Latest news with #ChristianCombs
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Diddy's jubilant mom and kids break silence on shock verdict as Cassie holes up at NYC home
Diddy's mother and children have shared their delight at the rapper being cleared of the most serious criminal charges he faces. Sean Combs' mom Janice, 85, told Daily Mail: 'I feel incredible. I feel good,' moments after her son was cleared of sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Diddy, 55, was convicted of a prostitution offense but the star's children also said they were delighted by the verdict at Manhattan federal court house. 'First thing I'm gonna do is hug my Pops!' Christian Combs, known professionally as King Combs, told Daily Mail in jubilation as he celebrated his father's victory in an elevator at the Manhattan federal court house. 'I am so happy,' Justin Combs, 31, added. Christian, 27, said: 'We were hopeful but you never know.' It was a different story across town, where a deflated Cassie Ventura, Diddy's ex-girlfriend and the star witness, reacted with horror to the jury's findings. Her lawyer told CNN she was not impressed with Diddy's lawyer's characterization of her as a 'winner'. The mother-of-three, who testified while eight months pregnant, is holed up inside her Manhattan home. Cassie's husband Alex Fine was spotted leaving his house alone, then returning with the couple's children shortly afterwards while looking somber. Diddy was denied bond at a hearing at 5pm on Wednesday. He will spend his time back in jail before his sentencing. The megastar smiling and clasping his hands in prayer, appeared relieved and thrilled as the jury foreman delivered the verdict. Some spectators yelled out in joy. The court also broke out in applause as the music mogul left the courtroom. Combs and his loved ones are relieved by the verdict, while key witness Cassie Ventura and her family are 'trying to look forward'. Christian and Justin, accompanied by their girlfriends and Diddy's friend of 40 years music producer Charlucci Finney, rejoiced as they headed out of court Wednesday. Christian and Finney led rousing screams and cheers in the elevator, as Justin looked overcome with emotion. Finney, who was near tears, told the Mail: 'I just didn't know which way it was gonna go. I haven't even processed this yet. Man it's incredible he's gonna be coming home.' The judge received the note with the jury's verdict at 9.52am local time, he told the court. When the jury foreman read the three counts of not guilty, several spectators erupted with joy. Diddy's mother Janice Combs remained stoic until she hugged her sister. The twins rubbed their heads together when the not guilty verdicts were read. Combs's family members have been present throughout the trial since it began in early May. Janice waved at cameras as she left the building with a smile on Wednesday. The defense tried to get Diddy released on a $1 million bond, but the prosecutors have pushed back - and the judge ultimately denied it. 'It feels great,' defense attorney Marc Agnifilo told the Mail of the verdict after he exited the courtroom. Alongside racketeering, Combs was charged with sex trafficking Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane. Ventura's husband Alex Fine and two of their three children were seen arriving back at their New York home Wednesday morning while the jury was deliberating. The R&B singer's lawyer Douglas Wigdor released a statement after the verdict was read out, saying how Ventura had made an 'indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice'. 'She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion,' Wigdor said. He added that her 'courage' in speaking out allowed for Combs' two convictions. Agnifilo, during the trial, called Ventura as the 'winner' in the case, citing the multi-million dollar settlement she received after her 2023 civil suit against Combs. But Wigdor dismissed the defense's characterization, telling CNN: 'Obviously, Cassie Ventura, at that point in time and today, is not the winner.' He highlighted how Ventura 'endured 10 years of abuse' at the hands of Combs that saw her allegedly raped and forced into 'days long sexual acts with UTIs'. He added: 'No amount of money is going to ever undo what she had to endure and what she had to go through.' Wigdor also noted how Ventura, who was eight months pregnant when she took the stand during the trial, is now focusing on her family and trying to move forward. The jury, after 13 hours of deliberation, found Combs guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. But he was acquitted of a major racketeering charge and two sex trafficking charges that could have sent him to prison to life. The relatively quick verdict arrived after seven weeks of at-times excruciating testimony, in which prosecutors had accused Combs of being the boss of a decades-long criminal group who directed loyal employees and bodyguards to commit myriad offenses at his behest. Jurors announced a partial verdict late Tuesday and said they were deadlocked on the racketeering charge - but Judge Arun Subramanian instructed them to keep working. Combs, once one of the most powerful figures in the music industry, had vehemently denied all charges. Both were in long-term relationships with the entrepreneur and hip-hop pioneer, and they each testified about abuse, threats and coercive sex in wrenching detail. They both said they felt obligated to participate in Combs-directed sexual marathons with hired men. Combs's lawyers insisted the sex was consensual. They conceded domestic violence was a feature of his relationships - one harrowing example of him beating and dragging Ventura was caught on security footage that has been widely publicized. Yet while disturbing, that did not amount to sex trafficking, the defense said. Jurors ultimately agreed.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs guilty on two charges but acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking
