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NBC News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Sexual assault survivors say Sean 'Diddy' Combs verdict a 'step back' for #MeToo movement
Moments after Sean 'Diddy' Combs was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges on Wednesday, a celebration erupted outside the Manhattan federal courthouse. Supporters and influencers sported homemade merch, sprayed baby oil on each other and cheered 'Free Puff!' But for some sexual assault survivors and advocates, the verdict delivered what they described as a devastating 'step back' for the #MeToo movement, which gained prominence in 2017 after producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of assault. The former Hollywood mogul was among a handful of powerful men who were convicted as part of a broader cultural reckoning against sexual harassment and assault. 'It is heartbreaking,' Kaja Sokola, a former model from Poland who was one of three women who testified in Weinstein's May retrial. 'A few years ago, we were more aware. Maybe because it was the first wave, people were paying attention to it,' she said. Now, it's 'suddenly started to shift to 'Don't believe all women,' or 'Women are liars.'' Online, many women echoed Sokola's concerns, calling the verdict and public support for Combs disappointing. Others expressed solidarity with witnesses who testified about Combs' alleged behavior, including Cassie Ventura. The R&B singer, who appeared in court while nine months pregnant, accused him of sexual abuse and forced, drug-dazed 'freak offs' with escorts and baby oil. Combs' New York federal trial ended Wednesday after seven weeks of harrowing testimony from 34 witnesses. Prosecutors alleged that Combs leveraged his wealth, power and influence as the head of a 'criminal enterprise' to exploit and sexually abuse women for over two decades. The defense declined to call any witnesses, arguing the government's case was 'badly exaggerated' and that their client was being targeted for his 'swinger' lifestyle. After less than 14 hours of deliberation, the jury seemed to side with Combs' defense team, finding him not guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. The music mogul, however, was convicted of two counts of Mann Act violations for transporting male escorts and former girlfriends, Ventura and 'Jane,' for sex. As the verdict was read in the packed courtroom, Combs fell to his knees in prayer as his family cheered behind him. One of his defense attorneys, Teny Geragos, broke out in tears while another made a fist in triumph. 'It's a great victory for Sean Combs,' defense attorney Marc Agnifilo told reporters outside the courthouse. 'It's a great victory for the jury system. You saw that the Southern District of New York prosecutors came at him with all that they had.' Attorney Gerald Griggs, who represents some victims of R. Kelly, the disgraced R&B superstar who was convicted of racketeering and other charges, also said he believes the outcome of Combs' case 'underscores how seriously our system treats allegations of this nature.' 'Regardless of public reaction, due process remains a fundamental right, and every survivor deserves to be heard,' Griggs said. 'This case is a reminder of the ongoing need for transparency, accountability and equal justice under the law.' But the mixed verdict was what former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani described as 'nothing less than a complete and total failure by the prosecution.' Rahmani expressed concern that the case could 'have a chilling effect on other victims coming forward,' noting how Ventura and 'Jane' both had to share explicit details about their relationships with Combs in court. 'They had to relive their trauma in a very public and embarrassing way,' Rahmani said. 'And you better believe other victims will hesitate to do the same if they won't be believed.' Nicole Bedera, a sociologist who studies sexual violence, said that while she's noticed 'hostility' toward survivors and the broader #MeToo movement in recent years, she doesn't think victims are no longer being believed. 'I think we're in a new era where instead of people trying to convince us not to believe survivors, they tell us the survivors deserved it,' she said. 