Latest news with #PursuitofHappiness
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Kid Cudi ties the knot with Lola Abecassis Sartore during wedding in South of France
Kid Cudi has tied the knot with fiancée Lola Abecassis Sartore during a timeless wedding in the South of France. In photos exclusively shared with Vogue magazine, the "Pursuit of Happiness" hitmaker, born Scott Mescudi, and Sartore's nuptials took place on June 28 at the luxury Cap Estel hotel in Èze, overlooking the ocean. "It was bliss," the menswear designer said. "A moment out of time where the world stopped, and it was just the two of us. We forgot everything around us. It was just us and our love, and it was the purest moment." All the witnesses who took the stand in the Diddy trial, including Cassie and Kid Cudi The couple first met in 2018 at Virgil Abloh's first show for Louis Vuitton: "I was working behind the scenes, and Scott was walking the runway," adding that "our eyes met in the chaos, and there was a silent spark. After the show, Scott walked straight up and asked for my number." Abecassis Sartore revealed that the couple also included special touches that paid tribute to Off-White founder Abloh, including a "full circle moment" featuring Badbadnotgood (the band from the night the couple met at the fashion icon's show) playing during cocktail hour and building a bounce castle to pay homage to him. "Everyone (we know who had) already gotten married told us it would go fast," the bride told Vogue. "We didn't know it would go this quickly (though). We're on cloud nine in our little bubble of love. It's so overwhelming to receive so much love in such a short amount of time." You could win $100 just by reading: How to enter USA TODAY's Summer Book Challenge "You want this feeling to never end. It was really the most perfect, flawless, peaceful day, and we want to do it all over again. Looking back, I wouldn't change a thing," she added. The happy news comes after the rapper took the stand in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex-crimes trial, leveling allegations that Combs broke into his home and locked his dog in a bathroom – and that his vehicle blew up in another incident – after the embattled mogul found out they both dated Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine. The rapper dated Ventura Fine briefly in 2011. Ventura Fine told the court that when Combs learned of their relationship, he lunged at her with a corkscrew and kicked her in the back. After his testimony ended, Cudi thanked fans and said, "I've been seeing all the love and support. I just wanna say thank you so much, man." "People been hitting me up the past week, just checking in," he added. "And even today. It really means a lot to me, man. You guys are the best. I love y'all. This is a stressful situation. I'm glad it's behind me. I love y'all, man. Big love. Go stream 'Neverland,'" in reference to his recent single.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
‘Pursuit of Happiness,' a path towards higher education for students in Idukki
The Idukki district administration on Sunday announced a project to ensure the higher education of financially backward students of the district who completed SSLC and Plus Two classes. The project, titled 'Pursuit of Happiness, ' is the brainchild of District Collector V. Vigneshwari. Through the project, the district administration aims to provide financial assistance to students who are in need. Ms. Vigneshwari said the project will be implemented through sponsorships. The students who require financial support for pursuing further education can apply through the website 'The district administration will verify the eligibility of the students through concerned village officers. Based on the report from the village officers, eligible candidates will be selected,' she said. 'Through the project, the public can join hands to ensure the future education of students. People who are interested to provide sponsorships can register through the website and the district administration will reach out to them. The selected sponsors should submit their consent form through official email or in person,' said the Collector. Joint account According to officials, communication between the sponsors and students will be the directly monitored by the Collector. 'The district administration will contact the department heads of the selected students to gather details, including fees, which will be relied to the sponsors. In order to ensure complete transparency in financial transactions, a joint bank account will be opened under the names of the Collector, sponsor, director of the education institution concerned and the student. The money will be transferred through this account,' said an official.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy's Former Assistant Corroborates Murder Plot Against Kid Cudi Over Relationship With Cassie
