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CNN
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
The Sean ‘Diddy' Combs case shows ‘trialtainment' has evolved in the post-OJ Simpson era
Salacious details, discussion of domestic violence and a Black male celebrity who for decades had a strong base of supporters. While the alleged crimes are not the same, some of the cultural issues involved could describe the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs in 2025, or that of O.J. Simpson in 1995. Simpson's case sparked an era of 'trialtainment,' with an abundance of viewers and readers following an exhaustive round-the-clock news cycle, absorbing every detail of the bombshell murder case. Thirty years later, as the world awaits a verdict in Combs' federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial, interest in celebrity court cases remains high, but public discourse around race and intimate partner violence has changed. 'I think a lot of women have evolved in terms of taking a stance that we can speak up. We are now just being comfortable with speaking up and this is as a result of the #MeToo movement,' legal analyst and entertainment law expert Lisa Bonner – who is not connected to either case – told CNN. Simpson, who died in April 2024 at the age of 76 following a battle with cancer, was accused of fatally stabbing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The star football player and actor was acquitted in 1995. Combs is facing allegations of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. The mogul and music artist has pleaded not guilty. Both men had well respected careers, amassed wealth and power and initially enjoyed the support of fans, especially in the Black community. 'One thing that is different in this case than it is for Diddy is all the Black people were on O.J.'s side,' Bonner said. 'It was on the heels of (the 1991 beating by Los Angeles Police Department officers of) Rodney King and all of the civil unrest that had gone on regarding the mistreatment of Black people, especially Black men.' Both Simpson and Combs were also accused of domestic violence and in the case of Combs, some of his support slipped after CNN last year published a hotel surveillance video of him physically assaulting his then-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, in 2016. Nicole Branca, chief executive officer of New Destiny Housing, a New York City nonprofit that provides housing and services to survivors of domestic violence and their children, said high-profile trials like these can be 'helpful to hold people accountable.' 'It's probably better that there's this much coverage because these are celebrities, these are people with a lot of money and a lot of attention and if (domestic violence is) happening to them, then maybe it makes it okay for people to speak out about their own experience,' she said. 'That's my hope. Do I know if that's happening? I don't, but the fact that people are more vocal about it these days and there are more laws being passed at the city, state, and federal level, makes me think that this contributes to that discourse.' Branca pointed to the New York City Council recently introducing a bill to train first responders in the detection of traumatic brain injuries – given that such injuries are common with domestic violence victims – as an indiction that authorities are taking the issue more seriously. Bonner, who has appeared on CNN to discuss the Combs case, said that while 'there's still a lot of victim shaming that goes on,' the cultural strides made in the past three decades likely made it easier for Ventura to file a civil suit against Combs in November 2023, which preceded a federal criminal investigation. Combs denied wrongdoing, and the two settled the lawsuit a day later. 'It's no longer acceptable that men are allowed to act in such a manner and get away with it. Women are no longer scared to come forward,' Bonner said. 'That's the reason why Cassie was able to bring this lawsuit because of the simple fact that the #MeToo movement gave women a voice.' Public awareness of the #MeToo movement gave rise as a hashtag in 2017, after Hollywood super producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual harassment and assault, but it was founded more than a decade prior by activist Tarana Burke. What followed after Weinstein were allegations against other men in powerful positions. Bonner said that when it comes to legal issues of the rich and the famous, 'we want a light, a look into the life of a celebrity.' 'In some instances it's a great equalizer because this person, now all of their business that is normally shrouded in secrecy, has come to the front,' she said. An estimated 150 million people reportedly watched Simpson's verdict in 1995. While the Combs trial has not been televised, the social media era has meant details of his alleged abuse of power and hours of trial testimony have been closely followed and discussed for months. 'It gives us a chance to weigh in on something that's completely not our business to talk about it,' Bonner said. 'It's in the zeitgeist.'
