In New York, court hearings are continuing in the case of American rapper and producer P. Diddy (Sean Combs), who is accused of sexual assault, human trafficking and rape.
According to People magazine, the process began on May 5. On May 12, sex worker Daniel Philip, who was hired by Diddy's ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, testified in court. In court, Philip said that he witnessed how the rapper used violence against her.
At the time when Philip was testifying, Diddy's three daughters were present at the meeting —19-year-old Chance Combs, as well as 18-year-old twins D'Lila and Jesse Combs — twice left the courtroom, unable to stand the frank details.
Prosecutors also showed a 2016 video at the meeting, which shows Diddy attacking Ventura, pushing her and kicking her while she lies motionless. At that moment, not only the daughters, but also the artist's mother left the meeting room. At the same time, the rapper's sons King and Justin watched the video with those present at the trial.
As EADaily reported, Diddy was detained on the evening of September 16, 2024. His homes in Miami and Los Angeles were searched. The musician was charged with trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation, organizing criminal activities and transporting people for the purpose of prostitution. He denies all charges.
According to the prosecutor's office, P.Diddy used his business empire, including the Bad Boy Entertainment record label, to transport women and men across the borders of American states in order to participate in recorded sexual performances called Freak Offs.
Gradually, the courts received claims from the victims, the number of which, according to lawyer Tony Bazby, is 120 people, 25 of them were minors at the time of the incidents.
In the documentary "Diddy: The Making of a Bad Guy" (Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy) from singer Sarah Rivers, accusations of cannibalism were made against him. Diddy filed a lawsuit for $100 million against NBC Universal and Peacock TV channel because of this film.
In mid-April of this year, Diddy refused to plead guilty to trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation and transporting people for prostitution, which means that he pleaded not guilty to all five federal charges brought against him.
The rapper's lawyers filed a petition asking to postpone the trial for two months for better preparation, but they were refused.
Combs, who began his musical career in the 1990s, in 2017 topped the list of the highest-paid musicians according to Forbes magazine. In 2022, the magazine estimated his fortune at $1 billion, which made him the second richest hip-hop artist after Jay-Z (Sean Carter).