Update: Date: 2025-07-02T15:35:49.000Z Title: The jury has founded Combs: Content: Combs faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for transportation to engage in prostitution related to Casandra Ventura and 'Jane' Full story: Sean Combs found guilty on two of five counts Key moments from the trial Seven weeks, 34 witnesses, a media circus: inside the trial Anna Betts and Shannon Ho Wed 2 Jul 2025 17.33 CEST First published on Wed 2 Jul 2025 16.06 CEST From 4.21pm CEST 16:21 NOT GUILTY of racketeering conspiracy NOT GUILTY of the sex trafficking of Casandra Ventura NOT GUILTY of the sex trafficking of 'Jane' GUILTY of the transportation to engage in prostitution, related to Casandra Ventura GUILTY of the transportation to engage in prostitution related to 'Jane' Updated at 4.55pm CEST 5.33pm CEST 17:33 Here are some more images of the family emerging from court: NBC News spoke to Christian Combs, who said his his father was feeling 'Great.' 5.21pm CEST 17:21 Some supporters are putting their fists in the air outside the courthouse in lower Manhattan. They can be heard chanting 'Let Puffy go!' Updated at 5.25pm CEST 5.20pm CEST 17:20 Janice Combs, mother of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, gives a thumbs up after hearing the verdict in her son's sex-trafficking trial: 5.18pm CEST 17:18 More of Combs's supporters are showing up at the courthouse. Lots of smiles and clapping. 5.17pm CEST 17:17 Outside the courthouse, supporters of Combs are saying, 'If you're being abused, come out right away' – seemingly going after Combs's alleged victims for not coming forward about their alleged abuse sooner. 5.12pm CEST 17:12 Patrick Lam, a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was outside the courthouse after the verdict was read in Combs's trial. 'Here to support Sean and his family,' he said. 'Glad they found him not guilty for Rico because prosecutors tried to get whatever they wanted for political reasons.' Updated at 5.23pm CEST 5.09pm CEST 17:09 It's packed outside the courthouse in lower Manhattan as press as well as Combs's supporters fill the streets. People are shouting: 'Not guilty!' Updated at 5.24pm CEST 4.56pm CEST 16:56 Andrew Lawrence Since Combs's arrest last September on federal criminal charges for racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, a number of podcasters and YouTubers have been notably more sympathetic to him than to the witnesses called for the prosecution. The allegations about Combs's behavior are horrific and include shocking revelations about his drug use, sexual indulgences and hair-trigger temper. But you wouldn't know that from following trial coverage from these faithful evangelists of toxic masculinity. Combs's former girlfriend and key witness Cassie Ventura, especially, is an object of their derision, and their assessment of her testimony is withering. In their view, Combs is not a man with incredible power and influence who abused and mistreated those in his circle, but the target of a #MeToo-style witch-hunt orchestrated by Ventura. Before the verdict was announced, the Guardian's Andrew Lawrence wrote about how some commentators on Black masculinity are popular pundits on Sean Combs's case – and explores how they took a clear side: Updated at 5.05pm CEST 4.42pm CEST 16:42 The federal sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs reached its conclusion on Wednesday, with a jury of 12 New Yorkers finding the music mogul guilty on two charges and not guilty on three charges. Here were some of the key moments from the seven-week trial: Updated at 4.53pm CEST 4.40pm CEST 16:40 In the courtroom, fans of the music mogul and his family are clapping and embracing each other. 4.39pm CEST 16:39 Both sides have been asked to submit letters to the judge regarding whether Combs should continue to be held in federal detention or released on bail. The parties will convene after the letters are submitted this afternoon. Updated at 4.53pm CEST 4.35pm CEST 16:35 The government has said that it will seek the maximum 20-year sentence for Combs. Each count that he has been found guilty of carries up to 10 years. Ultimately, it will be up to the judge how long Combs serves. 4.33pm CEST 16:33 The defense is asking that the court release Combs from federal detention, where he has been held since his arrest last September. Updated at 4.54pm CEST 4.32pm CEST 16:32 Given what the jury has found Combs guilty of, he faces a maximum of 20 years behind bars. Updated at 4.37pm CEST 4.30pm CEST 16:30 The judge has thanked the jurors for their 'sacrifice'. 'I want you to know that it is inspiring to all of us. You listened, you worked together, you were here every day, rain or shine. You did so with no reward, other than the reward that comes from answering the call of public service. That should give all of us hope,' Judge Arun Subramanian, who is presiding over this case, said. Updated at 4.54pm CEST 4.21pm CEST 16:21 NOT GUILTY of racketeering conspiracy NOT GUILTY of the sex trafficking of Casandra Ventura NOT GUILTY of the sex trafficking of 'Jane' GUILTY of the transportation to engage in prostitution, related to Casandra Ventura GUILTY of the transportation to engage in prostitution related to 'Jane' Updated at 4.55pm CEST
