Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, as soon as the lifetime of the social gathering, has few A-list supporters
Sean “Diddy” Combs was as soon as the lifetime of the social gathering. He was identified for internet hosting lavish and unique gatherings within the Hamptons, having seemingly numerous celeb buddies and toasting to the nice life with highly effective allies within the music trade.
But a query stays as opening statements method subsequent week in his federal sex-trafficking trial: Why haven’t extra of his well-known buddies come to his protection?
“The music trade is fickle,” mentioned Ramal “The Hometown Warmth” Brown, a former hip-hop disc jockey at 105.3 KJAMZ in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “Everybody desires to be round while you’re on prime.”
However when a video of Combs beating his former girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura was aired by CNN final 12 months, “no person needed to be round as a result of it might tarnish their picture and title,” he mentioned. “Being round Diddy might get you implicated within the case.”
After the video aired, Combs apologized publicly, saying his conduct in it was “inexcusable” and that he took full duty for his actions.
Combs is charged in a five-count indictment with intercourse trafficking, racketeering and transportation to interact in prostitution. He has pleaded not responsible and faces 10 years to life in jail if convicted.
Opening statements within the federal trial in Manhattan are anticipated to start subsequent week.
The federal government’s case facilities on allegations that Combs compelled girls to take part in drug-fueled sexual encounters with male intercourse employees that he directed and filmed. He known as the intercourse events “freak offs,” prosecutors mentioned.
Along with the federal prices, Combs has been accused of sexual assault and misconduct in additional than 50 civil lawsuits, together with one filed by Ventura in 2023 that was privately settled inside a day.
His legal professional mentioned the settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing, and Combs has vehemently denied the allegations within the pending civil fits.
The previous 12 months has seen a stark flip of occasions for the hitmaker, who has been nominated for 14 Grammy Awards over three a long time whereas turning unknown musicians, resembling Ma$e, Whole and Carl Thomas, into platinum-selling recording artists.
Throughout jury choice final week, because the magnitude of the second started to mount, Combs appeared to nervously look across the courtroom and requested U.S. District Decide Arun Subramanian for a loo break.
No celeb supporters have proven up in court docket throughout jury choice. Being related to Combs and his federal case is dangerous and might solely tarnish the burnished photos of A-list celebrities, music consultants mentioned.
“Individuals aren’t talking out as a result of they don’t need any degree of implication,” mentioned Gerrick Kennedy, a contract journalist and tradition critic primarily based in Los Angeles.
Madison Grey, a former web site editor for Black Leisure Tv, mentioned he thinks a lot of Combs’ associates have distanced themselves due to the heinous acts he’s accused of.
“Superstar buddies and highly effective buddies scatter. No person desires to be hooked up,” mentioned Grey, pointing to related situations when Invoice Cosby and R. Kelly confronted authorized battles. “When issues are good, the events are nice, the liquor is flowing. However as quickly as one thing goes improper, friendships are fleeting.”
Rapper Ye, previously often called Kanye West, has been certainly one of Combs’ staunchest celeb supporters main as much as the trial, defending him on-line on a number of events and accusing Ventura, who was as soon as signed to Combs’ report label, of making an attempt to strain him for cash.
Ye accused Ventura of making an attempt to extort Combs in a since-deleted publish on X on March 18.
Ventura responded the following day by resharing a publish from the tradition web site Shade Room exhibiting a screenshot of rapper Playboi Carti telling Ye to close up. Ventura’s legal professional, Douglas Wigdor, declined to remark this week.
Ye’s feedback got here amid controversy over a slew of posts on X wherein he made hate-filled remarks in regards to the Jewish group and mentioned “I like Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi.”
Former in-house Unhealthy Boy Information producer Stevie J has additionally expressed help for Combs, calling lots of the civil lawsuits filed towards his ex-boss “bogus” and saying he prays for Combs and his household day-after-day.
“I by no means knew of an occasion the place you’ll be responsible earlier than you even go to f—–g court docket,” he informed the leisure YouTube channel VladTV. “I’m by no means going to cease being there for somebody I think about to be a pal. I’m not going to show my again. I’ve been scrutinized simply by being a pal. I suppose somebody has by no means had a real pal earlier than.”
Singer Ray J has acknowledged attending Combs’ events in a number of interviews however mentioned he by no means noticed any freak offs or orgies.
“I can assure you a lot of the celebrities that went to Diddy’s events by no means even heard of a freak off,” he informed Information Nation host Chris Cuomo in November. “To start with it sounded actually fascinating and entertaining, I’d say, however while you look again, the place have been the freak offs? From my data, I’ve by no means seen a freak off.”
Ventura is anticipated to take the stand as soon as the trial begins, however a witness listing has not been launched. Potential jurors this week acquired an inventory of locations and names that may be talked about through the trial, together with celebrities resembling Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers and Ye, none of whom are implicated within the case.
