Latest news with #Harlem-born
News18
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Rapper Azealia Banks Claims Conor McGregor Sent Her Nude Pics, Made Threats
New York rapper Banks accused ex-MMA fighter Conor McGregor of sending unsolicited nude photos and threats. Controversial New York rapper Azealia Banks has accused former UFC champion Conor McGregor of sending her explicit images without her permission and threatening her not to disclose the incident. The 34-year-old Harlem-born artist made the claims public on Monday, July 14, 2025, via her X account (formerly Twitter). She shared screenshots of some unsettling messages she says came from McGregor. In a quoted post, Banks expressed her shock and fury, saying, 'How you gonna send a b*h some crooked d**k pics then threaten her not to tell. N*gga do you know who the f**k I am? This is HARAM (sic)." She didn't stop there, also targeting McGregor's looks, alleged ambitions, and even his skincare routine. 'Like how are you really going to sexually harass me with the potato farmer d**k then threaten me not to tell???? Honey…… ain't u trying to be the president of Ireland? (sic)" she wrote, followed by, 'Use some f***g sunscreen damn (sic)." Among the alleged texts was a threatening line: 'Don't be a rat, because all rats end up caught (sic)." Banks claims McGregor deleted the explicit images and unfollowed her after her initial posts went viral. McGregor, who has been out of the UFC for over four years, remained silent as the story broke. Later on Monday, his 37th birthday, he made a single public post: 'Happy birthday to me!" His response drew curiosity, with followers unsure whether it was sarcastic or simply birthday-centred. Take a look here: This controversy follows a turbulent legal period for McGregor. In early 2025, he was ordered to pay nearly €200,000 in damages to a woman in Ireland who accused him of rape. He also faces ongoing sexual assault allegations in the U.S. from an incident reported at Miami's Kaseya Center. As of now, Banks has not stated whether she will pursue legal action. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
International Business Times
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
Sean Diddy Combs Verdict: Music Mogul Acquitted on Most Serious Charges Except One in Sensational NYC Trial as He Still Faces Years in Jail
Hip-hop icon Sean Combs dropped to the floor on his hands and knees in a dramatic reaction after being shockingly acquitted on Wednesday of the most serious federal charges against him—racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking—for allegedly forcing former partners to live out his degrading sexual fantasies for years. The music mogul, better known by his stage name Diddy, was instead found guilty on lesser prostitution-related charges. Diddy somehow escaped a harsher life sentence following a two-month-long trial that exposed disturbing details about his personal life, including his reported preference for "freak-offs," during which he would regularly watch his lovers engage in intense, drug-fueled sexual encounters with male escorts. Sound of Victory Diddy had been facing life behind bars if found guilty on the top charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. However, the jury ultimately found Combs guilty only on prostitution charges related to shipping escorts across state lines — a conviction that could carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The verdict came after 13 hours of deliberation over three days, culminating in a tense moment in a Manhattan federal courtroom on Wednesday morning. As the verdict was announced, Combs repeatedly nodded, pumped his fist in relief when he was acquitted of the sex trafficking charge, and softly said "thank you" upon being cleared of the most severe allegation. He then pressed his hands together in a prayer-like gesture and raised them toward the jury in a sign of gratitude. In the end, the jury convicted Combs on two counts under the Mann Act, which involve prostitution-related crimes, with each count carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars. After the verdict, Combs' attorney, Marc Agnifilo, requested that the judge allow his client to be released from jail and placed under home confinement, noting that he had been cleared of the most serious allegations. "My proposal would be that he be released today, that he be permitted to live at his home in Florida," Agnifilo said. "It would be a bond of whatever size your honor sees fit, maybe $1 million?" Assistant District Attorney Maurene Comey objected to the motion, saying that despite the acquittal on the most severe charges, Combs was still found guilty of serious crimes and remained a potential threat. "There is serious, serious relevant conduct here that will merit a lengthy period of incarceration," she said. Thanking His Luck As the judge left the courtroom, Combs dropped to his hands and knees in a moment of prayer. At the same time, his family and supporters broke into loud cheers, while several members of his legal team hugged each other. Combs then rose to his feet, blew a kiss in their direction, and left through a side door. The verdict marks another dramatic chapter in the downfall of the Harlem-born mogul, who transformed his Bad Boy Records label into a nearly $1 billion empire, became a household name in the music industry, and threw star-studded "white parties" in lavish locations like Beverly Hills and the Hamptons. "He thought that his fame, wealth, and