Latest news with #CombsTrial
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy's Former Personal Chef Says She's Afraid Retaliation After Split Verdict: 'Fear for My Safety'
Jourdan Atkinson was among the government's witnesses but did not testify at Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial She claims she was a victim of Combs' physical abuse and that she witnessed him physically abuse Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Combs was found not guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy and convicted on lesser charges of transportation to engage in prostitutionSean "Diddy" Combs' former personal chef, who alleges she was both a witness to and a victim of his physical abuse while in his employ, says she fears for her safety after a Manhattan jury acquitted the rapper of the most serious charges in his federal sex crimes case. On Wednesday, July 2, Jourdan Atkinson was among the government's witnesses who sent letters to the judge presiding over Combs' case asking that he be denied bail while awaiting sentencing, which his attorneys requested after his conviction on lesser charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. Judge Arun Subramanian declined to release Combs on bail, saying applicable law made his detention mandatory. The judge also cited Combs' history of domestic violence in denying his release. Atkinson posted a series of videos to her Instagram account afterward, as well as a copy of a subpoena she had received in 2024 from the Southern District of New York, compelling her to testify before a grand jury in April 2024 in connection with Combs' case. Combs had pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. Atkinson alleged in the videos that she was physically abused by Combs when she was employed by him, and that she had witnessed him abuse Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, his former longtime girlfriend who was the government's star witness and one of the women prosecutors alleged Combs sex trafficked. Atkinson expressed her displeasure with the jury's verdict. In her letter addressed to Judge Subramanian and posted to her Instagram account, Atkinson wrote that she and others who were subpoenaed by federal prosecutors fear Combs will retaliate against them. "I'd like to express how terrifying this whole ordeal has been for me personally," she wrote to the judge. "This past year and a half has been traumatizing. This verdict is devastating." She added: "I fear for my safety upon his release." Atkinson was among the government's witnesses but did not testify at the trial. She said in her recent Instagram post that federal agents visited her home in March 2024, and she refused to speak with them because she was afraid. She was later subpoenaed, she said, and shortly thereafter, she said one of Combs' attorneys called and texted her. She posted a screenshot of a text message she said she received from the attorney, saying he was aware she had been contacted by law enforcement and asked whether she needed an attorney. She said that she was supposed to testify at Combs' trial on May 20 and was in New York, but claimed she was "pulled" because she "flipped out on the government." Representatives for Combs and a spokesperson for the Southern District of New York did not immediately return a request for comment. "I want to be clear, as a victim, as a former employee of Sean Combs, I do not feel safe," Atkinson said in one of the videos on her Instagram. "I am extremely traumatized. I do not know where to go from here." Read the original article on People
The Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The Diddy trial verdict — and the celebrations afterwards — were difficult to watch
Music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs was found not guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering charges by a jury Wednesday after a blockbuster eight-week trial — and found guilty of two more minor charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. It's a verdict that will disappoint many. But in some ways, the reckoning has already happened. It began last year, quietly but unmistakably, when singer Casandra Ventura (known professionally as Cassie) filed a civil lawsuit under New York's Adult Survivors Act. In it, Ventura detailed years of alleged abuse, coercion and surveillance by the former partner who launched her career and then, she claims, nearly destroyed her life. She filed the suit days before the Act's one-year expiry window, and the lawsuit was settled behind closed doors within 24 hours. It was a resolution that looked like closure on paper, complete with a statement from Combs that said he wished Ventura 'the best.' But it opened the door to something far messier. A string of lawsuits followed, with allegations ranging from rape to drugging to sex trafficking to forced labor to