Latest news with #Pines
Economic Times
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
'Young coconuts, Alfred's iced vanilla lattes': Sean Diddy's secret Wild King Nights messages revealed
Former staff members have revealed unsettling details about working for Sean 'Diddy' Combs, alleging a volatile atmosphere and unusual requests. Despite being found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking, Combs was convicted of violating the Mann Act. Staffers described mind games, late-night errands, and preparations for events called 'Wild King Nights,' involving specific items like baby oil and lubricant. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Sean 'Diddy' Combs recently found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura and an anonymous woman. However, he was found guilty violating the Mann Act by flying people across the country for sexual former Diddy staff members have spoken out about their experiences working for Combs. As per a report of BBC, summarized by the Mirror, the staffers alleged volatile atmosphere, mind games, and unusual instance, a voice note allegedly sent by Combs to an employee WhatsApp group in 2020, revealed his attitude towards transparency."I'm not about to be transparent with y'all. There's some dark places y'all [EXPLETIVE] don't want to go. Stay where you're at."Senior executive assistant Phil Pines, who worked for Combs from 2019 to 2021, described his onboarding experience. He claimed Combs didn't speak to him for 30 days when he took on the job and said it was "like an initiation".Another assistant offered a stark assessment of Combs' behavior. "He was a very ill man with different behaviours, sometimes very aggressive, sometimes very sweet."Staff members also shared accounts of Combs allegedly playing mind games. An assistant, known as 'Ethan', recounted an incident where Combs threw his ring into the Atlantic Ocean. He said Combs told him to go in the water and get it. Ethan said he did jump in to rescue it, despite being at a formal incident involved Pines allegedly being summoned to Combs' residence after midnight. He was asked to fetch a TV remote from under the bed while Combs was with a female allegedly told the woman, "See? He is loyal and now he can go back home."Text exchanges revealed preparations for events described as 'Wild King Night'. In a text exchange seen by the BBC, chief of staff Kristina Khorram allegedly told Pines a bag needed to be ready in two hours for a 'Wild King Night'. She allegedly asked for a "drop off" of seven bottles of baby oil and seven bottles of Astroglide lubricant alongside iced vanilla September 13, 2021 Khorram allegedly text Pines: "Wild king hotel night tonight. Prep bag - you will be going to set up a hotel in like next 2hrs."Another alleged text message, sent on December 28, 2019, reads: "PD said he's going to need emergency clean up at the hotel once they leave and come to house. "Also he is starving - there is set aside chicken and shrimp creole and rice in the fridge for him."In another alleged message, sent in November 2021, Khorram text Pines: "Hey! PD still in hotel, but when you get to mapleton he asked if you could bring him stain remover (for a chair and couch) and black trash bags. And baking soda too he said. And a hairdryer lol."Another message in November 2021 read, "Hey! PD needs a drop off the following please:-4 of those young coconuts-2 Alfred's iced vanilla lattes (whole milk, extra syrup)-7 bottles baby oil-7 bottles astroglide-his Apple TV."Staff members have also alleged that Combs' drugs would travel with him internationally. They were allegedly concealed in a safe onboard his £45m private claimed, "Even if it was for a day trip, if he was going on the yacht for four hours, take all that stuff with you because he may use it."He claimed mushrooms, ketamine and ecstasy were kept in a Gucci bag alongside baby oil, lubricant and red lights.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Young coconuts, Alfred's iced vanilla lattes': Sean Diddy's secret Wild King Nights messages revealed
Sean 'Diddy' Combs recently found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura and an anonymous woman. However, he was found guilty violating the Mann Act by flying people across the country for sexual encounters. Now former Diddy staff members have spoken out about their experiences working for Combs. As per a report of BBC, summarized by the Mirror, the staffers alleged volatile atmosphere, mind games, and unusual requests. For instance, a voice note allegedly sent by Combs to an employee WhatsApp group in 2020, revealed his attitude towards transparency. "I'm not about to be transparent with y'all. There's some dark places y'all [EXPLETIVE] don't want to go. Stay where you're at." Live Events Senior executive assistant Phil Pines, who worked for Combs from 2019 to 2021, described his onboarding experience. He claimed Combs didn't speak to him for 30 days when he took on the job and said it was "like an initiation". Another assistant offered a stark assessment of Combs' behavior. "He was a very ill man with different behaviours, sometimes very aggressive, sometimes very sweet." Staff members also shared accounts of Combs allegedly playing mind games. An assistant, known as 'Ethan', recounted an incident where Combs threw his ring into the Atlantic Ocean. He said Combs told him to go in the water and get it. Ethan said he did jump in to rescue it, despite being at a formal event. Another incident involved Pines allegedly being summoned to Combs' residence after midnight. He was asked to fetch a TV remote from under the bed while Combs was with a female guest. Combs allegedly told the woman, "See? He is loyal and now he can go back home." Text exchanges revealed preparations for events described as 'Wild King