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyer mocks sex trafficking case in closing, calls charges 'badly exaggerated', AP explains
Sean Diddy Combs' defense lawyer says the government "badly exaggerated" its evidence against the music mogul in a four-hour closing argument. (AP video by Joseph Frederick)
CBS News
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyer makes closing argument, calls prosecution of music mogul a "fake trial"
Sean "Diddy" Combs was portrayed in his lawyer's closing argument on Friday as the victim of an overzealous prosecution that tried to turn the recreational use of drugs and a swinger lifestyle into a racketeering conspiracy that could put the music mogul behind bars for life. Attorney Marc Agnifilo mocked the government's case against Combs and belittled the agents who seized hundreds of bottles of Astroglide lubricant and baby oil at his properties as he began a presentation expected to last several hours. "Way to go, fellas," he said of the agents. He said prosecutors had "badly exaggerated" evidence of the swinger lifestyle and threesomes to combine it with recreational drug use and call it a racketeering conspiracy. "He did not do the things he's charged with. He didn't do racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking," the lawyer said. Agnifilo also called Combs' prosecution a "fake trial" and ridiculed the notion that he engaged in racketeering. "Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me?" Agnifilo asked. "Did any witness get on that witness stand and say yes, I was part of a racketeering enterprise — I engaged in racketeering?" No, Agnifilo argued, telling jurors that those accusations were a figment of the prosecution's imagination. Combs' family, including six of his children and his mother, were in the audience for the closing, which took place a day after the prosecution made their closing arguments Thursday — after calling on 34 witnesses over the course of seven weeks. Combs' ex-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura Fine, and rapper Kid Cudi, were among those who testified. The trial of Combs, 55, began on May 12. Prosecutors allege he relied on employees, resources and influence of his business empire to create a criminal enterprise that engaged in — or attempted to engage in — "sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for the purposes of prostitution, coercion and enticement to engage in prostitution, narcotics offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice." Combs has denied the allegations against him and pleaded not guilty to five counts. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison. Combs has been present at the trial but told U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian this week that he decided not to testify. "I mean, it's my decision with my lawyers. ... My decision to make. I'm making it," he said. The defense rested on Tuesday after presenting its case for less than 30 minutes. It didn't call any witnesses. Combs' lawyers built their case for acquittal through lengthy cross-examinations of government witnesses. Some testified only in response to subpoenas and insisted they didn't want to be there. In federal prosecutors' closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said to the jury that Combs used "power, violence and fear" to rule a criminal enterprise, which allegedly facilitated brutal sex crimes. Slavik said Combs "counted on silence and shame" to allow his abuse to continue. She also said he used a "small army" of employees to harm women and then cover it up. "He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law," she said. Prosecution will make a rebuttal argument after the defense's closing. Judge Arun Subramanian will then instruct jurors on the law before deliberations begin. contributed to this report.
CNN
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Video: The key testimony and evidence in Sean Combs trial, explained
The key testimony and evidence in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial, explained CNN's Laura Coates goes over the five counts hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is charged with, the key evidence and testimony presented to jurors, and how the defense disputes the allegations. 03:13 - Source: CNN Brad Pitt's home burglarized The Los Angeles Police Department said a break-in occurred at a house in the Los Feliz neighborhood. A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN that it belongs to actor Brad Pitt. 00:32 - Source: CNN See moment suspect lights fire on Seoul subway CCTV footage released by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office captures the moment a man lit a fire on a busy subway in the South Korean capital last month. The footage, from May 31, shows passengers running away after the suspect doused the floor of the train carriage with flammable liquid before setting it alight. Reuters reports that according to the prosecutors' office, six people were injured. The prosecutor's office says it charged the 67-year-old man with attempted murder and arson. 00:48 - Source: CNN Fireball spotted across the sky A 'daytime fireball' was caught on video in the sky over South Carolina – causing a sonic boom, according to the American Meteor Society. CNN has reached out to emergency management officials in North Carolina and Tennessee, as well as NASA for comment. 00:36 - Source: CNN Twin waterspouts spotted in Florida Twin waterspouts were seen from Bradenton, Florida, just south of Tampa Bay, on June 22. 00:30 - Source: CNN NBA Draft 2025: Here's what you need to know From Cooper Flagg's No. 1 selection and China's rising star Yang Hansen — here's what you need to know about the 2025 NBA Draft. 00:52 - Source: CNN Astronauts launch to space station after delay Axiom Space Mission 4 launched four astronauts from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The flight comes after an extended delay triggered by tests related to leaks plaguing the International Space Station. The group is expected to be in space for two weeks to help carry out about 60 experiments before returning home. 00:32 - Source: CNN New Yorkers, visitors cope with heat wave New York City nearly hit 100 degrees for the first time in over a decade on Tuesday. The city's last triple-digit temperature happened on July 18, 2012, but it hasn't been 100 degrees in June since 1966 – nearly 60 years ago. 00:47 - Source: CNN Why Japan has a rice crisis Rice prices in Japan have nearly doubled in the past year, exacerbating the country's cost of living crisis. CNN's Hanako Montgomery explains how this rice crisis emerged. 01:17 - Source: CNN Brad Pitt gets candid about recovery Brad Pitt opened up about his recovery experience in an interview on 'Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard.' The actor talked about getting to know Shepard, who is also in recovery, through an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting they both attended. 