power put him above the law — but over the course of this trial, his crimes have been exposed," Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik told jurors in closing statements. Prosecutors called 34 witnesses as they portrayed Combs as the mastermind behind a network responsible for numerous crimes spanning two decades — including allegedly setting fire to Kid Cudi's Porsche and breaking into his home in a jealous outburst over the rapper's connection to Combs' longtime on-and-off partner, Cassie Ventura. Jurors were repeatedly shown an infamous surveillance video from 2016, capturing Combs shoving, kicking, and dragging Ventura through a Los Angeles hotel hallway. They also heard testimony that Combs tried to pay off security personnel with $100,000 in an unsuccessful attempt to suppress the footage. Ventura's attorney, Douglas Wigdor, praised the conviction. "We're pleased that he's finally been held responsible for two federal crimes. He still faces substantial jail time," Wigdor told reporters outside the courthouse. Combs, who has been held at a Brooklyn detention center since his arrest at a Midtown hotel in September 2024, did not testify during the sensational trial, which attracted a large number of spectators, including his mother, children, and loyal supporters. Throughout the proceedings, the "All About the Benjamins" artist remained seated at the defense table, wearing a rotating selection of muted sweaters layered over crisp white dress shirts. His noticeably graying hair marked a stark contrast to the polished, high-fashion image he once projected at red carpet events and star-studded parties.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cassie Ventura's attorney issues statement after 'Diddy' verdict
Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura has issued a statement after a Manhattan jury found Sean 'Diddy' Combs not guilty of sex trafficking Wednesday. The 38-year-old 'Me & U' singer — who was heavily pregnant when she testified for four days about her ex-boyfriend's abuse and the drug-fueled 'freak-offs' to which she was subjected — spoke out through her attorney Douglas Wigdor. 'This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023,' Wigdor said in a statement to the New York Daily News. '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.' Wigdor reiterated the legal team's faith in Ventura, praising her '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,' he continued. 'This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors.' In November 2023, Ventura filed a bombshell lawsuit accusing the Bad Boy Records founder, 55, of rape, sex trafficking and abuse during their on-and-off relationship, which lasted from 2007 until 2018. They settled for $20 million the following day, with dozens of similar lawsuits filed since. The Harlem-born mogul's physical abuse of Ventura was confirmed in May 2024, when CNN published harrowing security footage of Combs beating her in a hotel hallway in early 2016. Combs subsequently admitted to and apologized for the attack, unedited video of which was released at his trial. Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, each of which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. He faced life behind bars if convicted on the more serious racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. _____
NBC News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Jury reaches verdict in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial
Jurors in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking trial have reached a full verdict Wednesday that could land the music titan in prison for life if he is convicted of the most serious charges. The announcement comes on the third day of deliberations in a seven-week trial after the jury said Tuesday it agreed on four of five counts except on the one count of racketeering conspiracy. The U.S. government accused the Bad Boy Records founder of leveraging his power, wealth and influence as the head of a 'criminal enterprise' to sexually abuse and exploit women for his own gratification over two decades. The disgraced music mogul pleaded not guilty and has vigorously denied the allegations. His defense pitched to jurors that the case against Combs was 'badly exaggerated,' and that he was simply on trial for a 'swingers' lifestyle — one tinged with violent behavior and included supplies of drugs and baby oil — that was ultimately consensual. The dueling depictions cast a far different image of the Harlem-born hitmaker, who once ruled the hip-hop and R&B charts, was a fixture in celebrity circles and propelled his exuberant personality, lavish lifestyle and business pursuits, including in reality television and fashion, into a global entrepreneur and brand ambassador. The jury of 12 New Yorkers — eight men and four women — were tasked with weighing multiple charges against the 55-year-old Combs: one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The trial heard from almost three dozen government witnesses, from former personal assistants to stylists to label artists, some willingly testifying against Combs, while others were granted immunity in exchange for their testimony. Three women, including Combs' former girlfriend R&B singer Cassie, were central figures in the case, as they provided graphic testimony of allegations of sexual assault and violence or threats of blackmail. Combs' lawyers called no witnesses of their own and the defendant himself decided not to testify, as