Capricorn Clark, a former assistant to Sean 'Diddy' Combs, testified on Tuesday that the armed rap mogul drove her to rival Kid Cudi's house in 2011 and told her, 'We're going to kill Cudi,' according to The Associated Press. The 'Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)' rapper, whose given name is Scott Mescudi, testified on Friday that Combs broke into his house and set his car on fire because Mescudi was dating Combs' longtime girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Clark, who referred to Combs as 'Puff' (his given stage name at the time) during her testimony, confirmed Mescudi's statements. She testified that Combs and his bodyguard entered Cudi's Los Angeles home while she was made to wait in the car and call Cassie. '[He] got me with a gun and brought me to Cudi's house to kill him,' Clark recalled telling Cassie. She recalled hearing Mescudi in the background asking, 'He's in my house?' Clark added that she told Cassie, 'Stop him, he's going to get himself killed.' Mescudi was not yet home, but when Combs heard his car drive up, they chased him, only giving up when they passed police cars that were heading for Mescudi's house. Afterward, Combs allegedly told Clark and his bodyguard to convince Cudi that someone else has broken into his house. 'If you don't convince him of that I'll kill all you,' Clark said quoting Combs. Clark and Cassie later went back to Cudi's house, where they tried to convince him not to file a police report about Combs. She said she and the bodyguard later saw Combs assault Cassie, kicking her legs with '100% full force' as she cried. Clark said her 'heart was breaking from seeing her get hit like that.' Clark also said that Combs threatened to kill her on her first day working for him in 2004 if her past work for other rappers interfered with assisting him. He made more death threats when diamond jewelry he had entrusted her with went missing. Over five days, he subjected her to lie detector tests, telling her, ''If you fail this test they're going to throw you in the East River.' She worked for Combs until 2018 and considered returning as late as 2023, a point Combs' lawyer, Marc Agnifilo emphasized to suggest that she may have been exaggerating the things that transpired while she worked for the rapper. Combs has continued to deny all accounts of sexual assault. The federal trial is next expected to delve into the scope of his alleged racketeering enterprise, as well as the pattern of abuse that several witnesses have already testified to witnessing. Combs is facing life in prison. The post Diddy's Former Assistant Corroborates Murder Plot Against Kid Cudi Over Relationship With Cassie appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy trial replay: What did Kid Cudi say about alleged break in, car explosion?
This page reflects the news from Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial on Thursday, May 22. For the latest updates from Diddy's trial, read USA TODAY's live coverage for Tuesday, May 27. This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing. Rapper Kid Cudi took the stand in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex-crimes trial, leveling allegations that Combs broke into his home and locked his dog in a bathroom – and that his vehicle blew up in another incident – after the embattled mogul found out he was dating Cassie Ventura Fine. The rapper, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, dated Ventura Fine briefly in 2011. But she told the court last week that when Combs learned of their relationship, he lunged at her with a corkscrew and kicked her in the back. On May 22, jurors heard Mescudi's recollection of Combs' alleged abuse. The incidents are just some of the violent acts prosecutors say Combs undertook during a 20-year scheme to coerce women, including Ventura Fine, to take part in drug-fueled sex parties known as "freak offs" and prevent them from leaving his orbit. Jurors also heard from George Kaplan, a former assistant who alleged he saw Combs physically abuse multiple women during his time working for the rapper. Mylah Morales, a celebrity makeup artist, also told the court she saw injuries on Ventura Fine. Combs, 55, was arrested in September 2024 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty. Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges. Following Mescudi's testimony, Morales, a celebrity makeup artist who worked for both Combs and Ventura Fine, recalled a violent January 2010 incident. Morales remembered falling asleep on a couch in a suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where she was staying with Ventura Fine the weekend of the Grammy Awards. She woke up when Cassie entered the hotel room, and Combs later burst in and demanded to know where Ventura Fine was. He went into the bedroom and shut the door, and Morales told jurors she heard 'yelling and screaming.' 