'It's something we need to be careful about, because there's nothing that justifies violently attacking a partner or sexually assaulting a partner.' I think we're in a new era where instead of people trying to convince us not to believe survivors, they tell us the survivors deserved it. -Nicole Bedera, a sociologist who studies sexual violence Some survivors said they believe the jury's decision underscored a sobering new reality that has emerged in the wake of trials such as Johnny Depp and Amber Heard 's,which culminated in 2022 with jurors finding that Heard had defamed her ex-husband by writing in a 2018 op-ed for The Washington Post that she had become a 'public figure representing domestic abuse.' During the trial, she testified in graphic terms about a sexual assault she alleged, as well as allegations of physical abuse. Depp has denied all allegations of abuse. 'It serves as a painful reminder of how often our voices go unheard in a system that should protect us,' Caitlin Dulany, an actress who accused Weinstein of sexual harassment and assault that took place in the mid-1990s but was not part of his criminal trials, told NBC News in a text message. 'We share our truths, hoping for justice, but so often our voices seem to disappear into the void.' UltraViolet, a national women-led justice organization, said it was 'deeply disheartened, but unfortunately not surprised' by the outcome of the Combs case. 'Our criminal justice system failed yet again today. It failed to protect survivors, and it failed to hold accountable serial abusers — often wealthy, powerful men like Diddy,' Arisha Hatch, interim executive director of UltraViolet, said in a statement. 'The legal system is set up in such a way that testifying as a survivor is arduous and emotionally torturous. On top of that, women are routinely not believed in the courtroom.' Still, Combs did not come out of this trial scot-free. He is being held in jail ahead of his October sentencing, where he faces the possibility of years in prison. Several lawsuits are still pending against Combs, and his reputation could be tarnished by the lurid details revealed in court about his past relationships. No matter the outcome of the case, some said the testimonies of Ventura and 'Jane' served as powerful reminders that they are not alone. Attorney Douglas Wigdor, who represented Ventura, said in a statement that his client '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.' Singer Kesha also joined the chorus of people online who praised Ventura for her bravery. The 'Tik Tok' artist previously brought abuse allegations against her former producer Dr. Luke. (He has not been charged with a crime and has denied all of Kesha's allegations. In 2023, the two reached a settlement in his defamation suit over her allegation that he raped her.) 'Cassie, I believe you,' she wrote in a post on X. 'I love you. Your strength is a beacon for every survivor.'
Newsweek
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Ye Attends Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial—Full List of Individuals Who Have Testified In Court
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, attended the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial on Friday as the fifth week of proceedings came to an end. When asked by reporters if he was there to support Combs, Ye nodded and replied, "Yes." Court officials told Newsweek that he was in the courtroom for a total of 10 minutes. Ye has previously voiced support from Combs, posting "Free Puff" on X following Combs' arrest. Combs has previously utilized "Puff" as his stage name. In March, Ye released a new song called "Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine" that appears to feature a phone conversation with Combs. Ye announced the song in a post on X, which has since been deleted. He said the song features Combs and his son, Ye's daughter North West and new artist Jasmine Williams. Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, leaves federal court during the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs in New York, Friday, June 13, 2025. Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, leaves federal court during the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs in New York, Friday, June 13, 2025. AP Photo/Michael R. Sisak The trial, which is roughly at the halfway point, has featured testimony from celebrities, Combs' ex-girlfriends, former employees, law enforcement and more. When did the Diddy trial begin? Combs' trial began with opening statements on May 12. Charges against Diddy explained Combs is facing federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Who has testified at the Diddy trial? Israel Florez The first witness called to the stand was Israel Florez, who worked as a security officer at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016. Jurors saw surveillance footage of a 2016 incident at the hotel where Combs physically abused his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Florez said he received a report of a woman in distress. He found Combs and Ventura near the elevators on the sixth floor of the