Latest news with #FreakOff
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' lawyer says prosecutors trying to criminalise his ‘private sex life'
Sean "Diddy" Combs listens as his lawyer Marc Agnifilo makes his closing arguments during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, on June 27, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. PHOTO: REUTERS Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyer says prosecutors trying to criminalise his 'private sex life' Sean 'Diddy' Combs' defense lawyer urged a jury on June 27 to find the former hip-hop mogul not guilty in his sex trafficking trial, saying prosecutors are trying to criminalise his unusual sexual preferences. The lawyer, Mr Marc Agnifilo, said during his closing argument in Manhattan federal court that over the past two months prosecutors had presented a 'fake trial' to use Combs' sexual proclivities as evidence of a criminal conspiracy centered on his businesses. 'They take the baby oil and the Astroglide and make it the evidence in this case, because there's nothing wrong with his businesses,' Mr Agnifilo said, adding that the 'crime scene' in the case was Combs' 'private sex life'. Combs, a former billionaire known for elevating hip-hop in American culture, has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and two counts each of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all counts, the Bad Boy Records founder faces a minimum 15-year prison term and could be sentenced to life behind bars. Mr Agnifilo peppered his closing argument with sarcastic questions, including asking how the women who testified against Combs could have been sex trafficked if they agreed to fulfill Combs' sexual fantasies partly out of love for him. 'If we're at Freak Off number 75, and 75 of them have been consensual, what would have to happen at Freak Off 76 to say, now it's sex trafficking?' Mr Agnifilo said, referring to Combs' ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura and using Combs' term for drug-fueled sexual performances with male escorts. During her rebuttal on June 27 , prosecutor Maureen Comey told jurors that Agnifilo repeatedly tried to blame prosecutors and Combs' victims for his grave legal jeopardy, rather than Combs himself. 'He's tossing up excuse after excuse for inexcusable criminal behavior, trying to explain away the devastating evidence,' Ms Comey said. 'Make no mistake: this trial is about how in Sean Combs' world, 'no' was never an option,' Ms Comey added. Over more than six weeks of testimony in Manhattan federal court, jurors heard two of Combs' former girlfriends testify that they took part in days-long, drug-fueled sex parties sometimes called 'Freak Offs' with male sex workers while Combs watched, masturbated, and occasionally filmed. Combs did not testify. The jury saw hotel surveillance footage of Combs beating one of the women in a hallway, and heard Combs' employees describe setting up hotel rooms and buying drugs for the performances. Jurors are expected to start deliberations either late on June 27 or June 30 . To convict Combs, they must vote unanimously. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyer says prosecutors trying to criminalize his 'private sex life'
Sean "Diddy" Combs listens as his lawyer Marc Agnifilo makes his closing arguments during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, U.S., June 27, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg (Reuters) -Sean 'Diddy' Combs' defense lawyer urged a jury on Friday to find the former hip-hop mogul not guilty in his sex trafficking trial, saying prosecutors are trying to criminalize his unusual sexual preferences. The lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said during his closing argument in Manhattan federal court that over the past two months prosecutors had presented a 'fake trial' to use Combs' sexual proclivities as evidence of a criminal conspiracy centered on his businesses. "They take the baby oil and the Astroglide and make it the evidence in this case, because there's nothing wrong with his businesses," Agnifilo said, adding that the 'crime scene' in the case was Combs' 'private sex life.' Combs, a former billionaire known for elevating hip-hop in American culture, has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and two counts each of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all counts, the Bad Boy Records founder faces a minimum 15-year prison term and could be sentenced to life behind bars. Agnifilo peppered his closing argument with sarcastic questions, including asking how the women who testified against Combs could have been sex trafficked if they agreed to fulfill Combs' sexual fantasies partly out of love for him. 'If we're at 'Freak Off' number 75, and 75 of them have been consensual, what would have to happen at Freak Off 76 to say, now it's sex trafficking?' Agnifilo said, referring to Combs' ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura and using Combs' term for drug-fueled sexual performances with male escorts. During her rebuttal Friday, prosecutor Maureen Comey told jurors that Agnifilo repeatedly tried to blame prosecutors and Combs' victims for his grave legal jeopardy, rather than Combs himself. 'He's tossing up excuse after excuse for inexcusable criminal behavior, trying to explain away the devastating evidence,' Comey said. 'Make no mistake: this trial is about how in Sean Combs' world, 'no' was never an option,' Comey added. Over more than six weeks of testimony in Manhattan federal court, jurors heard two of Combs' former girlfriends testify that they took part in days-long, drug-fueled sex parties sometimes called "Freak Offs" with male sex workers while Combs watched, masturbated, and occasionally filmed. Combs did not testify. The jury saw hotel surveillance footage of Combs beating one of the women in a hallway, and heard Combs' employees describe setting up hotel rooms and buying drugs for the performances. Jurors are expected to start deliberations either late on Friday or on Monday. To convict Combs, they must vote unanimously. (Reporting by Jack Queen and Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Bill Berkrot and Nick Zieminski)
Indian Express
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' lawyer says prosecutors trying to criminalize his ‘private sex life'
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' defense lawyer urged a jury on Friday to find the former hip-hop mogul not guilty in his sex trafficking trial, saying prosecutors are trying to criminalize his unusual sexual preferences. The lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said during his closing argument in Manhattan federal court that over the past two months prosecutors had presented a 'fake trial' to use Combs' sexual proclivities as evidence of a criminal conspiracy centered on his businesses. 'They take the baby oil and the Astroglide and make it the evidence in this case, because there's nothing wrong with his businesses,' Agnifilo said, adding that the 'crime scene' in the case was Combs' 'private sex life.' Combs, a former billionaire known for elevating hip-hop in American culture, has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and two counts each of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all counts, the Bad Boy Records founder faces a minimum 15-year prison term and could be sentenced to life behind bars. Agnifilo peppered his closing argument with sarcastic questions, including asking how the women who testified against Combs could have been sex trafficked if they agreed to fulfill Combs' sexual fantasies partly out of love for him. 'If we're at 'Freak Off' number 75, and 75 of them have been consensual, what would have to happen at Freak Off 76 to say, now it's sex trafficking?' Agnifilo said, referring to Combs' ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura and using Combs' term for drug-fueled sexual performances with male escorts. During the first day of closing arguments on Thursday, a US prosecutor told jurors Combs used 'violence and fear' to lead a criminal enterprise that helped him subject two of his former girlfriends to sex trafficking, 'The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted,' prosecutor Christy Slavik told jurors in her address. 'He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law.' Combs' defense lawyers acknowledge that Combs was occasionally violent in domestic relationships, but have argued that his conduct did not amount to sex trafficking because the sex acts described by prosecutors were consensual. Over more than six weeks of testimony in Manhattan federal court, jurors heard two of Combs' former girlfriends testify that they took part in days-long, drug-fueled sex parties sometimes called 'Freak Offs' with male sex workers while Combs watched, masturbated, and occasionally filmed. Combs did not testify. The jury saw hotel surveillance footage of Combs beating one of the women in a hallway, and heard Combs' employees describe setting up hotel rooms and buying drugs for the performances. Jurors are expected to start deliberations either late on Friday or on Monday. To convict Combs, they must vote unanimously.
