Latest news with #GetHimtotheGreek
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Diddy Trial Verdict: Celebrities React—'Sick to My Stomach'
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. Celebrities are speaking out following Sean "Diddy" Combs' high-profile federal trial verdict on Wednesday. The rapper, 55, was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges and was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Newsweek reached out to Combs' representative via email for comment on Thursday. The Context Combs got his start as an intern at Uptown Records, and he founded Bad Boy Records in the early 1990s. The label signed notable artists like French Montana, Machine Gun Kelly, Janelle Monáe and Cassie Ventura. The New York native is also a three-time Grammy Award winning rapper, and he appeared in films like Get Him to the Greek, Godzilla, Monster's Ball and Bad Boys II. Prior to his legal troubles, Forbes said Combs was "on a glide path to becoming a billionaire." In 2019, the outlet reported his net worth to be approximately $740 million. Sean "Diddy" Combs attends the 2022 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 15, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (L) Aubrey O'Day attends the Creators Inc Art Week & Celebrity Fashion... Sean "Diddy" Combs attends the 2022 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 15, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (L) Aubrey O'Day attends the Creators Inc Art Week & Celebrity Fashion Show at Hyde Beach at SLS South Beach on December 8, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida. (R) Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson attends the BMF/STARZ – For Your Consideration 2024 on May 2, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. More Bryan Steffy/WireImage;;for STARZ What To Know In November 2023, Ventura—who dated Combs on-and-off from 2007 until 2018—filed a lawsuit against him, alleging that he raped, sex trafficked and physically abused her over a 10-year period. In total, 120 people accused the music mogul of sexual misconduct, the Associated Press reported, and in March 2024, his Los Angeles and Miami homes were raided by federal agents. Combs was arrested in New York City in September and charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has denied all accusations against him. What People Are Saying Ventura's laywer, Douglas H. Wigdor, said in a statement: "This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023. Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution. By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice. We must repeat – with no reservation – that we believe and support our client who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial. She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion. This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors." John Rich, one half of the country duo Big & Rich, wrote on X: "Wicked and perverted child abusers across America are celebrating the Sean Combs verdicts today. I'm sick to my stomach and can't stop gritting my teeth. I pray The Father exercises His judgement upon them beyond anything a court could ever do. Can I get an amen from the people of The Lord?" Kesha shared on X: "Cassie, I believe you. I love you. Your strength is a beacon for every survivor." Rosie O'Donnell posted to Instagram: "i guess a jury just never wants to believe that a woman stays because of power and coercion- wow - they just think women stay because what? money - fame - 'they love the abuse' - what a f***ing joke - this decision got me angry #cassie." Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, who often takes jabs at Diddy on social media, said on Instagram: "Diddy beat the Rico, that boy a bad man! he like the Gay John Gotti @50centaction." Danity Kane member Aubrey O'Day, an outspoken critic of her former mentor Combs, took to her Instagram Story, writing: "I am still unpacking the magnitude of it all. The cultural weight of this decision is immeasurable. It is heartbreaking to witness how many lives have been impacted by their experiences with Sean Combs—only for those stories to fall short in the eyes of a jury. I can only hope these jurors never have to watch someone they love endure what so many survivors have described." "My heart is with Cassie. A woman who could've had a life and career free of fear and control. A woman who told her truth in a courtroom, only to have the world dissect her credibility instead of her courage." "Let's be clear: the courtroom operates by the law, but that DOES NOT mean it delivers justice. Nor is it the best place to develop the moral compass this world so urgently needs. The pattern of behavior Sean Combs has shown us over the decades is not a mystery. It is a warning. And now, that pattern risks being reframed—and has now been legitimized by the system. This wasn't Bonnie and Clyde—this was control, coercion, and abuse - and we have to stop rewriting history and excuse the behavior and start normalizing accountability—no matter how powerful the person. That narrative is not just dishonest. It's dangerous." "Women, Nor men, Nor ANY ARTIST - are the property of those with the most wealth, fame & power. We are not disposable. 12 people on a jury will not be deciding that for us." What Happens Next Combs was denied bail by Judge Arun Subramanian while he awaits his sentencing. His sentencing date is currently set for October 3 this year.
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
HUNTER: How the hell did Sean 'Diddy' Combs walk on sex trafficking?
