditioning for the role" of James Brown in the "Get On Up" biopic that Boseman ended up playing. In a text exchange shown to jurors, Mia told Combs that she had his audition tape and would send it to him.
Mia alleged that in 2012 she witnessed a discussion between Combs and Ventura Fine escalate at the premiere of the Brad Pitt film "Killing Them Softly," during the Cannes Film Festival in France.She claimed she saw Combs grit his teeth while digging his nails into Ventura Fine's arm, and eventually insisted that Ventura Fine leave, which she did.
On the stand, Mia said that over the years, she saw Combs take molly, MDMA, ketamine and prescription drugs. Although she said it was "mostly in party situations," she once claimed to see him high at a board meeting. On another occasion, she alleged that he was so high at a Chelsea Handler show that she pulled him aside. "You look a little crazy right now," Mia told Combs.
More: All the witnesses who took the stand in the Diddy trial, including Cassie and Kid Cudi
On the stand, Combs' ex-personal assistant Capricorn Clark was asked whether she thought Ventura Fine was "very talented." Clark responded "no," adding that she thought the rising R&B star merely had "talent."
"Very talented to me is Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey," Clark told jurors. "Very talented is that level of performer, entertainer. Cassie was more of a studio artist."
During Ventura Fine's lengthy testimony, jurors saw a text that she sent to Combs in July 2013. At the time, she had been dating Combs for roughly seven years, and expressed frustration that she wasn't integrated more into his family life with his children.
"As much as you think you're Bruce Willis, you aren't," Ventura Fine texted Combs. "He's married, and before he was married, the family as a whole went on trips together or just him and his woman."
"Eddie Murphy and Paige (Butcher) took his kids away on their own," the message continued. "I don't think you sympathize with my feelings. I understand you feeling like you need to protect your children. But after a while, it's like, for what?"
Surviving abuse: Cassie Ventura Fine and the unlikely bond with her mother-in-law
Kerry Morgan, a model and former friend of Ventura Fine, testified that Combs once attacked her in Cassie's California home, choking her and hitting her in the head with a wooden hanger. She also told the court she saw Combs assault Ventura Fine several times, and she pleaded with her friend to leave the rapper.
During cross-examination, the defense showed a number of photos of Morgan and Ventura Fine hanging out with groups of people. One snapshot included Morgan, stylist Deonte Nash, producer Rob Holiday, and "Nope" actress Keke Palmer. Defense asked whether they all had fun together: "We had a lot of fun," Morgan said. "We look like a loving bunch," although "I didn't love all these people."
On the stand, Combs' ex "Jane," who also testified under a pseudonym, said that she, Combs and one of the escorts they allegedly hired used the nickname "trifecta" when they had sex. Jane claimed she was Kobe Bryant; Paul, the entertainer, was Shaquille O'Neal; and Combs was Michael Jordan.
Jurors were also read a series of flirty text messages between Jane and Combs, where she likens their relationship to the NBA legends. In the exchange, Jane thanks Combs for making "me very happy" and giving "me so much love."
"You're my Michael Jordan and I'm your Kobe Bryant," Jane texted Combs. "We're the greatest."
More: Diddy's defense claims he was just 'swinging.' These swingers are appalled.
In another frisky text exchange read aloud to jurors during testimony, Jane compared herself to former Playboy models.
"It's giving Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra," Jane texted Combs, adding two melon emojis.
Jane frequently referenced famous figures in her text messages to Combs. Some of their other nicknames for each other: Bert and Ernie from "Sesame Street."
In court, Combs' attorneys pressed Ventura Fine about a time when the hip-hop heavyweight suspected she was cheating on him.
"He found out you were dancing with another person in the entertainment industry? Do you remember the incident where he suspected you of dancing with Chris Brown?" defense asked, referencing an unspecified occasion in 2013. Ventura Fine said she did not remember the incident, but she "was not dancing" with the singer.
Defense showed an exhibit to help jog Ventura Fine's memory of a time when Combs allegedly took the "Me & U" singer's phone after he suspected her of dancing with Brown. After looking at the evidence, Ventura Fine said, "It says that in the message, but I don't really remember it."
Ventura Fine is close friends with Karrueche Tran, the actress and model who won a five-year restraining order against ex-boyfriend Brown in 2017.
Diddy lawyer Marc Agnifilo compares 'freak offs' to couples drinking lemonade
Cassie
Beyoncé
Rihanna
Michael B. Jordan
Barack Obama
Georgina Chapman
Mike Myers
Will Smith
DJ Whoo Kid
Dallas Austin
50 Cent
Suge Knight
Prince
Usher
Britney Spears
Common
Madonna
Jimmy Iovine
Dawn Richard
Kalenna Harper
Kid Cudi
French Montana
Too Short
Chris Brown
Biggie Smalls
Ryan Leslie
Brad Pitt
Keke Palmer
Pamela Anderson
Carmen Electra
Whitney Houston
Mariah Carey
Chris Gethard
Jay-Z
Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant
Shaquille O'Neal
Bruce Willis
Eddie Murphy
Leonardo DiCaprio
Mick Jagger
Jennifer Lopez
Chelsea Handler
R. Kelly
Chadwick Boseman
Rita Ora
Nicki Minaj
Lil Wayne
Yung Miami
Contributing: USA TODAY staff
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diddy trial celebrities ranged from Beyonce to Brad Pitt and Kid Cudi
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