00:48 - Source: CNN Helicopter fails landing attempt near waterfront restaurant A helicopter crash-landed near a waterfront restaurant in Clay Township, Michigan. Clay Township police said minor injuries were reported. The FAA is investigating the cause of the crash. 00:31 - Source: CNN Alligator found in basement after fire Milwaukee firefighters rescued an alligator in the basement while responding to a house fire. No one was inside and no firefighters were hurt, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department. 00:16 - Source: CNN Truck hangs off bridge in China Social media footage captured a truck hanging off a bridge in Guizhou Province in southwest China as heavy rains caused landslides at the start of monsoon season. 00:41 - Source: CNN Rubin Observatory reveals breathtaking views of space The Vera C. Rubin Observatory released its first images, showcasing millions of galaxies. The images are also expected to reveal thousands of previously unknown space objects. 01:07 - Source: CNN Iconic taxi may vanish forever Hong Kong's government announced the shift away from the city's iconic red taxis toward multicolored electric and hybrid vehicles. Toronto native Alan Wu has refurbished one to keep the nostalgia alive for himself and others among the city's diaspora. 01:58 - Source: CNN Caves near China's 'Avatar Mountains' found packed with decade-old trash A hidden environmental crisis is unfolding in ancient caves near China's Zhangjiajie Forest Park, famed for its massive quartz-sandstone pillar formations, which are said to have inspired the floating scenery that appears in the 2009 Hollywood blockbuster 'Avatar.' Viral social media videos showing piles of trash in the area, some reportedly dumped over a decade ago, are prompting a mass cleanup of the karst caves. 00:59 - Source: CNN 50 years of 'Jaws' and shark attacks As Steven Spielberg's summer blockbuster 'Jaws' turns 50, CNN's Harry Enten figures out how likely it is to be attacked by a shark and whether we should fear the waters. 01:57 - Source: CNN The NHL Stanley Cup's perfect imperfections The Stanley Cup is one of the most iconic trophies in all of sports, but one of the reasons the NHL's championship trophy is so lionized is its perfect imperfections. CNN's Coy Wire spoke to The Keeper of the Cup Howie Borrow for a tour of some of the trophy's character-building bloopers. 01:02 - Source: CNN
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean "Diddy" Combs' Teen Daughters Unite at Trial's Closing Statements
Originally appeared on E! Online Sean 'Diddy' Combs' daughters are showing their support. The music mogul's 18-year-old twins D'Lila Combs and Jessie Combs, whom he shares with his late ex Kim Porter, arrived at a New York City courthouse June 26 to hear closing statements in their father's sex trafficking trial. They were joined by their sister Chance Combs, 18, whom the 55-year-old shares with ex Sarah Chapman. D'Lila and Jessie wore matching white pinstripe suits and open-toed heels for the appearance, while Chance opted for a black T-shirt and matching trousers with loafers. The trio seemed to put on a united front as they held hands while entering the federal building. The government rested its case against Combs June 24 after weeks of calling witnesses to testify against the rapper, while his defense team rested their case after roughly 20 minutes, according to NBC News reporters in the courtroom. Combs, who has pled not guilty to all of his charges, declined to take the stand himself. For more on Combs' trial, keep reading. More from E! Online 1,000-lb. Sisters' Tammy Slaton Engaged to Andrea Dalton 2 Months After Revealing Romance Influencer Tanner Martin Announces His Own Death at 30 Elementary School Teacher Accused of Sexual Abuse, Having Baby With 13-Year-Old Student Combs' children—including his and Porter's sons Quincy Brown, 34, and Christian 'King' Combs, 27, as well as his and ex Misa Hylton's son Justin Combs, 31—have stood by their dad throughout his criminal case with recurring appearances in court since the trial began in May. They also spoke out in a joint social media post in October, shortly after their father's arrest. 'The past month has devastated our family,' they wrote in a post on Quincy's Instagram page at the time. 'Many have judged both him and us based on accusations, conspiracy theories, and false narratives that have spiraled into absurdity on social media.' 'We stand united, supporting you every step of the way,' the message went on. 'We hold onto the truth, knowing it will prevail, and nothing will break the strength of our family. WE MISS YOU & LOVE YOU DAD.' For more on Combs' trial, keep reading. Prosecutors Seek to Streamline Charges Against Sean 'Diddy' CombsSean 'Diddy' Combs Confirms He Won't Be TestifyingDefense Shares Estimation on Closing ArgumentsJuror Sees Apparent Footage From 'Freak Offs'Hotel Rooms Were Stocked With Baby Oil, Plan-B Pills For 'Freak Offs'Cassie Ventura and Sean 'Diddy' Combs's Texts About His Alleged Abuse RevealedSean 'Diddy' Combs' Former Assistant Denies Being Drug Mule But Says He Bought Thousands of Dollars in Drugs for the RapperJudge Cancels Court on Day 26 of Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Over Sick JurorSecond Sean 'Diddy' Combs Jury Member Faces Possible DismissalKanye West Supports Sean 'Diddy' Combs With Courthouse VisitSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says Mogul Was Upset After She Attended Another Man's 'Freak Off'Prosecutors Seek Removal of Juror in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' TrialSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Has Heated Exchange With Defense Team During Cross-ExaminationSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says She Wondered What Was 'Driving Him' SexuallySean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Mentions Koby Bryant, Shaquille O'Neil and Michael Jordan During TestimonySean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says Mogul's Chief of Staff 'Influenced a Great Deal' of Their RomanceJudge Denies Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Defense Team's Second Motion for a MistrialSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Details Hourslong 2024 BeatingSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says Attack By Rapper Left Her 'Golfball-sized' WeltsSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Details Homeland Security Raid at Her HomeSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says He Threatened To Release Sex TapesSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says She Fainted After Reading Cassie Ventura's LawsuitSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says She Threw Up 3 Times During 'Hotel Night' Without DrugsSean 'Diddy' Combs' Legal Team Makes Second Request For Mistrial For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