Get the latest from Brad Hunter straight to your inbox US producer-musician Sean "Diddy" Combs poses on the red carpet as he arrives for the premiere of the comedy movie "Get Him to the Greek" from Universal Pictures at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on May 25, 2010. Photo by MARK RALSTON / AFP via Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Even for the most enthusiastic libertine, the tawdry details that emerged from the trial of hedonistic hip-hop impresario Sean 'Diddy' Combs were alarming. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The 'freak offs', the orgies, the drugs, the abuse, the lifetime supply of baby oil. None of it mattered a wit. What did matter was that Combs is a celebrity. Combs, 55, and the owner of Bad Boy Records with interests in fashion, TV and other businesses had been charged with sex trafficking, prostitution and racketeering. Sean Diddy Combs and Cassie Ventura attend the premiere of 'The Perfect Match' at the Arclight Theatre in Los Angeles on March 7, 2016. Photo by CHRIS DELMAS / AFP via Getty Images But despite a mountain of evidence and sordid details that could get you booted from the Playboy Mansion, Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering. He was convicted of prostitution charges. He could have gone to prison for the rest of his life, but now, experts say his stretch in the pokey could be down to months. Veteran journalist Barry Levine wrote the blockbuster, The Spider: Inside the Criminal Web of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, that covers similar ground. The difference, he told The Toronto Sun on Wednesday, was that the twisted twosome's victims were underage. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. (NEW YORK POST) Somehow, he said, the jury viewed Combs' victims as less worthy. 'It's yet another blow to the #MeToo movement in this era,' Levine told the Sun from his home in New York City. 'There was a mountain of evidence, what do you have to do to convince jurors at a trial that someone is a sex trafficker?' He added: 'This has to be devastating to Cassie Ventura [Diddy's former girlfriend] and the other women who testified. But he will go to jail, for how long is the question.' The veteran journalist said it was clear to him that Combs appeared guilty. He noted that it was a 'pretty strong case,' but in the end, it wasn't enough. While Combs was acquitted on the sex trafficking charges, there was a conviction for flying men and women around the country for sexual encounters. It went down as prostitution, but somehow, not sex trafficking? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'There was a lot of complexity in this trial. There are no perfect victims,' Levine explained. Cassie Ventura, former Diddy gal pal, was the prosecution's star witness, and even though she was victimized by the music mogul, she participated willingly in his sex-charged, baby oil-infused 'freak offs.' Levine said that while she may not have liked the orgies, 'she was in love with Diddy.' GUNS: Recovered from Diddy's house. (USDOJ) And her duties included having sex with other men and women while the rapper watched. 'For her, it was a real relationship. Cassie sent texts saying that she 'can't say I enjoy taking part in the freak offs' but she wasn't totally opposed either,' Levine said, adding she also received a lot of money from the rapper. Levine also believes the celebrity factor and wall-to-wall media coverage were on the marquee. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'In a celebrity trial, the jurors may have been influenced by that, with some of them possibly being the type who put celebrities on a pedestal,' he said. 'Maybe the defence made enough points. Combine that with the star factor, and here we are. 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. Photo by Michael R. Sisak / AP 'If it were you or I up there instead of Diddy, we probably would have seen a completely different verdict.' Ventura's lawyers stood behind their client and credited her with moving the matter forward. 'She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion,' they said in a statement. 'This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors.' Sadly, we have heard this refrain before. And those powerful men and a bedazzled public will almost certainly retain the status quo. They will insist. bhunter@ @HunterTOSun Ontario Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs Ontario Celebrity
Japan Today
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Comedian Russell Brand denies rape and sex assault charges in UK court
British actor and comedian Russell Brand, who has been charged with rape and multiple counts of sex assault, appears at Southwark Crown Court, in London, Britain, May 30, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes British actor and comedian Russell Brand pleaded not guilty in a London court on Friday to charges of rape and sexual assault relating to four women more than two decades ago. Brand, once one of Britain's most high-profile broadcasters and former husband of U.S. pop singer Katy Perry, appeared at Southwark Crown Court and denied all five criminal charges. The 49-year-old has consistently denied having non-consensual sex since allegations were first aired two years ago. British prosecutors announced in April that Brand had been charged with two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault against four women between 1999 and 2005. Brand, who previously gave his address as being in England but also lives in the U.S., is due to stand trial in June 2026. He spoke only to confirm his name and enter his five not guilty pleas, before leaving the court with his lawyer and some companions. PREVIOUS DENIAL After the charges were first announced, Brand said in a video posted on social media that in his younger days, before getting married and having children, he had been a fool and a sex addict but "what I never was, was a rapist". In the 2000s, Brand was a regular on British screens, known for his flamboyant style and appearance. He worked for the BBC and starred in a number of films including "Get Him to the Greek" before marrying Perry in 2010. They divorced 14 months later. By the early 2020s, he had faded from mainstream culture, appearing primarily on his internet channel where he airs his views on U.S. politics and free speech. In September 2023, the Sunday Times and Channel 4 TV's "Dispatches" show reported allegations of sex offenses against him. Police began investigating some weeks later. Brand, who said last year he had become a Christian, rejected those accusations. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges as U.K. trial gets date