hotel. "The best way I can describe it is like a devilish stare. He was just looking at me," Florez said, referring to Combs. He said Ventura had a "purple eye." Florez said Combs offered him money, which he rejected. "He was pretty much holding like a stack of money," Florez said. "He was pretty much telling me, like, 'Hey, take care of this, don't tell nobody,' pretty much." Daniel Phillip Daniel Phillip is a male escort who said he was paid $6,000 to participate in sexual encounters with Ventura and Combs. He alleged that he saw Combs throw a bottle at Ventura and drag her across the floor. "Mr. Combs came out of the room, and I just saw a bottle fly past her and hit the wall," Phillip said. "He grabbed her by her hair, and started dragging her by her hair into her bedroom." Phillip said he did not report the incident to police because Combs had "unlimited power." "Chances are that even if I did go to the police, that I might still end up losing my life," Phillip said. Cassie Ventura Ventura, a key witness for the prosecution, dated Combs from 2007 to 2018. She testified about alleged incidents of physical, emotional and sexual abuse she endured during their relationship over multiple days on the witness stand. "There were violent arguments that would usually result in some sort of physical abuse," Ventura said. "Dragging, different things of that nature." She said she was sometimes kicked, stomped on and slapped simply for making the "wrong face." Ventura testified about the 2016 incident caught on surveillance video. "I chose to leave," Ventura said. "I got out and Sean followed me into the hallway, and grabbed me, shoved me to the ground, kicked me and dragged me back to the room and took my stuff." Ventura testified about "freak offs," drug-fueled sexual encounters with male prostitutes. She said she would try to get them to move faster by performing the sexual acts as fast as she could. "I felt pretty horrible about myself," Ventura said. "I was disgusted." She alleged that Combs raped her in 2018. She said she cried during the incident, but Combs did not stop. "I can't carry this anymore, the shame, the guilt, what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong," Ventura said. Yasmin Binda Yasmin Binda, a federal agent with Homeland Security Investigations, testified about the search conducted at Combs' hotel room after his September 2024 arrest. Binda said investigators found $9,000 in cash, substances that tested positive for MDMA and ketamine, lubricant and baby oil. Dawn Richard Dawn Richard, a former member of Danity Kane, said she witnessed Combs punch Ventura in the stomach at a restaurant in 2010 while other celebrities were present, including Ne-Yo, Usher and Jimmy Iovine. "She immediately bent over, [Combs] told her to leave," Richard said. "No one intervened." Danity Kane was formed on the reality show Making the Band, which Combs was an executive producer on. Richard said she also saw Combs attack Ventura while she was making eggs at Combs' Los Angeles home. "He came downstairs screaming, belligerent," Richard said. She said Combs grabbed the skillet and tried to hit Ventura with it. Combs then grabbed Ventura's hair and dragged her upstairs, Richard testified. Kerry Morgan Kerry Morgan, Ventura's former best friend, testified on May 19. She said Ventura and Combs were "very much in love," but she recounted several instances of violence between the two. Morgan said that while she was in Jamaica with Combs and Ventura, Combs was "dragging" Ventura by the hair because "she was taking too long" in the bathroom. Morgan alleged that Combs attacked her with a wooden hanger in 2018. "He came up behind me and choked me and left finger marks on my neck and hit me in the head with a wooden hanger," Morgan said. She explained how that incident led to the end of her friendship with Ventura. "The reason I stopped speaking to her was because she was not supportive of me after that incident. I draw my line at physical abuse," Morgan said. David James David James worked as Combs' assistant from 2007 to 2009. James said Ventura told him that Combs controlled her life. "'He controls my career, pays my allowance, and pays my rent,'" she said, according to James' testimony. He also recalled overhearing Combs describing Ventura as "moldable" to a friend. James said he decided to leave the position after a 2008 incident involving record executive Marion Hugh "Suge" Knight Jr. James said a friend of Combs spotted Knight at Mel's Diner in Los Angeles. When the friend informed Combs, Combs grabbed three guns and told James to drive to the diner, James testified. "This was the first time as his assistant that I realized my life was in danger. I told them I