Latest news with #AstroGlide
01-07-2025
Could you be an impartial juror in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial?
For more than 30 years, Sean Combs was a dominant presence in New York's music and culture scene, as he turned a startup record label and a "Bad Boy" reputation into a nearly billion-dollar business empire. Now, some of the same New Yorkers who witnessed Combs' stunning rise are following his staggering fall from grace during the rap mogul's federal trial. On Monday, a jury of eight men and four women began deliberating whether Combs is guilty of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in proposition. Prosecutors allege that Combs leveraged his employees and influence to coerce women into sex before turning to threats and violence to ensure their silence. Combs has pleaded not guilty and insists that any sexual activity was between consenting adults. With the allegations against Combs well-publicized ahead of the trial, about half of the jurors on the panel acknowledged they had previously heard about the claims. Some of the jurors said they watched the 2016 surveillance video of Combs violently assaulting his ex-girlfriend and star witness Cassie Ventura, while others admitted seeing online memes about baby oil and AstroGlide, of which prosecutors say they recovered more than 1,000 bottles when they raided Combs' homes. Each of the jurors who made it on the final panel told the judge they would be able to set aside their knowledge of the case and decide it based on only the evidence at trial. "The right to an impartial jury doesn't mean jurors who've never heard of a defendant," said Justin Levitt, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. "It means jurors who are able to hear the evidence and the judge's instructions on the law, and come to a fair conclusion without making up their minds in advance." Trials of high-profile figures put a unique strain on the process for selecting jurors, with the fame of some defendants limiting the pool of potential jurors while also raising the possibility that some people are overly eager to serve on the jury. After weeks of testimony, one juror in the Combs trial was dismissed over concerns he provided inconsistent answers during the selection process to ensure he made it on the jury. When ABC News approached 12 New Yorkers randomly -- in New York City and Combs' hometown of Mount Vernon in Westchester County -- nearly every person said they were familiar with Combs' life, work, and the allegations against him. "I think that you have to be able to take out your appreciation for someone, and you know, things you might love about them to make a true and honest conviction of what you believe the truth is," said Travis Lapp, a 22-year-old student and musician from SoHo. "I love me some Diddy. I love me some Diddy music. But if he's wrong, he's wrong," said Salisha Winter, who was interviewed by ABC News in downtown Mount Vernon. Other New Yorkers said they were unfamiliar with the specific allegations against Combs or his body of work; however, the prolific number of online memes or jokes about the claims has defined their view of the case. "I know who Sean Combs is," said Max, a 36-year-old art dealer. "I guess, musician, the whole baby oil thing." "I feel like I would probably have some issues being able to be unbiased. I mean, he's all over social media," added Brinkley, a 25-year-old filmmaker who was interviewed in SoHo. According to Levitt, the jury selection process was built to root out those preexisting biases from making their way into the courtroom. While Combs' reputation might precede him in the eyes of some potential jurors, to be seated on the final jury, individuals need to vow to set those beliefs aside. "The trial system is structured to try to help jurors decide impartially. Vibes are always in the background, but it's not just vibes -- it's a stream of evidence under particular rules, with constant reminders to let that evidence be the guide," Levitt noted. When asked by ABC News, most of the 12 New Yorkers who were questioned on the street said they believe Combs will ultimately get a fair trial, even if the same people who witnessed his rise and fall in real time are the ones to decide his fate. "I do think I could do it fairly and impartially, but I also think it takes a special person to do that," said Lapp. "I think that you have to be able to take out your appreciation for someone, and you know, things you might love about them to make a true and honest conviction of what you believe the truth is." In other words, can you separate the man from the art? "Yes exactly," Lapp responded. "I can." And while Combs was recognized by many New Yorkers, his fame was not universal. Sandy, a 82-year-old retiree from Manhattan, told ABC News he would have no issues being a juror against Combs, in part because he has no idea who he is. "I've heard the name," he said. "I don't care."