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kanye West crashes Sean 'Diddy' Combs's trial with dramatic court appearance
Ye, the controversial rapper formerly known as Kanye West, appeared at Sean 'Diddy' Combs's sex trafficking trial on Friday — causing a brief spectacle inside the courthouse as he continues his public campaign calling for the music mogul's release from jail. Dressed in all white, Ye arrived at the Manhattan courthouse just after 11 a.m. Friday with Combs's son Christian 'King' Combs and was reportedly directed to an overflow room after he was denied a seat in the courtroom. He left after about 40 minutes. In the months since Combs was charged with five counts of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution, Ye has repeatedly voiced his support for Combs, who has pleaded not guilty. 'Free Puff,' Ye wrote in a post on X in February, followed by a series of expletive-laden tweets alleging that the charges were a conspiracy. He was also heard in a leaked prison call with Combs, where the two disgraced rappers shared their love for each other. 'I just want to thank you so much for taking care of my kids,' Combs said. 'Nobody reached out to them. Nobody called them.' Ye is reportedly collaborating with Christian on an upcoming album. In March, Ye released a now-deleted song with Christian that also featured Ye's 11-year-old daughter, North, and audio of his phone conversation with Combs. Ye, whose reputation largely disintegrated after he made antisemitic and pro-Adolf Hitler comments in 2022, has faced his own legal challenges in the past year. At least a dozen complaints have been filed against him by former staffers, alleging a hostile work environment, unpaid wages, sexual harassment, and physical and sexual assault, among other claims. In October, his former assistant accused him of drugging and sexually assaulting her at an event co-hosted by Combs. Representatives for Ye did not respond to a request for comment at the time. Combs, meanwhile, has been hit with 79 sexual assault complaints since his former romantic partner Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura filed her explosive lawsuit against him. He has denied all of the allegations against him. Combs faces life in prison if convicted on all charges in his criminal trial, which is now in its fifth week of testimony. Anne Branigin contributed to this report.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy's Son and Kanye West Release ‘Diddy Free' Song With Lyrics About Trial: ‘F— the World, Critics and the Witness'
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' son, Christian 'King' Combs, has teamed up with Kanye West to release a new EP titled 'Never Stop,' which includes a track called 'Diddy Free.' The project dropped on streaming platforms at midnight on Friday and features seven songs. One standout track, 'Diddy Free,' includes the chorus: 'N—as ain't goin' to sleep 'till we see Diddy free.' Other lyrics include: 'They be takin' shots, they can't trigger me, nah (Shit don't trigger me) / Fuck the world, critics and the witness / Face clean, they tryna dirt the image (Fuck) / Sittin' n—as down that stood on business (You can't stop us though),' per Genius. More from Variety Diddy's Ex-Assistant Testifies About Cleaning Up Hotel Rooms After 'Wild King Nights' Sex Parties and Cocaine Arrest During FBI Raid Kanye West Makes Surprise Appearance at Diddy Trial Jamie Foxx Calls Diddy a 'Nasty Motherf-er' Amid Sex Trafficking Trial: 'All That Goddamn Baby Oil. Why You So Nasty?... For Black People, That Was Our Hero' West served as executive producer on 'Never Stop,' which also features his and Kim Kardashian's daughter, North West, on the song 'Lonely Roads.' The release of 'Never Stop' comes amid closing arguments in Combs' federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in New York City. On Friday morning, the defense presented its summation to the jury, claiming Combs is facing a 'false trial.' They argued that he is not guilty of sex trafficking, but rather a participant in the 'swingers lifestyle,' which included consensual 'threesomes' with his ex-girlfriends and male entertainers. Combs has been on trial since May, and his children — including Christian — have continued to voice their support of him. Earlier this month, West made a brief courtroom appearance, telling a reporter he was there to support Combs. Combs is pleading not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars. Listen to Christian 'King' Combs and West's new EP below: Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
Daily Mail
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Diddy's son Christian Combs meets Kanye West at Chateau Marmont after they both attended his father's trial