want to leave but give six months notice so I could train the next assistant," James said. Regina Ventura Regina Ventura is the mother of Cassie Ventura. Regina said she took out a home equity loan to pay Combs after he threatened to release a sex tape of Cassie. "I was physically sick. I did not understand a lot of it. The sex tapes threw me. I did not know [Combs] but I knew that he was going to try to hurt my daughter," Regina said. Regina said Combs later returned the $20,000 she and her husband sent to him. Sharay Hayes Sharay Hayes, a male escort, testified on May 20. Hayes said he had his first encounter with Combs and Cassie at Trump International Hotel in New York City. Known professionally as "The Punisher," he said he was hired by Combs and Cassie about a dozen times. Hayes said he was paid $1,200 to $2,000 for each encounter. He said that Cassie told him to "create a sexy scene of me and her applying baby oil on each other and create a sexy environment" for Combs to watch. Gerald Gannon Gerald Gannon, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent, testified about the items federal agents found at Combs' residence in Miami. Agents found a wireless sex toy in a primary bedroom closet, Gannon testified. There was also a black Gucci bag filled with drugs, including cocaine and ketamine. In a hallway closet near the primary bedroom, federal agents found 25 bottles of baby oil and 31 bottles of Astroglide lubricant. Gannon showed the jury a .45 caliber handgun and components of an AR-15 to the jury. He testified that agents found firearms with defaced serial numbers. Dawn Hughes Dr. Dawn Hughes, a forensic psychologist, did not interview Combs or the alleged victims in this case, but she testified about some of the reasons why victims stay in abusive relationships. Hughes said that it is common for victims to stay due to psychological bonds and love for their partner. The threat of future violence can make victims "feel trapped." Hughes said the abuse can lead to depression, PTSD and anxiety. George Kaplan George Kaplan worked as Combs' assistant for 15 months. He said he quit the job because he could not continue "fixing" Combs' problems. Kaplan said he once found Cassie crying and bruised in bed. He also alleged that Combs threw apples at another one of his girlfriends. "In my heart of hearts, I knew what was happening, and I felt an element of guilt that I didn't do anything to stop it," Kaplan said. Kid Cudi Scott Mescudi, who utilizes the stage name Kid Cudi, started dating Cassie in 2011. Mescudi testified that he did not realize that Cassie and Combs were still together when they started dating. Mescudi alleged that Combs broke into his house in 2011 after he learned of Cassie and Mescudi's relationship. In 2012, Mescudi's car caught fire in the driveway of his home. Mescudi said he met with Combs after the incident because he "knew he had something to do with it." The defense objected to the statement, and it was stricken from the record. Mescudi said Cassie "played" both Combs and him. "The drama was just getting out of hand," Mescudi said as he spoke about why he broke up with Cassie. Mylah Morales Mylah Morales, a makeup artist, testified about a 2010 incident where Combs allegedly assaulted Cassie in a hotel room. Morales said Combs walked into the room Cassie was in, and she heard "yelling and screaming" before Combs left the room. Morales said the incident left Cassie with a swollen eye, busted lip and "knots on her head." Frédéric Zemmour Frédéric Zemmour, the general manager of L'Ermitage Beverly Hills, said Combs frequently stayed at the hotel. Zemmour read notes the hotel kept on Combs, stating he "always spills candle wax on everything and uses excessive amounts of oil, place rooms out of order upon departure for deep cleaning." Joshua Croft Joshua Croft, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent, testified about the extractions performed on Ventura's electronic devices. Croft said he extracted data from three laptops belonging to Ventura. One included a user profile for Frank Black, an alias frequently used by Combs. Capricorn Clark Capricorn Clark took the stand on May 27. She began working for Combs' record label in 2004 and remained employed by Combs until 2020. Clark alleged that Combs was "furious" when he discovered Mescudi and Cassie's relationship. She said Combs told her to get dressed so they could "go kill" Mescudi. She said Combs had a gun on him. They were unable to find Mescudi at the time, Clark testified. Clark also said that she was subjected to a lie detector test after Combs accused her of stealing jewelry. She said the man administering the test told her she would be thrown into the East