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
Diddy trial day 34 recap: Defense tries to reframe alleged sex trafficking as 'one of the great modern love stories'
It wasn't sex trafficking. It was "one of the great modern love stories." That's how lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs in their closing argument on Friday framed for the jury the world of alleged violence, drugs and choreographed orgies at the heart of the federal case against one the biggest superstars in the music world. After jurors heard weeks of testimony about how Combs allegedly used drugs, violence and threats to coerce women like his longtime girlfriend Cassie Ventura into sex with male escorts, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued that Combs and Ventura had a "beautiful relationship" that was tainted by jealousy and infidelity. "You will cry. You will read evidence with an exhibit sticker on it and you will cry. Some of the most beautiful things ever said," Agnifilo said about the text messages between Combs and Ventura that were central pieces of evidence in the case. "They are truly in love with each other, and that is what defines their relationship." Combs' relationship with Ventura and another woman who testified under the pseudonym "Jane" are at the center of federal prosecutors' criminal case against Combs. They argue Combs love-bombed the women, pressured them into participating in days-long sex parties called "freak offs" or "hotel nights," then used violence and threats to ensure they stayed quiet about Combs' voyeurism. After prosecutors presented a lengthy nearly five-hour closing statement on Thursday, Agnifilo responded with a four-hour summation where he openly mocked the prosecution's case at various points and suggested Comb was unfairly targeted by law enforcement over his private sex life. "Thank goodness for the special response team. They found the baby oil. They found the AstroGlide," Agnifilo said, referencing the hundreds of bottles of lubricants said to have been recovered from Combs' home. "The only crime scene is your private sex life." While Agnifilo acknowledged that Combs might have engaged in domestic violence or threatened to release sex tapes of his romantic partners, Agnifilo argued Combs is not guilty of the charges he faces, including the allegation he used his business empire to run a criminal organization devoted to fulfilling his sexual appetites. Combs is charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and his attorneys have insisted that domestic violence and drug use are not the issues in the criminal case that has occupied the tabloids and headlines for weeks. His defense lawyers maintain that all sexual encounters were consensual. Combs faces the possibility of a life sentence, if convicted on all counts. The jury of eight men and four women are set to begin deliberating Combs' fate Monday morning, after the judge overseeing the case instructs them on the charges and how to apply the law to the testimony they've heard since mid-May. Defense tries to discredit testimony from alleged victims Jurors heard 13 days of testimony from three alleged victims, who took the stand to help prosecutors build their case against Combs. Ventura, a singer and longtime girlfriend of Combs, and "Jane" testified Combs pressured them to participate in the sex parties -- fearing violence or reputational harm if they refused. A former assistant, who testified under the name "Mia," said the rap mogul sexually assaulted and raped her. During his summation, Agnifilo tried to chip away at the credibility of each of the women, arguing they were motivated by money and that prosecutors "exaggerated" their claims against Combs. The defense cast Ventura as a beautiful woman who loved sex, seeking to undermine the government's portrayal of her as a victim of sex trafficking. "When she wasn't with Sean Combs she was with Michael B. Jordan," Agnifilo said of the movie star. "He's the most handsome man in the world. She's not messing around. She's at a high level. She has sexual confidence. Good for her. She's not clutching her pearls." Like Ventura, "Jane" was no trafficking victim, the defense lawyer asserted, saying "she's agreeing" to the kind of sexual activity with male prostitutes that Combs desired. "She regrets it. She resents him for it. That came later," Agnifilo said. "She agreed to it. That's all you need to know, and we can be done with it." Agnifilo disputed federal prosecutors' contention that Combs used paying "Jane's" $10,000 monthly rent as leverage to coerce her to participate. "The house is a gesture of kindness, of decency, of niceness," Agnifilo said. "I hope she's having a nice day. I don't know what she's doing but I know she's doing it in a house he paid for." Addressing the allegations of sexual assault and rape made by "Mia," Combs' attorney argued the sexual encounters were voluntary. He highlighted the effusive birthday message she sent Combs one year to suggest their relationship had crossed from the professional into the romantic. Defense tries to dismantle racketeering predicates In response to prosecutors' allegation that Combs used security guards, staff and assistants to commit crimes, Agnifilo mocked prosecutors for suggesting that