British comedian Russell Brand remained firm this week in denying he sexually assaulted four women from 1999 to 2005. The controversial "Get Him to the Greek" actor, 49, appeared in a London court on Friday and pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. Brand, who was charged in April, said "not guilty" after each count was read in Southwark Crown Court. A legal representative for Brand did not immediately respond to The Times' request for comment on Friday. Brand, who is best known for starring in raunchy comedies including "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "Rock of Ages" and "Arthur," entered his not guilty plea months after U.K. authorities announced its counts against the comedian. Read more: Russell Brand denies allegations after U.K charges him with rape and sexual assault The charges stem from four separate alleged incidents involving different women. Prosecutors allege Brand raped a woman in the English seaside area of Bournemouth in 1999. He also allegedly indecently assaulted a second woman in 2001, orally raped and sexually assaulted a third woman in 2004 and sexually assaulted the fourth woman between 2004 to 2005. The final three allegations occurred in Westminster, according to U.K. officials. At the time, Brand denied the allegations via social media. 'I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile. But what I never was was a rapist. I've never engaged in nonconsensual activities," he said in a video shared to Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). "I pray you can tell that by looking in my eyes.' Before he was charged, Brand faced previous allegations of rape and sexual assault in September 2023, when the Times of London published its joint investigation with 'Dispatches,' a news program on Britain's Channel 4. Several women came forward with allegations that Brand sexually assaulted them between 2006 and 2013. At the time, Brand refuted the 'very, very serious criminal allegations' and claimed he was being targeted by the 'mainstream media' because of his views. Since distancing himself from Hollywood, Brand in recent years has refashioned himself as an anti-establishment commentator and platformed conspiracy theories about vaccines and the 9/11 attacks. Read more: Russell Brand: Baptism is 'opportunity to leave the past behind' amid sexual assault allegations In November 2023, the actor was sued for sexual assault in New York by a woman who said she worked as an extra in Brand's 2011 film "Arthur." That same month, the BBC said it received multiple complaints about the risqué comedian relating to his workplace conduct when he hosted radio programs from 2006 to 2008. In recent years, Brand has also turned his focus to religion. In 2024, he doubled down on his commitment to Christianity and was baptized in the River Thames. At the time, he said it was "an opportunity to leave the past behind and be reborn in Christ's name.' As he arrived to court on Friday, Brand was seen clutching a copy of 'The Valley of Vision,' a collection of Puritan prayers. His trial is set to begin June 3, 2026, and is expected to last four to five weeks. Times staff writer Meredith Blake and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges as U.K. trial gets date
British comedian Russell Brand remained firm this week in denying he sexually assaulted four women from 1999 to 2005. The controversial 'Get Him to the Greek' actor, 49, appeared in a London court on Friday and pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. Brand, who was charged in April, said 'not guilty' after each count was read in Southwark Crown Court. A legal representative for Brand did not immediately respond to The Times' request for comment on Friday. Brand, who is best known for starring in raunchy comedies including 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall,' 'Rock of Ages' and 'Arthur,' entered his not guilty plea months after U.K. authorities announced its counts against the comedian. The charges stem from four separate alleged incidents involving different women. Prosecutors allege Brand raped a woman in the English seaside area of Bournemouth in 1999. He also allegedly indecently assaulted a second woman in 2001, orally raped and sexually assaulted a third woman in 2004 and sexually assaulted the fourth woman between 2004 to 2005. The final three allegations occurred in Westminster, according to U.K. officials. At the time, Brand denied the allegations via social media. 'I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile. But what I never was was a rapist. I've never engaged in nonconsensual activities,' he said in a video shared to Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). 'I pray you can tell that by looking in my eyes.' Before he was charged, Brand faced previous allegations of rape and sexual assault in September 2023, when the Times of London published its joint investigation with 'Dispatches,' a news program on Britain's Channel 4. Several women came forward with allegations that Brand sexually assaulted them between 2006 and 2013. At the time, Brand refuted the 'very, very serious criminal allegations' and claimed he was being targeted by the 'mainstream media' because of his views. Since distancing himself from Hollywood, Brand in recent years has refashioned himself as an anti-establishment commentator and platformed conspiracy theories about vaccines and the 9/11 attacks. In November 2023, the actor was sued for sexual assault in New York by a woman who said she worked as an extra in Brand's 2011 film 'Arthur.' That same month, the BBC said it received multiple complaints about the risqué comedian relating to his workplace conduct when he hosted radio programs from 2006 to 2008. In recent years, Brand has also turned his focus to religion. In 2024, he doubled down on his commitment to Christianity and was baptized in the River Thames. At the time, he said it was 'an opportunity to leave the past behind and be reborn in Christ's name.' As he arrived to court on Friday, Brand was seen clutching a copy of 'The Valley of Vision,' a collection of Puritan prayers. His trial is set to begin June 3, 2026, and is expected to last four to five weeks. Times staff writer Meredith Blake and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