Night'. In a text exchange seen by the BBC, chief of staff Kristina Khorram allegedly told Pines a bag needed to be ready in two hours for a 'Wild King Night'. She allegedly asked for a "drop off" of seven bottles of baby oil and seven bottles of Astroglide lubricant alongside iced vanilla lattes. On September 13, 2021 Khorram allegedly text Pines: "Wild king hotel night tonight. Prep bag - you will be going to set up a hotel in like next 2hrs." Another alleged text message, sent on December 28, 2019, reads: "PD said he's going to need emergency clean up at the hotel once they leave and come to house. "Also he is starving - there is set aside chicken and shrimp creole and rice in the fridge for him." In another alleged message, sent in November 2021, Khorram text Pines: "Hey! PD still in hotel, but when you get to mapleton he asked if you could bring him stain remover (for a chair and couch) and black trash bags. And baking soda too he said. And a hairdryer lol." Another message in November 2021 read, "Hey! PD needs a drop off the following please: -4 of those young coconuts -2 Alfred's iced vanilla lattes (whole milk, extra syrup) -7 bottles baby oil -7 bottles astroglide -his Apple TV." Staff members have also alleged that Combs' drugs would travel with him internationally. They were allegedly concealed in a safe onboard his £45m private jet. Pines claimed, "Even if it was for a day trip, if he was going on the yacht for four hours, take all that stuff with you because he may use it." He claimed mushrooms, ketamine and ecstasy were kept in a Gucci bag alongside baby oil, lubricant and red lights. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
P Diddy's hidden world of Wild King Nights and staff requests uncovered in texts
Sean 'Diddy' Combs was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution relating to ex partners Cassie Ventura and an anonymous woman known as Jane after a New York trial Staff have spoken out about what it was really like to work for Sean 'Diddy' Combs after he was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution. The music mogul has been denied bail and his sentencing will take place in October. This week, he was found not guilty of racketeering and of sex trafficking former girlfriend Cassie Ventura and an anonymous woman referred to as 'Jane.' As the verdict, decided by eight men and four women, acquitted him of the most serious counts, he dropped to the floor. During the two-month trial, the court heard how Combs flew people around the country, including his girlfriends and paid male sex workers, to engage in sexual encounters, a felony violation of the federal Mann Act. Former staff members appeared as witnesses during the trial as they detailed what they saw and how they would prepare for drug-fuelled sex encounters, which had been known as 'Freak -Offs.' The BBC has spoken to ex staff about their time working for Combs, as the Mirror rounds up the bombshells... Staff pressures Combs allegedly kept a tight control of his inner circle at his £36m Miami mansion, with staff claiming he was intense, demanding and volatile. He had a high turnover of staff, with more than 20 different house managers joining and leaving in just two years, a former estate manager told the BBC. In voice note sent to an employee WhatsApp group in 2020, Combs allegedly said: "I'm not about to be transparent with y'all. There's some dark places y'all [EXPLETIVE] don't want to go. Stay where you're at." Senior executive assistant Phil Pines claimed Combs didn't speak to him for 30 days when he took on the job. He worked for the music mogul from 2019 to 2021 and said it was "like an initiation". Another assistant claimed: "He was a very ill man with different behaviours, sometimes very aggressive, sometimes very sweet." Staff have shared how Combs would often play mind games with his staff. The assistant known as 'Ethan', which is not his real name, said one time Combs threw his ring into the Atlantic Ocean and told him to go in the water and get it. He said he did jump in to rescue it, despite being at a formal event. Another incident saw Pines allegedly called to Combs' residence after midnight to fetch a TV remote from under the bed while he was with a female guest. "See? He is loyal and now he can go back home," Combs allegedly told the woman. Wild King Nights demands In a text exchange seen by the BBC, chief of staff Kristina Khorram told Pines a bag needed to be ready in two hours for a 'Wild King Night'. She asked for a "drop off" of seven bottles of baby oil and seven bottles of Astroglide lubricant alongside iced vanilla lattes. On September 13, 2021 Khorram allegedly text Pines: "Wild king hotel night tonight. Prep bag - you will be going to set up a hotel in like next 2hrs." And another alleged text message, sent on December 28, 2019, reads: "PD said he's going to need emergency clean up at the hotel once they leave and come to house. "Also he is starving - there is set aside chicken and shrimp creole and rice in the fridge for him." In another alleged message, sent in November 2021, Khorram text Pines: "Hey! PD still in hotel, but when you get to mapleton he asked if you could bring him stain remover (for a chair and couch) and black trash bags. And baking soda too he said. And a hairdryer lol." Gucci Bag with drugs and lubricant Staff have claimed Combs' drugs would travel with him when they went internationally. They were allegedly concealed in a safe onboard his £45m private jet. "Even if it was for a day trip, if he was going on the yacht for four hours, take all that stuff with you because he may use it," Pines told the publication. He claimed mushrooms, ketamine and ecstasy were kept in a Gucci bag alongside baby oil, lubricant and red lights. The Mirror has contacted Combs' representatives for comment.