much of the defense's case was laid out during lengthy cross-examinations of government witnesses. The high-profile trial at a federal courthouse in lower Manhattan was not televised. The main courtroom was routinely packed, as Combs' mother and six adult children regularly showed up in support, with Combs — often in a sweater and khakis — mouthing, 'I love you' or forming his hands in a heart shape. On the racketeering conspiracy charge, a jury must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant was involved in an enterprise among two or more people to engage in at least two criminal acts affecting interstate commerce — offenses that may include kidnapping, arson, bribery, forced labor, sex trafficking and other underlying crimes. For the standalone sex trafficking charge, prosecutors must demonstrate the defendant by force or threat compelled others to commit commercial sex acts in which something of value, such as money, was received. During her nearly five-hour closing argument, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik reminded the jury about various government witnesses who testified about the alleged crimes. She said an ex-assistant of Combs, Capricorn Clark, was subjected to kidnapping and forced labor, while a romantic rival of Combs, the rapper Kid Cudi, had his car firebombed in an act of arson. A former assistant who testified under the pseudonym 'Mia' and accused Combs of sexually assaulting her multiple times was another example of forced labor, Slavik said. On the two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, Slavik told jurors that they did not need to believe Cassie, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, or another ex-girlfriend, who testified under 'Jane,' were engaged in sex acts against their will in every instance. The women testified to freak offs and 'hotel nights,' which were the names for drug-induced sexual encounters with male escorts they said Combs routinely manipulated them into — otherwise, recorded videos of the explicit sex acts could be shared with others. (Jurors and Combs were played clips from the videos as part of the prosecution's evidence, but they were not shown to the full courtroom.) 'So, if there was one time, one single freak off, when the defendant knew or recklessly disregarded that Cassie or Jane was participating because of his lies, his threats or his violence, then that's it,' Slavik said, 'he's guilty.' Combs' defense team maintained that he operated a legitimate business and was being unfairly targeted by overzealous prosecutors. 'Sean Combs has become something that is very, very hard to become, very hard to be,' lead defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo said in his four-hour closing arguments. 'He is a self-made successful Black entrepreneur.' While Agnifilo didn't deny Combs was consumed by bouts of jealousy and engaged in angry tirades that involved domestic violence, the women, ultimately, chose to stay with him, while those in his inner circle had the agency to leave, he said. 'If racketeering conspiracy had an opposite, it would be their relationship,' Agnifilo said of Combs and Ventura, who dated on and off from about 2007 to 2018. One key piece of evidence played for the jury repeatedly and frame by frame was security footage showing Combs physically assaulting Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. She testified that he was angered because she was attempting to leave a freak off. 'We own the domestic violence. We own it. I hope you guys know this,' Agnifilo told the jury, while denying Combs was a mastermind who conspired with his employees to commit crimes. 'If he was charged with domestic violence, we wouldn't all be here having a trial because he would have pled guilty because he did that,' Agnifilo said. 'He did not do the things he's charged with.' Combs has been held without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest last fall. No matter the outcome of the criminal case, Combs must contend with a slew of lawsuits that have included accusations of rape and sexual assault. Combs, who has denied such allegations, has accused various plaintiffs of pursuing quick 'paydays.'
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cassie welcomes third child 2 weeks after Diddy trial testimony
NEW YORK — Cassie Ventura has welcomed her third child on the heels of testifying as the star witness against Sean 'Diddy' Combs at his federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial. The 'Me & U' singer, 38, and husband Alex Fine welcomed their youngest on Tuesday, the same day Ventura was seen checking into the labor-and-delivery unit at a New York hospital, TMZ reports. Insiders previously told the outlet that Ventura might be contending with complications. Ventura — who was in a contentious, on-off relationship with the Bad Boy Records founder, 55, from 2007 to 2018 — married trainer Fine in 2019. The couple shares daughters Frankie, 5, and Sunny, 4. They announced in February that they were expecting a third child. Ventura's November 2023 blockbuster lawsuit accusing the Harlem-born Combs of rape, sex trafficking and longstanding abuse effectively served as the canary in the coal mine as dozens of similarly disturbing lawsuits have since been filed including the federal charges for which he is currently standing trial. Combs was arrested this past September and faces life in prison if convicted. His trial, which began earlier this month, is expected to span eight weeks.