'I was just frantic, and I didn't know what to do,' Morales said, adding Combs then opened the door and stormed out. She didn't see any injuries on Combs, but she said Ventura Fine 'had a swollen eye and a busted lip and knots on her head.' She said Ventura Fine seemed 'distraught, upset' but refused to go to a hospital. Asked why she didn't call the police, Morales said she feared for her life, and she never spoke about the incident with Combs or Ventura Fine. More: What Kid Cudi revealed Cassie told him about Diddy Mescudi testified that Combs broke into his home after learning of his relationship with Ventura Fine. The "Pursuit of Happiness" rapper said the incident started after he received a call in December 2011 from Ventura Fine, who sounded 'scared' and told him Combs had found out about them. 'I didn't think she was still dealing with him,' Mescudi said, adding that he picked up Ventura Fine and took her to a hotel because he wanted to make sure she was safe. The musician said he received a call from Combs' former assistant Capricorn Clark later in the day, saying the rapper was inside Mescudi's Los Angeles house. Mescudi said he began driving to his home and called Combs on the way, asking if he was inside. Combs, who sounded 'calm,' responded that he was waiting for Mescudi to arrive and that he wanted to speak to him. Mescudi said no one was ultimately inside. But his dog was locked up in the bathroom, whereas he normally lets his dog roam around the house freely. Some gifts he received from the luxury brand Chanel had also been opened. Mescudi told the court he reacted to the alleged break in by getting back in his car and calling Combs again because he wanted to 'confront' and 'fight him.' Combs said he was willing to meet, but after Mescudi reconsidered 'the gravity of the situation,' he decided against it. 'I didn't know who he was with,' he said. 'I didn't know what his intentions were.' Mescudi said he called the police and made a report. After the incident, he also said he saw changes in his dog's behavior, as the animal became "jittery and on edge all the time." In January 2012, Mescudi said he got a call from his dogsitter saying that his car was on fire. Mescudi told the court that by the time he returned home, law enforcement officers were on the scene and he saw a Molotov cocktail and the major damage to his vehicle. Jurors were then shown photos of the destroyed Porsche. There was a large hole in the roof of the car and smoke damage on the doors and interiors. The testimony is setting the stage for an expected argument that Combs orchestrated the explosion. The incident came weeks after Mescudi said he went to Connecticut with Ventura Fine to visit her family for Christmas. During that time, Combs texted him a couple times, wanting to speak and 'get to the bottom of it.' Combs had he was 'in the dark' about his relationship with Ventura Fine, but Mescudi responded: 'You broke into my house. You messed with my dog. I don't really wanna talk to you.' During cross-examination, Mescudi said he left his door unlocked the day of the alleged break-in and that there was no forced entry or damage to furniture, just opened Christmas gifts and his dog in the bathroom. He confirmed that Combs was calm on the phone when they spoke after the alleged incident, not cursing at or threatening him. Asked whether he thought Combs would return to his home with a firearm, Mescudi said 'at that point I didn't know. Maybe he would … This crossed a line.' Asked about Ventura Fine's reaction to the alleged break in, Mescudi said his one-time girlfriend was 'just really shook by the circumstance of him finding out about us,' he said. Mescudi confirmed that Ventura Fine had told him about Combs' alleged physical abuse, 'that he would hit her, sometimes kick her.' When asked whether he was in love with her, Mescudi said 'yeah.' 'Ms. Ventura was leading two different lives,' defense lawyer Brian Steel said, to which Combs gave a slight nod. "She played you. That's your words," Steel said, implying that Ventura Fine had made both Combs and Mescudi believe they were the only person she was seeing. Mescudi nodded and said yes. When asked about their breakup, Mescudi said they ended things because of 'the drama.' 'It was just getting out of hand' he said, adding he 'just wanted to give it some space, for my safety and for her safety.' One strange delay in Combs' daily legal proceedings: There was a long exchange between prosecutors and defense lawyers about Mescudi's dog. The defense wanted to make sure that Mescudi didn't testify about the long-term effects the alleged break-in may have had on the dog or how the pup might have been 'traumatized.' 