River if she failed the test. Chris Ignacio Chris Ignacio, a 16-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, testified about his response to a call about a possible break-in at Mescudi's home in 2011. Ignacio said he saw a Cadillac Escalade in front of the house and memorized the license plate. The jury was shown a DMV report that identified the registered owner of the vehicle as Bad Boy Productions, Inc. Combs is the founder of the record label Bad Boy Records. Ignacio said he went through Mescudi's home and recorded the incident as trespassing. He said he found no apparent stolen property or damage. Lance Jimenez Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigator Lance Jimenez responded to Mescudi's home in 2012. Jimenez said he found a Molotov cocktail in Mescudi's Porsche, but the bottle did not break, which allowed the flame to smolder out and prevented further damage. He said the Porsche had a cut on the convertible roof and burn patterns on the seat and roof. Deonte Nash Deonte Nash worked as Cassie's stylist from around 2009 to 2018. Nash said Combs would call Ventura names and frequently threatened to release her sex tapes or withhold her music from being released. Nash said he witnessed Combs punch and kick Cassie until her head started bleeding. "Mia" A former personal assistant of Combs testified under the pseudonym "Mia." Mia worked for Combs from 2009 to 2017. She described working for Combs as "chaotic" and "toxic" but also exciting at times. "The highs were really high and the lows really low. Puff's mood determined the environment," she said. "He threw things at me, threw me against the wall, threw me in the pool, he threw something against my head. Sexually assaulted me." Mia is one of Combs' alleged victims whose experiences were first introduced to jurors in opening statements. She is considered to be a key witness for prosecutors. Mia testified that she witnessed Combs attack Cassie on multiple occasions, including one incident at Mia's apartment. "It was so fast, but I felt like I was in slow motion," Mia said in testimony that gripped the packed courtroom. "I saw him grab Cass and I couldn't get there fast enough, the bed platform was the sharpest I had ever seen and he threw her and she hit her head on the corner of the bed." Mia said she attempted to jump on Combs' back to stop the beating, but Combs threw her against the wall. She said she has "complex PTSD" following her employment with Combs, which has made her unable to work. Sylvia Oken Sylvia Oken, a Beverly Hills Hotel employee, testified that guests can change the profile name used to make a reservation at the hotel. She said Combs used the aliases "Phillip Pines" and "Frank Black" to book rooms at the property. Eddy Garcia Eddy Garcia worked as the security supervisor at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016. Combs said he wanted surveillance footage of him assaulting Cassie taken off a server and a copy of the video because it could "ruin his career" if the footage was made public, Garcia testified. Garcia said he then spoke to his supervisor, who agreed to do it for $50,000. Garcia said he signed an NDA, which would charge him $1 million if the agreement was broken. Combs then returned with a brown paper bag containing $100,000, Garcia testified. Garcia said he kept $30,000, then gave $50,000 to his supervisor and $20,000 to another security officer. Derek Ferguson Derek Ferguson, a former CFO for Combs-founded company Bad Boy Entertainment, said he never saw anyone help Combs commit crimes or acts of violence. "He just worked constantly. His passion for what he did was really high so his work ethic and the number of hours that he put in was something that really pushed the entire team," Ferguson said, referring to Combs. Bryana Bongolan Bryana Bongolan, a close friend of Cassie, alleged that Combs held her over the edge of a 17th-floor balcony at Ventura's Los Angeles apartment on or around September 26, 2016. The defense accused Bongolan of lying and introduced hotel records showing that "Frank Black" was booked at Trump International Hotel in New York City from September 24 to September 29 of 2016. Bongolan said she does not remember every detail, but she has "no doubt" that Combs held her over the balcony. Enrique Santos Enrique Santos, a forensic analyst, testified about extracting data from three iPhones belonging to Cassie. "Jane" A woman who dated Combs from 2021 to 2024 testified under the pseudonym "Jane." Jane was asked by the prosecution if she consented to freak-offs with Combs. "I'm still trying to figure that out," Jane said. She is considered a key witness for prosecutors as they attempt to prove the charges against Combs. Jane