Combs' actions were part of a broader criminal organization. "Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me?" Agnifilo said. "If racketeering conspiracy had an opposite, it would be [Combs and Ventura's] relationship." Agnifilo tried to distance Combs from some of the underlying crimes that prosecutors say Combs agreed to commit with other members of the alleged enterprise, including arson, kidnapping and bribery. Prosecutors alleged Combs orchestrated the firebombing of the luxury sports car of the rapper Kid Cudi after learning the fellow musician was seeing Ventura in 2011. Agnifilo called the claim "nonsense" and argued no evidence directly linked Combs to the crime. "There is no evidence, I mean no evidence, that he had anything to do with the Porsche," Agnifilo said. Federal prosecutors argued Combs and his associates were worried about being arrested after the attack on Ventura caught on 2016 hotel surveillance cameras and sought to bribe a security guard in return for the footage. Agnifilo said Combs had a different motive -- distrust of hotel staff. "Money is involved, and people want a payday," Agnifilo said, telling the jury hotel staff may have been willing to sell video of someone as famous as Combs. "They're not worried about the police." In staccato remarks, Agnifilo questioned the allegations of Combs' one-time personal assistant, Capricorn Clark, who testified she was forced to submit to a five-day lie detector test after Combs' jewelry went missing. Prosecutors said that amounted to kidnapping. "She went home. Everyday. So, what is the government alleging?" Agnifilo half-shouted. "I have no doubt that she was unsettled. She was not kidnapped." Prosecutor says Combs "trapped" his victims After hours of defense closing arguments, prosecutor Maurene Comey addressed the jury. She denounced the defense summation for insinuating the women "wanted it," telling jurors it defied logic to think Ventura wanted an escort to urinate on her or to go through other elements of the sex sessions. "What we're talking about is being in a dark hotel room, awake for days, covered in oil, often with a [urinary tract infection], in heels, with your pelvic area sore…having sex for hours, including with strangers," Comey said. "The defense wanted you to believe Cassie and Jane wanted that. That's ridiculous on its face." Comey told jurors they must find one freak-off when Combs knew he was using force, fraud or coercion to gain Ventura or Jane's compliance in order to convict Combs of sex trafficking. "The defendant never thought the women he abused would have the courage to speak out loud about what he had done with him," Comey said. "For 20 years, the defendant got away with his crimes. That ends in this courtroom."
Graziadaily
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
Who Is Diddy's 'Right Hand' And Alleged 'Co-Conspirator', Kristina Khorram?
The trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, which sees the music mogul face charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution, continues in New York. This week, his former chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, also known as 'KK', has been a reoccurring name in court. Khorram has even been described by prosecutors as Diddy's 'agent and co-conspirator', so it makes sense that anyone closely following the trial should want to know more about her. She has not yet been called to testify. Diddy's trial is expected to last eight weeks. He has denied all allegations and has pleaded not guilty in court. Khorram was Diddy's former chief of staff of Diddy's global multi-faceted company, Combs Enterprises, which is now known as Combs Global. The business portfolio includes Bad Boy Entertainment, Love Records, REVOLT Media & Television, Aquahydrate, Sean John, Combs Investments, Empower Global, Our Fair Share and Sean Combs Foundation. Khorram has become a prominent name in the trial. She has been mentioned by several witnesses and has been accused of assisting Diddy in his alleged crimes. She was accused by one witness of helping Diddy transport drugs over state lines. She was also accused of monitoring the whereabouts of Diddy's ex-girlfriend of 10 years, Cassie Ventura, and helping secure hotel surveillance of Diddy physically assaulting Cassie. According to testimony from Eddy Garcia, a security officer working at the InterContinental Hotel in LA in 2016, Khorram allegedly arranged to pay $100,000 to secure the viral CCTV footage of Diddy violently beating and kicking Cassie outside their hotel room. Garcia told the court that Khorram repeatedly called him at the hotel lobby desk and showed up at the hotel to persuade him to hand over the footage. Garcia said Diddy later met him in person with a large sum of cash, the court heard, and Khorram was also there. Meanwhile, one of Diddy's former assistants, George Kaplan, testified that Khorram would instruct him to set up Diddy's hotel rooms with candles, liquor, baby oil and AstroGlide for his 'freak off' parties. Cassie also referred to 'KK' throughout her testimony. 