Miami Herald
25-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
iTolerance, Inc. Appoints Former FDA Senior Executive Wayne Pines to the Board of Directors
MIAMI, FL / ACCESS Newswire / June 25, 2025 / iTolerance, Inc. ("iTolerance" or the "Company"), an early-stage privately-held biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative regenerative medicines, today announced the appointment of Wayne Pines to the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Pines has served as a member of the Company's Strategic Advisory Board since 2023. "Wayne has been an integral part of our Strategic Advisory Board and has provided helpful insight as the Company continues to progress our pipeline forward. We are pleased to have him join the Board and believe his expertise will continue to be incredibly important for iTolerance," said Mitchell Robbins, Chairman of the iTolerance Board of Directors. "We are thrilled to have Wayne join our Board of Directors. We believe this expansion of our Board is an excellent fit as we transition to a clinical-stage company. As stem cell-derived pancreatic islet products move closer to commercialization, iTOL-100, iTolerance's immunomodulator, has the potential to remove the need for life-long immunosuppression for these advanced therapies in Type 1 Diabetes. Wayne's extensive experience with the FDA will help us advance our pipeline and pursue our mission of developing transformative therapies for people living with diabetes and for doctors in search of better treatment options for patients," commented Anthony Japour, Chief Executive Officer of iTolerance. Mr. Pines said: "iTolerance's platform technology using pancreatic islets continues to show promise as a potential treatment option for Type 1 Diabetes by eliminating the need for chronic systemic immunosuppression. This has the potential to be transformational to the Type 1 Diabetes community. I am honored by the opportunity to further support iTolerance as a member of the Board." Mr. Pines serves as Senior Director and a member of the International Advisory Council at APCO in Washington, D.C. Mr. Pines is an international consultant on issues related to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including media, legislative, regulatory and marketing challenges, and other government agencies. He advises clients on government policies, navigating products through the FDA approval process, and promotional issues. Mr. Pines served for ten years in senior positions at the FDA, including as Chief of Consumer Education and Information, Chief of Press Relations and Associate Commissioner for Public Affairs. In 2020, he served as a Senior Advisor on COVID-19 to the FDA commissioner. He has authored or edited 16 books about the FDA, including about the product approval process, FDA's regulation of medical communications, crisis management, and the history of the FDA. His latest book, published in 2022, is "How FDA Really Works: Insights from the Experts." He is widely published and quoted in the media about the FDA and health care issues and policies. He also is co-host of the podcast FDAWatch ( Mr. Pines was a Director and former Chairman of the Board of the MedStar Health Research Institute, which oversees research at ten hospitals in the Washington-Baltimore area. He is a Founder, Director and former President of the Alliance for a Stronger FDA, a coalition seeking more appropriated funding for FDA. He was a Co-Founder of the FDA Alumni Association; a member of the Public Health Service's first Task Force on AIDS Education; Executive Vice President of an international public relations agency; and Chairman of a health care market research firm. He also serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Regional Board of the Anti-Defamation League. About iTolerance, Inc. iTolerance is a regenerative medicine company developing technologies to enable tissue, organoid or cell therapy without requiring life-long immunosuppression. Leveraging its proprietary biotechnology-derived Streptavidin-FasL fusion protein/biotin-PEG microgel (SA-FasL microgel) platform technology, iTOL-100, iTolerance is advancing a pipeline of programs using both allogenic cadaveric and stem cell-derived pancreatic islets to potentially cure Type 1 diabetes. Utilizing iTOL-100 to induce local immune tolerance, the Company is developing its lead indication as a potential cure for Type 1 Diabetes without the need for life-long immunosuppression. Additionally, the Company is developing iTOL-201 for treating liver failure by utilizing hepatocytes and iTOL-401 as a nanoparticle formulation for large organ transplants without the need for life-long immunosuppression. For more information, please visit Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used herein, words such as "anticipate", "being", "will", "plan", "may", "continue", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements or information that refer to expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, performance or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking. All forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and various assumptions. The Company believes there is a reasonable basis for its expectations and beliefs, but they are inherently uncertain. The Company may not realize its expectations, and its beliefs may not prove correct. Actual results could differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, without limitation, anticipated levels of revenues, future national or regional economic and competitive conditions, and difficulties in developing the Company's platform technology. Consequently, forward-looking statements should be regarded solely as the Company's current plans, estimates and beliefs. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company cannot guarantee future results, events, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to update, republish, or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrences of unanticipated events, except as may be required by law. Investor ContactJenene ThomasChief Executive OfficerJTC Team, LLCT: 908.824.0775iTolerance@ Media ContactSusan RobertsT:202.779.0929sr@ SOURCE: iTolerance, Inc.