said she felt obligated to agree to freak-offs because Combs was paying her rent. "I felt this was something I had to do in return," Jane said. Jane said Combs is still paying her rent. Jane said she arranged sexual encounters with two porn stars. When asked by the prosecution if she wanted to have sex with the entertainers, she said no. "I wanted to impress my lover," Jane said. Jane also recalled reading a lawsuit filed by Cassie against Combs in November 2023. She became emotional as she explained that three specific pages in the complaint were a "harrowing reference to what I was experiencing." Andre LeMon Andre LeMon, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent, testified about the raid at Combs' Los Angeles home last year. He said federal agents found 900 bottles of Astroglide and 200 bottles of baby oil. They also found six envelopes with the letter "K" on them, which tested positive for ketamine. LeMon said Combs also had various types of firearms and ammunition at the home. Jonathan Perez Jonathan Perez worked as a personal assistant for Combs from 2021 to 2024. Perez said he would buy drugs for Combs, including cocaine, Xanax and molly. He said Jane did not appear to be an unwilling participant in freak-offs and helped to coordinate them. "I feel great about him, the same way I did when I was leaving my employment," Perez said, referring to Combs. What's Next Combs' trial is expected to last eight to 10 weeks. He is facing life in prison if convicted. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Here's the Lowdown Behind Those 'Free Puff' Shirts at Diddy's Trial
Outside the federal courthouse where Sean 'Diddy' Combs is on trial, individuals wearing 'Free Puff' shirts have been observed. However, some folks on social media claim this group of 'supporters' may be part of a coordinated effort, and just may be part of a whole scam. The first person we saw donning a 'Free Puff' shirt was Charlie Liucci, who was caught on camera walking with one of Combs' sons to the courthouse. However, that one man band has spawned into a group of people wearing pro-Diddy gear. Podcaster Emilie Hagan took to the sidewalks surrounding the federal court to ask folks why they were so open about their support of the disgraced rap mogul. In one TikTok video, a woman claims she was offered $20 an hour to stand outside for a bit and wear a 'Free Diddy' shirt. 'He told me it's for a 'Diddy coin,' so I'm not really sure what that is. They just tried to pay me $20 to wear a 'Free Puffy' shirt. The lady right there just kept convincing me to wear the shirt, and I'm like, 'I'm good,' ' the woman said in the video. tiktok-7505165997121359135 Combs' rival, 50 Cent, even poked fun at the alleged paid protest, taking to social media to joke about making himself $20 to wear a 'Free Puff' shirt. In what looks like an A.I.-produced picture, the 'Many Men' artist wore the shirt with a straight face with the caption: 'He only made Cassie's mom take out a home equity loan to pay 20k for him to not put out sex tapes. Free itty bitty Diddy! LOL 😆 wait is that legal.' However, it's unclear if Combs is even behind the whole operation. What we do know is that $DIDDY coin does actually exist and is based on a Solana blockchain meme coin. After Combs' official X account promoted the coin, it skyrocketed to $181 million before crashing down to $37 million. The only person pushing the coin besides his sons, Justin and Christian, is Kanye West. The other disgraced rapper, who now goes by 'Ye,' support only lasted a little bit before the coin's value plummeted again. Combs' attorneys have not spoken on the matter nor how it may relate to gathering support for the rapper upon his ongoing trial. The Bad Boy Records CEO is facing charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and engaging in interstate transportation for prostitution against two anonymous victims as well as ex-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura. He has pleaded not guilty, and was denied bail. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Music Insiders Slam Live Nation's Trump Ally Board Appointee Amid DOJ Suit: 'It's Just So Obvious'