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Diddy's VERY surprising courtroom act after watching freak off sex tapes in private part of court
Sean ' Diddy ' Combs licked his lips after watching Freak Off videos in a side room of the court - and asking for extra time to do so. The hip hop mogul, 55, made the motion on Tuesday after seeing the clips of Cassandra Ventura having sex with male escorts while he watched. Diddy had asked to see the videos before testimony began for the day, but when it got to 9am, the start time, he hadn't come out yet. The judge told the court that Diddy had asked for '10 minutes to review the materials'. Diddy chose to stay in the side room rather than see one of his former assistants be given an immunity order. Just before 9.15am Diddy emerged from the side door in the court, licking his lips and rubbing his hands. Diddy had to watch the clips in the room because they are sealed and his monitor in court is viewable by the public. Prosecutors played portions of three sex videos recovered from a Combs-linked account on a cellphone that his former longtime girlfriend Cassie provided to authorities, giving jurors a close-up view of the encounters they've heard about repeatedly since testimony began May 12. A black female juror furrowed her brow and winced Monday while watching the first of three clips of the Freak Offs, which ran from 20 or 30 seconds. Another black female juror moved uncomfortably in her seat and put her head to her head as she watched the footage. Until Monday, jurors had only seen still images taken from the freak-off videos. The videos were the most notable part of an otherwise dry day in court Monday as prosecutors wind down their case with so-called summary witnesses — government agents who are reading aloud heaps of text messages, travel records and other document-based evidence. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges after his September arrest at a New York hotel. He was denied bail multiple times and has remained incarcerated at a federal lockup in Brooklyn ever since.
Daily Mirror
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Male escort breaks silence on 'Diddy' ‘freak offs' and defends Cassie
One of the male escorts who had sex with Sean 'Diddy' Combs' ex-girlfriend of 11 years, Cassie Ventura, has broken his silence after being named in court A former male escort, once hired for Sean 'Diddy' Combs' infamous "Freak Off" gatherings, has finally spoken out after his photo surfaced during the music tycoon's federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial. According to the prosecution, Shawn Dearing, 37, was one of over ten men that Combs, 55, allegedly coerced his ex-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura into sleeping with during their almost 11-year stint as a couple. These claims came to light last month as the escorts' identities were disclosed through court testimony and documentation provided by the prosecution during the ongoing trial. In a new interview, Dearing shared a moving message for Ventura as he admitted he was booked by Combs for sexual sessions at either a hotel in Beverly Hills or a condo in Los Angeles he believes belonged to Cassie. The former escort says "was only me, him, and her" during the sessions, but he never had intercourse with Combs. Reflecting on Ventura, who recently gave birth to her third child, Dearing expressed: "She was so uplifting - the kindest and most respectful person," also remarking on her authenticity, "She was genuine throughout the whole experience." Speaking to PEOPLE magazine, Dearing stated he was speaking out now due to his identity being made public due to the trial and wanting to give "some credence" to Ventura's story. He previously had no desire to comment on the allegations, saying that he 'does not seek attention.' Discussing Ventura with the American publication, Dearing says: 'You got me tearing up! I want what's best for her, honestly, because she … she's a badass lady, man. She's awesome. So I want her respect first and foremost.' He continues to share that he was hired by Combs for 'more than a dozen sessions and the embattled rapper never touched him during the bookings. Dearing admits he didn't witness any physical abuse from Combs towards Ventura during his time with the former couple but did spot signs of what he believed to be "psychological abuse' - claiming the mum-of-three's "kindness" was being exploited and she was 'there under [Combs'] control.' Cassie, who was 22 during the first year of her relationship with Combs, testified in New York City last month while heavily pregnant. The Me&U hitmaker told the court how 'freaks off' became so frequent - and required recovery time - that they became like a job to her. Combs' trial is now in its fourth week. He was arrested in September 2024 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has entered a plea of not guilty on all charges. In March last year, Homeland Security agents in the US said they had raided Combs's homes in Los Angeles and Miami, and he was arrested in New York in September. Prosecutors claim the Bad Boy Records founder coerced and abused women for two decades, using his 'power and prestige' as a music star to silence victims. His lawyers argue that his relationships with former long-term girlfriends are being mischaracterised and they were always consensual. * If you've been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