arson. Authorities launched a federal investigation. Then came the trial testimony from assistants, the security staff, ex-girlfriends, and claims that ranged from the grotesque to the extreme. Like with Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein and R. Kelly, the Combs trial became a cultural mirror, reflecting what we still struggle to name and hold accountable: the way fame, money, and masculinity intertwine to obscure systemic abuse. In the years since #MeToo exploded, the legal system has been inconsistent in its response. Weinstein and Kelly went to prison — then Weinstein's New York conviction was thrown out, and his retrial resulted in him being guilty of just one criminal sexual act. Author Neil Gaiman reached an non-disclosure agreement settlement with a woman who accused him of sexual assault while she lived at his home in Woodstock, New York (he strongly denies any non-consensual activity), and then sued her for half a million dollars for violating that NDA by talking publicly about the allegations. Monica Lewinsky was semi-rehabilitated and re-entered public life, having been the butt of cruel jokes for decades. Comedian Louis C.K. was accused by five women of sexual misconduct, and then he publicly admitted that the allegations were true before releasing a weird film about an older man who's interested in underage girls. He's since toured multiple times and won a Grammy. And now Diddy has been cleared of sex trafficking and racketeering, but still faces up to 10 years in prison for each of the two acts of prostitution the jury convicted him on. In other words, it's not clear whether the movement 'worked.' The huge backlash against gender equality in recent years resulted in an emboldened alt-right and an explosion in tradwife content on social media (step right up, Ballerina Farm, Nara Smith and the pronatalists.) Powerful men fall and rise again; civil suits get settled quietly; survivors are discredited or simply disappear from public memory. The Diddy case felt a little different — not because it's uniquely horrifying, but because of the eerie normalcy of what it revealed: The assistant, 'Mia', who posed jokey memes on social media about her 'mentor' and accused him of raping her for fun (Diddy was never charged with assaulting Mia). The partner surveilled, referred to as 'slut' and 'ho,' and allegedly beaten. Ventura's mother, who says she was blackmailed by Combs for $20,000, but the jury found him not guilty of racketeering. The testimony given by an eight-months-pregnant woman who gave birth as the trial was ongoing. The entourage who witnessed it all; the stylist who allegedly saw some of the violence and became a confidante. Combs' most recent girlfriend, testifying under the pseudonym 'Jane,' broke down in tears as she described so-called 'hotel nights' — one of which lasted three and a half days — where she said she'd been coerced into repeated sexual acts while under the influence of ecstasy, although a jury found Diddy not guilty based on the evidence. Jane described being trapped financially, admitting while on the stand that Combs still pays her rent. Once again, we heard about how much was an open secret. One of the most striking moments didn't come from inside the courtroom, but from the quiet, calm statement issued by Ventura's husband, Alex Fine, addressing a question that he says he's been asked repeatedly since the trial began: how he feels about his wife testifying. 'I have felt tremendous pride and overwhelming love for Cass. I have felt profound anger that she has been subjected to sitting in front of a person who tried to break her,' he said. In a culture that so often frames women's suffering through voyeurism or judgment, it was refreshing to see a man refusing to center himself. I'm not a hero, nor am I a victim myself, he told the world: I'm just a supportive witness. Courts are designed to measure evidence against specific charges, but cultures endure. We've now heard too many variations of this same story to believe it's exceptional. A powerful man. A much younger woman. A dynamic of control masquerading as mentorship, love, or opportunity, or perhaps all three. The Diddy case was a test of the afterlife of #MeToo. Now, it's not just about believing women; it's about what happens after we say we do. In a world where controversy is currency — where Kanye West (who tried to get into the courtroom during the trial after tweeting 'Support Puff,' but wasn't allowed in) released a song last week with Combs' son called 'Diddy Free,' hot on the heels of 'Heil Hitler' — it's hard to feel positive about that afterlife. And it will have undoubtedly been hard for the women who testified during this trial to watch Combs celebrate in the immediate aftermath of the verdict, before his supporters in the gallery began to clap and cheer, and his lawyers slapped each other on the back. The 'dream team' that Combs' family was chanting about in the courtroom today convinced the jury on a number of counts. But this trial has deservedly cast a reputational shadow. At the very least, women have shown that they are still willing to speak up about their abuse at the hands of powerful men. We can only hope that gives those with the worst impulses pause.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- 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