'There might be some dog lovers on the jury,' defense lawyer Brian Steel explained, adding jokingly 'He's not going to testify about what the dog thought …it's a serious issue.' Combs laughed at exchange, and the lawyers agreed there would be no testimony about the dog's apparent emotions, but prosecutors could ask about the immediate effects after the break-in. See photos: Kid Cudi's Porsche damaged in explosion allegedly orchestrated by Diddy Mescudi's testimony was mostly soft-spoken as he recalled a brief courtship with Ventura Fine – and the alleged ire it drew from Combs. Mescudi didn't appear affected by the packed courtroom and frequently asked the prosecution to repeat questions. Kid Cudi did quip back at Combs' attorneys during his cross-examination. One lawyer asked whether Mescudi and Cassie had an "intimate relationship" and said they did everything together. That included hiking, to which Mescudi retorted, "Exercised? No, no. We watched a movie or two." Steel said they did drugs together, and Mescudi responded with a mocking, puzzled expression. "When you say drugs, what do you mean?" he asked, adding "we smoked some weed, yeah." The rapper was calm throughout his testimony, even while describing concerns for his own safety. 'Why did you have safety concerns?' Mescudi was asked by Combs' attorneys about his relationship with Cassie, to which hit back 'Because I knew Sean Combs was violent.' Combs, sitting at the defense table, appeared unphased by Mescudi's testimony, staring forward and not reacting to the fellow rapper's statements. He briefly looked at the photos of the car show to the jury and at one point held his hand up to his mouth, appearing to yawn. Frederic Zemmour, the general manager of the L'Ermitage Beverly Hills luxury hotel, took the stand as jurors saw activity logs for Combs' stays there. For one of Combs' stays in 2015, the hotel's documents said that the rapper 'ALWAYS spills candle wax on everything and uses excessive amounts of oil,' and that his room should be placed 'out of order upon departure for deep cleaning.' The notes also said to 'please authorize an extra $1000 when guest stays with us to cover any room damages.' A housekeeping note said to 'monitor outside his room/down the hall to spray air freshener.' On one occasion, the record showed there was 'candle wax on carpets and night stands' and that a charge of $500 should be added for damage and cleaning. George Kaplan, a former assistant for Combs, testified that he witnessed Combs physically abuse Ventura Fine while they were all traveling to Las Vegas on a private plane. He recalled hearing glass break and shatter during the flight and looking back to see Combs standing over Ventura Fine, holding a whisky glass above her. Ventura Fine was on her back with her legs up, trying to create space, and Combs was 'angry,' he said. There was a 'tremendous commotion,' Kaplan testified, and Ventura Fine screamed, 'Isn't anybody seeing this?' Kaplan said no one on the plane did anything to help her, and he feared checking on Ventura Fine would jeopardize his career. In another instance in 2015, Kaplan said he walked into the bedroom at Combs' home and found Ventura Fine lying on the bed crying, appearing to have a bruise above her right eye. Kaplan said Combs 'asked me to pick up several over-the-counter lotions,' including witch hazel, which Kaplan later learned they used to create an anti-swelling mixture. Kaplan said he resigned at the end of 2015 because he wasn't 'comfortable or aligned with the physical behavior I had seen' and felt guilty about covering up alleged abuse. Kaplan also recalled an incident at Combs' Miami house where the rapper "threw a bunch of green apples" at model Gina Huynh. The apples were in a decorative bowl displayed near the entrance of the house. Combs was "very angry," Kaplan said, throwing the apples "hard" as Huynh was "trying to shield herself." Despite seeing the violence, Kaplan said he left and assumed the behavior was normal for the entertainment industry. The same night, Kaplan said he heard a commotion near the front gate of the home between Huynh and other male voices who were screaming. Huynh reportedly dated Combs on-and-off during the late 2010s. The court saw a text message that Kaplan sent to Combs in 2018 that featured a photo of Kim Porter on horseback on a beach. The text read: 'No possible words rn. I am so so sorry and sending all of my condolences. Please hang in there. Love you.' Porter was Combs' on-and-off partner from the 1990s into the 2000s. She died in 2018 of pneumonia, and she's the mother of four of Combs' seven children. When asked how Porter compared to other girlfriends, such as Ventura Fine, Kaplan said, 'she was a special figure to him,' and 'she was vaunted above' the title of mere girlfriend. Kaplan praised Combs' children to the jurors and repeatedly spoke highly of the professional opportunities the rapper gave him in his former role. Still, he said, he only showed up to the courtroom because he was subpoenaed by federal officials. 'I desperately did not want to come here,' he said, and he and Combs nodded to each other as he walked by on this way out. Combs is facing federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling lawsuit that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry. He was arrested in September 2024 and has been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all five counts. Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations that contribute to criminal activity. Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in "freak offs" — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors claim they have video of. The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings. USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom. Contributing: USA TODAY staff; Reuters If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (4673) and and en Español If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diddy trial replay: Kid Cudi alleges Combs broke in, locked away dog