Diddy's son Christian 'King' Combs was spotted visiting Kanye West at the iconic Chateau Marmont hotel in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Kanye, 48, was not pictured but Christian, 27, was seen at the hotel with several friends and appeared in good spirits despite his father's ongoing sex trafficking trial in New York City. Kanye is known to frequent the Hollywood hotspot and on Tuesday, his custom Maybach was towed away from the establishment. Kanye has publicly supported Diddy on multiple occasions amid the music mogul's legal woes, and on Friday even attended the trial, where he was greeted by Christian. The pair shared a hug outside the courthouse before entering together. West caused chaos at the trial in Manhattan as he surprised crowds outside the courthouse. He wore an all-white denim outfit to the trial. Kanye had not announced his arrival beforehand, with footage from crowds outside the courthouse showing their surprise as he made his entrance. He was seen entering the courthouse, and briefly entered an overflow room, but did not enter the courtroom itself where Diddy has stood trial since May 5. According to the New York Times, Kanye was not on the approved attendee list for the day and was instructed to watch the proceedings via a closed-circuit video feed in an overflow room. He watched a closed-circuit video feed of the trial with Christian and Diddy's friend Charlucci Finney before departing, The Times adds. He was in the courthouse for approximately a half hour, the publication also reported. It comes as Diddy faces up to life in prison for drug trafficking and racketeering charges, which he has pleaded not guilty to. Over the weekend, Christian paid tribute to his dad with a gushing Father's Day tribute. King shared a post of his father holding him when he was a child. He captioned the shot: 'Happy Fathers Day Pops!!' King said. 'I Love you & miss you !!! We waiting for you at [home].' Diddy is father to seven children with four women. His children are: Quincy, 33, Justin, 30, Christian, Chance, 18, twins D'Lila and Jessie, 18, and Love Sean, two. Diddy faces life in prison on five federal charges: racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Prosecutors say Diddy used his fame and power in the music industry, along with violence and money, to coerce girlfriends for nearly two decades to submit to sexual performances involving male sex workers, sometimes on a weekly basis. The sex marathons, called "freak-offs" and "hotel nights," sometimes lasted several days as Diddy watched, directed and sometimes filmed his girlfriends having sex with other men, according to testimony. Two former girlfriends testified that they relied on drugs supplied by Diddy to stay awake - and numb - throughout the events. They both said they endured the sexual marathons because they were in love with Diddy and it enabled them to spend more time with him. Defense lawyers say prosecutors are trying to criminalize sexual activity between consenting adults. They say their client was involved in domestic abuse, but had not committed the federal crimes of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Diddy has remained jailed without bail since his September arrest. Meanwhile, more photos of damning evidence against Diddy came to light on Thursday, including a collection of high-powered rifles, drugs and hundreds of bottles of baby oil. The trove of photos were released by federal prosecutors as the trial at Manhattan federal court was stalled due to the Juneteenth holiday. The items were collected by Homeland Security officials during the March 2024 raid at the disgraced Bad Boy mogul's mansion in the exclusive Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles. Investigators also found bags containing ketamine, which were also photographed as evidence. Last week, Homeland Security Investigations agent Andre Lamon testified he saw an overwhelming amount of both baby oil and lubricant when he and other agents searched the mansion. The pictures show bottles of baby oil neatly lined in display cabinets, while dozen of boxes of the lubricant were also found stacked in the home. Lamon testified he found 900 bottles of Astroglide and 200 bottles of baby oil at Combs' LA home. Investigators also found bags containing ketamine, which were also photographed as evidence. Evidence: The cache of photos also showed Combs' collection of baby oil, which were neatly displayed in one of the rooms inside the LA mansion Federal prosecutors allege the drugs were used in marathon 'freak offs' Combs, his ex-girlfriends and male escorts participated in. Defense Attorney Marc Agnifilo has said the star likes to 'buy in bulk like any other American' and claimed Combs participated in consensual sex. One of the pictures showed a cache of weapons, including AR-15 style rifles and pump shotguns, next to a bag of tortilla chips. Combs' has since placed his LA mansion up for sale at $61.5million. The 17,000-square-foot home that boasts 10 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms is still listed for sale as of Thursday. Authorities also executed search warrants at Comb's Miami mansion on the exclusive Star Island the same day. Armed agents entered luxury properties on both East and West coasts, with video footage showing helicopters circling overhead. Narcotics: Agents also found drugs at Combs' LA mansion. Prosecutors said Diddy's marathon 'freak off' sex parties were fueled by drugs such and ketamine