Live Nation's move to appoint Trump ally Richard Grenell to its board of directors caused a stir in the live music business this week, as several music executives who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter slammed the pick as a transactional move in the company's attempt to squash the monopoly lawsuit Live Nation faces against the Department of Justice. Grenell is a longtime Trump ally, previously serving as U.S. ambassador to Germany during Trump's first term, and he was appointed the interim executive director at the Kennedy Center after the president seized control of the Center back in February. The DOJ first sued Live Nation a year ago, claiming the company uses its dominance in concert promotion and in ticketing with Ticketmaster to stifle competition, calling to break up the company. More from The Hollywood Reporter "Diddy" Defense Team Minimizes Guns Found on His Property, Says Expert Witnesses Are "Dangerous" Warner Records' Tom Corson to Be Honored at 2025 City of Hope Spirit of Life Gala; Michael Bublé to Headline "Free Puff" T-Shirts Outside of Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial May Be Part of a Paid Protest 'It's not a shock to see this because it's obviously right in front of us,' says Gary Witt, president and CEO of Milwaukee-based Pabst Theater Group. 'Right in front of our very eyes you're watching a transaction take place where one group is trying to buy their way out of the DOJ and 40 state attorneys pursuing them.' The DOJ first sued Live Nation a year ago, claiming the company uses its dominance in concert promotion and in ticketing with Ticketmaster to stifle competition, calling to break up the company. Live Nation has consistently denied the DOJ's claims. Dan Wall, the company's executive vice president of corporate and regulatory affairs, wrote last year that the complaint misleads the public into thinking that ticket prices will be lower if something is done about Live Nation and Ticketmaster. DOJ is not helping consumers with their actual problems.' When asked for comment on the claims on Grenell's appointment, a Live Nation representative pointed THR to the company's announcement from Tuesday. 'We are pleased to welcome Ric to our Board,' Randall Mays, Live Nation Entertainment's chairman of the board, said in a statement Tuesday. 'His background will bring a valuable perspective as Live Nation continues to contribute to a growing live music industry around the globe.' A second music executive, who requested anonymity citing fear of retaliation from Live Nation, called Grenell's appointment 'the most thinly-veiled attempt to clash a legal proceeding that I've seen.' 'What expertise is he able to provide other than his access to Trump,' the executive says. 'What value does he provide? It's just so obvious. if he wasn't closely aligned with Trump, would they have ever picked him? If they didn't have a lawsuit filed by the DOJ would they have appointed him? The answer to both is likely no.' Grinell's appointment comes as the live music business has been looking for indications on how aggressively the Trump administration would pursue the Live Nation case it inherited from the Biden administration. Whether Grinell's appointment would have any impact on the case going forward isn't clear yet. 'Of course there's people who are thinking the case is finished now, but I think you can come to the opposite conclusion too,' says a policy expert who's followed the DOJ case closely, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the matter. 'You can just as easily argue Live Nation knows they're in trouble and is just increasingly desperate that they use this obvious ploy.' Aside from the civil suit, news broke last week that the DOJ is considering separate criminal charges against Live Nation and rival AEG over collusion allegations regarding their responses to refunds for pandemic-era concert cancellations. Live Nation denied the claims. 'We did not collude with AEG or anyone else,' Wall said last week. 'We are proud of our leadership during those trying times, and if any charges result from this investigation, we will defend them vigorously.' The appointment comes as Trump himself has grown increasingly combative with superstar artists online in recent days. After Bruce Springsteen criticized the Trump administration during a recent concert in the U.K., Trump sent a vaguely threatening message out on Truth Social, writing that Springsteen 'ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that's just 'standard fare'. Then we'll all see how it goes for him!' Earlier this week, Trump had called for a 'major investigation' into the appearances for artists like Springsteen, Beyoncé and Bono at Kamala Harris's presidential rallies. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Diddy' Defense Team Minimizes Guns Found on His Property, Says Expert Witnesses Are 'Dangerous'