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy trial updates: Sean Combs' alleged violence recalled as more witnesses testify
This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing. Sean "Diddy" Combs' alleged streak of violent behavior is coming to light as additional witnesses testify in the hip-hop mogul's criminal trial. Attorneys for the Grammy-winning rapper, prosecutors and jurors returned to Manhattan court on May 27 in the fourth week of proceedings in the federal sex-crimes case. This comes after a slew of witnesses, including Cassie Ventura Fine's mother Regina Ventura, Danity Kane alum Dawn Richard and rapper Kid Cudi, appeared in court last week to share harrowing accounts of Combs' alleged abuse. Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, dated Ventura Fine briefly in 2011. While taking the stand on May 22, he claimed Combs broke into his home and locked his dog in a bathroom — and that his vehicle blew up in another incident — after Combs found out he was seeing his estranged girlfriend. The incidents are just some of the violent acts prosecutors say Combs undertook during a 20-year scheme to coerce women, including Ventura Fine, to take part in drug-fueled sex parties known as "freak offs" and prevent them from leaving his orbit. Combs, 55, was arrested in September 2024 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty. Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges. Mescudi testified on May 22 that Combs broke into his home after learning of his relationship with Ventura Fine. The "Pursuit of Happiness" rapper said the incident started after he received a call in December 2011 from Ventura Fine, who sounded "scared" and told him Combs had discovered their relationship. The musician said he received a call from Combs' former assistant Capricorn Clark later in the day, saying the rapper was inside Mescudi's Los Angeles house. Mescudi said no one was ultimately inside, but his dog was locked up in the bathroom, whereas he normally lets his dog roam around the house freely. Some gifts he received from the luxury brand Chanel had also been opened. The rapper added that he called the police and made a report. During his May 22 testimony, Mescudi said he got a call from his dogsitter in January 2012 saying that his car was on fire. Mescudi told the court that by the time he returned home, law enforcement officers were on the scene, and he saw a Molotov cocktail and the major damage to his vehicle. Jurors were then shown photos of the destroyed Porsche. There was a large hole in the roof of the car and smoke damage on the doors and interior. The incident came weeks after Mescudi said he went to Connecticut with Ventura Fine to visit her family for Christmas. During that time, Combs texted him several times, wanting to speak and "get to the bottom of it." Following Mescudi's testimony on May 22, Mylah Morales, a celebrity makeup artist who worked for both Combs and Ventura Fine, recalled a violent January 2010 incident. Morales remembered falling asleep on a couch in a suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where she was staying with Ventura Fine the weekend of the Grammy Awards. She woke up when Ventura Fine entered the hotel room, and Combs later burst in and demanded to know where Ventura Fine was. He went into the bedroom and shut the door, and Morales told jurors she heard "yelling and screaming." She didn't see any injuries on Combs, but she said Ventura Fine "had a swollen eye and a busted lip and knots on her head." Combs is facing federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling lawsuit that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry. He was arrested in September 2024 and has been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all five counts. Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations that contribute to criminal activity. Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in "freak offs" — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors claim they have video of. The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings. USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom. Contributing: USA TODAY staff If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (4673) and and en Español If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diddy trial updates: Sean Combs' alleged violence recalled