21-06-2025
- Yahoo
An ex-college basketball player testifies that Sean 'Diddy' Combs got 'extremely creative' on drugs
NEW YORK (AP) — A former Syracuse University basketball player who worked recently for Sean 'Diddy' Combs as a personal assistant testified at the music mogul's sex trafficking trial on Friday that Combs got 'extremely creative' when he was on drugs. Brendan Paul, 26, was arrested last year at a Miami airport with cocaine he says belonged to Combs, and he testified with immunity about what it was like working for the hip-hop entrepreneur for a year and a half. Paul was arrested in March 2024 — the same day federal agents conducted multiple searches related to the Combs' investigation. Advertisement Prosecutors are winding down their case after six weeks of testimony from an array of witnesses ranging from ex-girlfriends and former employees to male sex workers and the rapper Kid Cudi. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, even made a surprise appearance at the courthouse. The prosecution seeks to convince the jury that Combs oversaw a sprawling racketeering enterprise for two decades that relied on obedience by employees willing to do anything for him, including buying drugs when necessary. Defense lawyers say Combs did not commit federal crimes, although they acknowledge that prosecutors have exposed domestic violence during the trial. After pleading not guilty following his September arrest at a Manhattan hotel, Combs has been held without bail at a federal lockup in Brooklyn. Prosecutors were expected to rest their case by Monday. A defense presentation is expected to last from two to five days. Advertisement Paul said he bought drugs for Combs between five and 10 times, spending up to $500 for drugs including cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and marijuana. He said he only did drugs with Combs once, when Combs asked him to try 'tusi,' also known as pink cocaine, to see if it was good. Paul said he did so because he 'wanted to prove my loyalty' and said he thought it was good. 'We continued on with our night,' he told Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavic. Paul said that prior to his arrest, he had forgotten about the cocaine after collecting it while 'sweeping' Combs' room that morning and had accidentally left it in a bag he carried as he prepared to go on vacation with Combs and other aides. The charges were dismissed after Paul completed a pretrial diversion program. Advertisement Under questioning by defense attorney Brian Steel, Paul said his 'heart dropped' when he realized that there was cocaine in a travel bag after telling officers at the airport that everything in the bag belonged to him. Steel asked Paul if Combs was generally happy and didn't hurt anyone when he was on drugs. 'He got extremely creative,' Paul responded. At another point, Steel asked the witness: 'You would not work for a criminal, would you?' 'Absolutely not,' Paul responded. Slavic, though, elicited Paul's mixed feelings about Combs when the prosecutor asked him just before he finished his testimony: 'Sitting here today, how do you feel about Mr. Combs?' Advertisement 'It's complicated,' he answered. Paul, originally from Cleveland, was a 6-foot-2 guard who walked on at Syracuse University and came off the bench in 16 games over two seasons, playing a total of 17 minutes and scored just 3 points. He later transferred to lower-tier Fairmont State University in West Virginia, where he played for two more seasons. Michael R. Sisak And Larry Neumeister, The Associated Press
CNN
11-06-2025
- CNN
‘Jane' testifies for fifth day in Combs trial
"Jane' testifies for fifth day in Combs trial 'Jane" continued cross-examination in the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial for her fifth day. Prosecutors expect to rest their case at some point next week. CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister reports. 02:18 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 16 videos "Jane' testifies for fifth day in Combs trial 'Jane" continued cross-examination in the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial for her fifth day. Prosecutors expect to rest their case at some point next week. CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister reports. 