'I talked to KK about a lot, she knew a lot about my personal things,' the singer testified. Another of Diddy's former partners who went by 'Jane' in court also mentioned Khorram. She alleged she collapsed after taking ecstasy about ten times during a nine-day trip to Turks and Caicos in 2021 and said, '[Diddy's] butler and KK tried to help me'. She also said Khorram made arrangements for her to get her teeth improved and her nipples pierced, per Diddy's request. Jane later told the court, 'I believe that [Khorram] had very strong opinions about me, which influenced a great deal of how Sean also treated me.' In March, Khorram was named as a defendant in three civil cases alongside Diddy. She has not been charged with any crimes. One civil accuser, Rodney Jones, called Khorram 'the Ghislaine Maxwell to Sean Combs' Jeffrey Epstein'. Another accuser, Phillip Pines, said Khorram was his supervisor at Diddy's company and claimed he told her when he witnessed Diddy's alleged violence and she 'instructed Plaintiff to never speak about it and there are repercussions that can happen if he did'. She denied all wrongdoing in a statement. Khorram has not been implicated in the active criminal case. Her attorney said she cannot 'tell her story until the criminal trial is over and the civil cases are resolved'. 'For months, horrific accusations have been made about me in various lawsuits regarding my former boss,' her statement read. 'These false allegations of my involvement are causing irreparable and incalculable damage to my reputation and the emotional wellbeing of myself and my family.' 'I have never condoned or aided and abetted the sexual assault of anyone. Nor have I ever drugged anyone,' she continued. 'The idea that I could be accused of playing a role in – or even being a bystander to – the rape of anyone is beyond upsetting, disturbing, and unthinkable. That is not who I am and my heart goes out to all victims of sexual assault.' 'I am confident that the allegations against me will be proven to be untrue,' Khorram concluded. In a 2021 facebook post, Diddy gushed about his former chief of staff. 'Meet Kristina Khorram, chief of staff at Combs Enterprises,' he wrote. 'Kristina aka KK keeps everything in my life and my business running. She's been my right hand for the last 8 years and has consistently proven to execute and get sh*t done. Don't know how I'd function without her.' Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, working across entertainment, TV and news. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things pop culture for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow with equal respect).
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial: Wild messages in music mogul's bathroom mirror
On Wednesday, US time, the jury was shown bizarre messages scrawled across a bathroom mirror in Combs' mansion in Miami Beach, which were found during a raid by federal agents. Authorities also found a wealth of drugs stashed around the home, firearm parts, high-heeled shoes, a box of nangs (nitrous oxide bulbs) and an erectile dysfunction product that US authorities have advised against. One closet contained more than 50 bottles of baby oil and lube. Staff sweep hotel rooms after freak-offs George Kaplan, Combs' executive assistant from 2013 to 2015, told the court that one of his roles was to set out hotel rooms to Combs' liking before the star arrived. He had a 'hotel bag' that included clothes for Combs, speakers, candles, baby oil and AstroGlide lubricant. Combs often used hotel rooms for his freak-off sex parties. Kaplan said Combs' hotel stays would last from 12 hours to two days. When Combs and any guests had finished in the rooms, Kaplan would then clean them up. That included tidying away 'empty bottles of Gatorade, liquor and baby oil'. He added that there was 'baby oil on the bed, tables, all around the room'. Asked why he didn't let hotel housekeepers clean the rooms, Kaplan said: 'I think it was implied my role in protecting Combs' public image was important.' Hotels would often sell images to try to 'embarrass celebrities'. Kaplan also said that Combs 'threatened my job on occasion,' clarifying that it happened 'monthly'. He stated that Combs said he 'only wanted to be surrounded by the best, and those around him were not performing to that level'. But Combs' demands could be almost impossible, Kaplan said. He once told him to go to US supermarket Whole Foods Market and buy a gallon-sized BPA-free plastic bottle. There weren't any, so Kaplan instead bought two BPA-free half-gallon bottles. Combs was furious that Kaplan had not fulfilled his order precisely. 'He was very angry, very close to my face.' Nangs and erectile dysfunction snake oil Special Agent Gerard Gannon testified about a March 2024 raid at Combs' mansion on Star Island, a Miami Beach enclave. As many as 90 agents searched the waterfront property when they knew Combs and his family were away. The government lawyers prosecuting Combs detailed the drugs found in the mansion, including one box that had the word 'Puffy' embossed on it. The drugs include ecstasy tablets with the Tesla and Supreme logos, other pills containing MDMA, tablets with a substance similar to Xanax, as well as ketamine and cocaine. The disassembled parts of various guns were also found, including magazines and bullets. Gannon said one closet contained 56 bottles of lubricant and baby oil. He was asked if they were the only bottles of lube and baby oil found in the building. 