The Guardian
22-04-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Wellwater by Karen Solie – landscapes in distress captured with raw candour
It is human nature to prefer our landscapes neatly framed – walls and wooden fences create the illusion that the great outdoors can be controlled and contained. Yet Karen Solie's wildly unpredictable collection Wellwater flips the script. In this blazingly honest catalogue of human-made hazard and harm, we celebrate instead the contemporary landscapes refusing to be tamed. Solie, who teaches at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, in western Canada, where vast prairies supply much of the world's pulse crops. This fertile expanse in Wellwater, however, seems tired of endless service. The poem Red Spring witnesses how 'weeds jump up unbidden, each year a little smarter'. They are trying, almost courageously, to outwit what Solie condemns as 'zombie technology', whose genetically modified 'terminator seeds' sprout terrifying plants that are 'more dead than alive'. There is some flicker of peace in less apocalyptic pastoral scenes, as when the 'white-tailed fawns sleep inside wild chokecherry/in hollowed-out rooms' and drought-soothing rain falls like confetti from 'the mansions of the skies'. But for much of this poetry, as in Pines, the landscape writhes 'in distress'. The pages reek of fungicide and glyphosate, a weedkiller that is linked poignantly by the poet to a case of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: 'ask the crew boss who cleared the nozzle of my sprayer/by blowing through it,' Solie insists, 'they can't go back.' This shocking correlation, examined squarely, inspires a refreshing honesty as the poet acknowledges her own flaws: 'I don't know how to make this beautiful', she confesses. 'Can we go back? Meet each other in the old knowledge?' If only we could, is the tragically bitter aftertaste of these poems – a sweet life on the prairie with braids, bonnets and beauty could not be more distant if Solie tried. In Bad Landscape and the trembling aftershock of fracking and radiation, each word hangs thrillingly from a 'low hum of menace'. Any last echo of picturesque expectations splinters with the post-industrial horror – it spills out with the oil and the sea's treasure chest of toxic waste. It's not just 'bad landscapes' that burst violently into view. Solie also eats 'bad sandwiches' in bad flats. The worst of these hellish boltholes are the 'windowless and the bug-ridden', which are spectacularly reimagined in Toronto the Good as 'tiny museums of illegality'. It is here where the real gem of Wellwater sparkles into sight, reinforcing a striking foundational premise: we are all bad landlords of the planet we call home. Or rather, collectively, we are instead bad tenants, as her condemnation of 'greed and neglect' encourages us to more humbly concede. In Basement Suite the image of childhood as a room with barred windows is fascinating, as are the doors between dimensions that creak open in Antelope. Occasionally, you wish Solie would linger a moment longer, lifting the latch to fully let us in. Some ideas remain tantalisingly locked, but her flourishing imagination in The Trees in Riverdale Park stuns – our vegetal cousins somehow 'thrive like understandings'. So while some of these gems feel uncut, their intended meanings left unresolved, the raw candour of her reflections leaves us captivated nonetheless. There is surprising depth, too – profound observations in Orion explain how the 'dead can be kinder/than the living,/if you are not related to them', and in The Bluebird how 'Good and bad don't always line up opposite'. What does line up clearly, however, is the conceit and the content, framing Wellwater in the image of its intriguing namesake – dark and deep, rippling secrets and surprise. Wellwater by Karen Solie is published by Picador (£12.99). To support the Guardian and Observer order your copy at Delivery charges may apply