02:18 - Source: CNN The many adventures of the Stanley Cup Winner's of the NHL's Stanley Cup each get to take the cup for a day and do whatever they want with it. CNN's Coy Wire recounts some of the Cup's wildest days out. 00:43 - Source: CNN BTS members discharged from South Korean military One of the world's biggest boybands could soon be making a comeback with six out of seven members of K-Pop supergroup BTS now discharged from South Korea's mandatory military service. The band plans to reunite at some point later this year. 00:47 - Source: CNN Man throws wood boards at police during high speed chase An individual in the bed of a white truck dumped large wooden boards onto the road during a high-speed chase with law enforcement officers in Montgomery County, Ohio. Later, the truck drove the wrong way on Interstate 75 and caused a six-vehicle collision. No life-threatening injuries were reported after the accident, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. 01:20 - Source: CNN Combs requests mistrial for a second time CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister explains that Sean "Diddy" Combs' defense team requested a mistrial for a second time, which was denied. Combs' team accused the prosecution of presenting false testimony from Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Cassie Ventura's, who testified that Combs dangled her over a balcony. 01:26 - Source: CNN Tennessee sheriff's office airlifts escaped zebra to safety DEK: A zebra, that escaped from its owner in Christiana, Tennessee was captured on Sunday and airlifted to safety by the local sheriff's office. The animal, named Ed, had been reported missing just a day after he was acquired by its owners in Rutherford County. They have since been reunited. 00:35 - Source: CNN Jamie Foxx breaks down during BET Awards acceptance speech Jamie Foxx was overcome with emotion while accepting the Ultimate Icon Award at the BET Awards. He reflected on his 2023 health scare. 00:45 - Source: CNN See what's coming to your iPhone and other Apple devices Apple announced major software updates at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. Most of the new features won't reach users' devices for a few months when OS 26 releases this fall. 01:49 - Source: CNN Journalist explains 'huge win' for Blake Lively in Baldoni lawsuit A judge dismissed Justin Baldoni's $400 million defamation lawsuit against Hollywood power couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, a major development in the ongoing civil litigation between former co-stars Lively and Baldoni. Executive editor for Deadline Hollywood Dominic Patten joins CNN's Brianna Keilar to discuss. 00:36 - Source: CNN Blake Lively's lawyer on Taylor Swift's role in legal fight CNN's Jake Tapper speaks with Blake Lively's attorney Michael Gottlieb about how Taylor Swift was brought into the legal fight between Lively and Justin Baldoni. 01:04 - Source: CNN Coco Gauff reacts to winning the French Open Coco Gauff claimed her second career grand slam singles title, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open women's final. 00:46 - Source: CNN 'More of a protest than it used to be': Pride takes on DC The 50th anniversary of Pride celebrations has kicked off in the nation's capital this weekend with World Pride 2025. CNN's Julia Benbrook spoke to members and supporters of the LGBTQ community as they gathered in Washington, DC, to hear why some traveled hundreds of miles to attend. 01:06 - Source: CNN Former 'Diddy' girlfriend reveals 'love contract' A former romantic partner for Sean 'Diddy' Combs using the pseudonym 'Jane' described feeling financially coerced and revealed Combs is still paying for her rent, even as she testified against him at trial. Prosecutors hope the testimony by 'Jane' will drive home charges that include sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges. 01:30 - Source: CNN Student works shift after graduation. Customer raises $200k High school senior Mykale Baker went to his high school graduation, and after, decided to get some food for his family at Burger King, which is where he works. After seeing how short staffed they were, he decided to help out the team. Maria Mendoza saw him at work and started a GoFundMe page for him, which has raised almost $200 thousand dollars towards his college fund. 01:35 - Source: CNN Fans wait for hours to buy Nintendo Switch 2 Eager gaming fans lined up for hours to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 after it hit shelves around the world on June 5. It's Nintendo's first major console launch since the original Switch arrived roughly eight years ago. 00:25 - Source: CNN Greta Thunberg sails to Gaza Greta Thunberg has set sail with eleven other activists to Gaza. The activist group they're part of, The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, is attempting to bring aid and raise international awareness over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the territory. 00:59 - Source: CNN