'No, they were not,' he said to laughs from the courtroom. The image presented as evidence of the baby oil also showed a nitrous oxide product called Eurogas. These appeared to be whipped cream chargers, sometimes known as nangs, the contents of which can be inhaled for a temporary high. In much of the US, nitrous oxide possession is legal for its proper purpose but can lead to a fine or jail if used for inhalation. There was no mention in court of Combs using the product. Dodgy erectile dysfunction product Another picture shown to the jury from the raid was of a product called Vital Honey. The honey-based supplement is claimed to help with erectile dysfunction and sexual enhancement. Combs' former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, testified earlier that her ex's 'freak-off' sex parties could last for up to four days. In 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert that Vital Honey contained a 'hidden ingredient' not listed on the pack. This was tadalfil, the active ingredient in prescription drug Cialis, which is used to treat erectile dysfunction. The FDA said Cialis should be used only after seeing a doctor and could be 'dangerous' to some users. Bizarre scrawlings on mirror At one point, a picture was shown of a bathroom in the Combs mansion. The mirror was full of messages possibly scrawled in red lipstick and black marker. 'What do you want?' said one message. 'You a legend', said another. 'You're an icon Puff Daddy' was also seen. It's unclear who wrote the messages. On Wednesday, the court also heard from clinical and forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes, who appeared for Amber Heard in her defamation trial against Johnny Depp and is due to give testimony in the upcoming trial of Harvey Weinstein. Hughes said people often remained in abusive relationships because of 'trauma bonds'. Abusers could 'love bomb' partners after they victimised them. They could also control their victims' lives financially, making it harder for them to leave. Rapper and actor Kid Cudi is expected to testify today on his brief relationship with Ventura 14 years ago. Ventura testified last week that Combs was enraged when she left him in 2011 and began dating Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi. She said Combs kicked her as she left his Los Angeles home for the last time, leaving a large bruise on her back. Prosecutors have contended that Combs was so upset that he arranged to have Cudi's convertible firebombed.
Courier-Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial: Reason hotels barely cleaned up after Diddy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Celebrity Life. Followed categories will be added to My News. A New York court has heard that while Sean 'Diddy' Combs' alleged 'freak off' sex parties created a huge mess of baby oil, lubricant and all manner of bodily fluids, hotels rarely had to do a thorough clean after they occurred. That's because the music star's staff swept through the rooms – which allegedly could have been used for days of love making and drug taking – before hotel staff had a chance to even touch them. A former staff member testified that he tidied the rooms because of fears hotel staff would sell images of the mess to 'embarrass' Combs. Combs, 55, is on trial in Manhattan on federal charges which include sex trafficking and racketeering. He has denied all the charges. X On Wednesday, US time, the jury was also shown the bizarre messages scrawled across a bathroom mirror in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' mansion, which were found during a raid by federal agents. Authorities also found a wealth of drugs stashed around the music star's home, firearm parts, high-heeled shoes, a box of nangs and even an erectile dysfunction product which US authorities have advised people to steer clear of. One closet alone contained more than 50 bottles of baby oil and lube. Sean Diddy Combs in London in 2017. (Photo by) MORE: Big reason giving Diddy $99m headache Staff sweep hotel rooms after freak offs Combs' executive assistant from 2013 to 2015, George Kaplan, took to the stand on Wednesday. He explained how one of his roles was to set out hotel rooms just to Combs' liking before the star arrived. These hotels included the Trump International overlooking New York's Central Park and The Bel-Air Hotel in Los Angeles. He said he had a 'hotel bag' which included clothes for Combs, speakers, candles, baby oil and AstroGlide lubricant. Combs often used hotel rooms for his freak offs. Mr Kaplan said Combs' hotel stays would last 12 hours to two days. When Combs and any guests were done with the hotel room Mr Kaplan would then 'somewhat' clean them up which included tidying away 'empty bottles of Gatorade, liquor and baby oil'. He added there was 'baby oil on the bed, tables, all around the room'. At one point, Mr Kaplan said he found a 'brown crystallised powder' on a surface. 'I didn't know what it was and I got rid of it,' he said. Last week on the stand, Ms Ventura detailed how messy the rooms could get. 'Oil on sheets and walls and handles … candle wax all over the place … sometimes blood and urine would get on the linens'. Asked why he didn't simply let housekeeping clean the room, Mr Kaplan said 'I think it was implied my role in protecting Combs' public image was important'. 