Three more witnesses offered a variety of testimony on Wednesday at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' racketeering and sex trafficking trial, including an agent who raided his Miami home, a psychologist who has testified at several recent high-profile trials and one of the rap mogul's former assistants. Combs was arrested in September and, in a five-count indictment, is accused by federal prosecutors of two decades of abuse of women, trafficking of sex workers and turning his music and fashion empire into a criminal enterprise. At his trial, now in its third week, federal prosecutors are alleging that his crimes involved coercive control, manipulation, blackmail, drug use, marathon sex sessions and trafficking. Combs pleaded not guilty to multiple counts detailed in a federal indictment involving sex trafficking and racketeering; he continues to deny all allegations against him. More from The Hollywood Reporter Warner Records' Tom Corson to Be Honored at 2025 City of Hope Spirit of Life Gala; Michael Bublé to Headline "Free Puff" T-Shirts Outside of Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial May Be Part of a Paid Protest Chris Brown Freed on $6.7 Million Bail in Assault Case, U.K. Court Rules On Wednesday morning, Homeland Security Investigations Agent Gerard Gannon re-took the witness stand after his testimony closed out the day on Tuesday, where he had begun describing the March 2024 raid on Combs' Miami mansion. Gannon told the court how the 80-90 agents found assault rifles with serial numbers removed, loaded magazines and sex toys among the confiscated items during the raid. Gannon detailed the raid further on Wednesday, explaining how the agents found a cellphone stuffed inside a Balenciaga boot and a Gucci bag with a white residue inside; it later tested positive for cocaine and the dissociative drug ketamine. That bag also contained smaller bags of different colored pills that tested positive for MDMA and Xanax. Some of the MDMA pills were stamped with the Tesla logo, the jury learned. Inside a wooden box marked 'Puffy,' Gannon said that a white, rock-like substance was discovered. Working to minimize the seriousness of what was discovered in the raid in cross-examination, defense attorney Teny Geragos noted that the guns found at the property were taped up, so therefore not ready to be used and that there are many other ways to identify someone who used a gun other than the serial number, which had been removed. Gannon agreed to all of this and stepped down from the witness stand. The prosecution's next witness was Dawn Hughes, a clinical and forensic psychologist who has testified at recent major trials involving celebrities or sensational news stories: She spoke about the concept of gaslighting at NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere's 2019 trial and R. Kelly's racketeering and multiple charges related to sexual abuse and exploitation, where she told the jury about the notion of sexual entrapment. In 2022, millions watched her testimony at the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial. Hughes testified as to why certain victims might not leave their abuser, as the prosecution has said that for over a decade, Combs abused, manipulated and controlled Cassie Ventura, who, as the star witness, testified for 20 hours last week about their violent relationship. Hughes told the jury that at times a victim can feel trapped, may still feel a bond to their abuser and believe that leaving the relationship is far too difficult to do. Psychological, sexual, emotional and financial abuse can all be factors at play when a person chooses to stay with an abuser, she said. Defense attorneys then attempted to tear down Hughes' credibility, pointing out that she never evaluated the defendant or Ventura. Combs' attorney, Jonathan Bach, then asked Hughes if she had ever represented anyone accused of a sex crime. A long pause was felt across the courtroom after she said she had not: 'That's correct, I don't evaluate offenders,' Hughes said. It was also noted that the prosecution had paid Hughes $600 per hour for her time working with them on the case. At a point, Bach called Hughes and other expert witnesses 'dangerous,' as they entered the situation with 'an aura of authority.' Another assistant to Combs was the final witness of the day on Wednesday. George Kaplan, who worked for the mogul as his personal assistant from 2015-2016, detailed the tasks of his job, which included cleaning up hotel rooms after the 'freak-offs' Combs would throw there. Liquor bottles and baby oil often littered these rooms in New York, Miami and L.A. after Combs departed. Kaplan told the court that at one point, he found white powder near a sink in one of the rooms. Rapper Kid Cudi was expected to testify on Wednesday about his relationship with Ventura and an incident over a decade ago involving his car exploding. The court adjourned for the day without the rapper appearing; he is expected to be in court on Thursday to take the stand. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