'Often hotels would sell images to try and 'embarrass celebrities'. MORE:'Freak off': Diddy cops $50m insult in major blow Former employee George Kaplan arrives for Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking trial at Manhattan Federal Court on May 21, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Mr Kaplan also said that Combs 'threatened my job on occasion,' clarifying that it happened 'monthly'. He stated that Combs said he 'only wanted to be surrounded by the best and those around him were not performing to that level'. But Combs' demands could be almost impossible, Mr Kaplan said. He once told him to go to US supermarket Whole Foods Market and buy a gallon sized BPA-free plastic bottle. None were in store so faced with being late, Mr Kaplan instead bought two BPA-free half gallon bottles which equalled the same size as the original request. Combs was furious, Mr Kaplan testified, that he had not fulfilled his order precisely despite the product not being available. 'He was very angry, very close to my face'. Nangs and erectile dysfunction snake oil Also Wednesday, Special Agent Gerard Gannon testified about a March 2024 raid that took place at Combs mansion on Star Island, a Miami Beach enclave popular with celebs. The government lawyers prosecuting Combs detailed the drugs found on the property – including in one box which had the word 'Puffy' embossed upon it. The prosecution in the Sean Diddy Combs sex trafficking trial in New York tendered a series of photos to the court on May 21 2025. Picture: US Department of Justice Those drugs include ecstasy tablets, pills containing MDMA, tablets with a substance similar to Xanax as well as ketamine and cocaine. The disassembled parts of various guns were also found. Mr Gannon said one closet contained 56 bottles of lubricant and baby oil. He was asked if they were the only bottles of lube and baby oil found in the building. 'No they were not,' he said to laughs from the courtroom. Baby oil, lubricant an nitrous oxide were all found in a raid at Combs' Miami mansion. Picture: US Department of Justice The image presented into evidence of the baby oil also showed a nitrous oxide product called Eurogas. This appeared to be whipped cream chargers, known as nangs in Australia, the contents of which can be inhaled for a temporary high. In much of the US, nitrous oxide possession is legal for its proper purpose but can lead to a fine or jail if used for inhalation. There was no mention in court of Combs using the product. MORE: Jailed Diddy's wild $98m move exposed Vital Honey that was found in the Combs' raid. The product claims to help with erectile dysfunction. Picture: US Department of Justice Dodgy erectile dysfunction product Another picture shown to the jury from the Combs raid was for a product called Vital Honey. The honey-based supplement is claimed to help with erectile dysfunction and sexual enhancement. Ms Ventura testified her ex's sex parties could last for up to four days. In 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert that Vital Honey contained a 'hidden ingredient'. This was tadalfil, the active ingredient in prescription drug Cialis which is used to treat erectile dysfunction. The FDA said Cialis should only be used after seeing a doctor and could be 'dangerous' to some users. A picture of Combs' hotel room was shown in court. Bizarre scrawlings on mirror At one point, a picture was shown of a bathroom in the Comb's mansion. The mirror was full of messages possibly scrawled in red lipstick and black marker. 'What do you want?' said one message on the mirror. 'You a legend', said another. 'You're an icon Puff Daddy' was also seen. It's unclear who wrote the messages. A court sketch of Combs. Picture: Elizabeth Williams via AP MORE:'Freak off': Diddy cops $50m insult in major blow On Wednesday, the court also heard from clinical and forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes. She has appeared for Amber Heard in her defamation trial against Johnny Depp and she is due to give testimony in the upcoming trial of Harvey Weinstein. Ms Hughes said people often remained in abusive relationships due to 'trauma bonds'. Abusers could 'love bomb' partners after they victimise them. And financially they can control their victim's live making it harder for them to leave. Psychologist Dawn Hughes testifies on the witness stand on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) Rapper and actor Kid Cudi is expected to testify at the trial on Thursday, US time, to tell the jury about his brief relationship 14 years ago with Combs' ex-girlfriend Ms Ventura. She testified last week that Combs was enraged when she left him for a period of time in 2011 and began dating Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi. She said Combs left a large bruise on her back where he kicked her as she left his Los Angeles home for the last time that year. Prosecutors have contended in court filings that Combs was so upset that he arranged to have Cudi's convertible firebombed. Originally published as Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial: Reason hotels barely cleaned up after Diddy
