Since Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial started earlier this month at New York City’s Manhattan federal court, many people have been watching on in shock as the case develops.
The star faces charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, all of which he denies, having entered a not guilty plea.
Naturally, with such a high profile case, we were all expecting to hear a few famous names crop up.
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But why exactly have some A-listers been mentioned? Well, it different case-by-case, although none are accused with any wrongdoing.
Cassie Ventura
Ventura has been at the centre of the case after suing Combs in November 2023, alleging years of abuse during the course of their 10-year on-off relationship.
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Earlier this week, she took to the stand to bravely detail the so-called ‘freak off’ parties she was subjected to while in a relationship with Combs – starting when she was just 22.
Kim Porter
While testifying, Ventura said she got together with Combs while he was with Kim Porter, who died in 2018 from pneumonia.
The couple, who had three kids together, started dating in the 1990s before splitting in 2007 – the same year he was linked to Ventura, who claimed in court that their sexual relationship began ‘many years’ before they went public.
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“He just didn’t want it to look bad, but also knew it was because of his children and personal things like his family,” she said.
Kanye West
During jury selection, prospective jurors were shown a list of names that may be referenced in the trial, including rapper Kanye West.
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He had previously released a track featuring his daughter North West and Combs, later releasing a phone conversation with his collaborator in which West was warned by Combs to ‘be careful’ of people trying to ‘end’ him.
Mike Myers
Another name mentioned in jury selection – again, just as a figure that may come up in the trial. His connection to Combs is not known.
Michelle Williams
Similarly, Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams was name-dropped to the jury, and has not been accused of any wrong-doing.
Michael B. Jordan
Jordan is another name flagged with jurors, having dated Ventura in 2016 while she was on a break from Combs. He also hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing.
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Prince
The late ‘Kiss’ singer came up when Ventura testified how she attended a ‘once in a lifetime’ private concert and didn’t tell Combs she’d be going.
“He would have definitely not let me go,” she said, claiming she saw Combs not long after arriving and ‘ran out’ as fast as she could.
“I knew he was angry at me,” she testified, alleging he later assaulted her at the hotel where she was staying.
Ventura added: "We went into the bedroom and he beat me up. He threw luggage at me, calling me all kinds of names."
Kid Cudi
Ventura alleged that Diddy 'lunged at her with a wine opener' when he found out she was dating Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi.
She claimed how, at one point, she called Mescudi on a burner phone asking him to pick her up from a hotel where a ‘freak off’ party was being hosted by Combs – who threatened to release videos when she tried to talk to him.
"He told me about videos that he had that he was going to release, and that he was going to hurt Scott and I,” Ventura said.
She also alleged that Diddy told her he wanted Mescudi friends to see his car blown up on the driveway, with a Porsche belonging to the star being set on fire by an 'incendiary device' on 9 January 2012.
When Mescudi asked Combs about the car, Ventura claimed he replied: “What vehicle?”
"I had broken off the relationship with Scott Mescudi, too much uncertainty if we continued to see each other," she told the court.
Ike Turner
The court was shown a text Ventura sent to Combs on 7 January 2017, which said: "Nothing good comes out of [freak offs] any more. You treat me like Ike Turner."
She was referencing the relationship between Ike Turner and his wife, singer Tina Turner, who revealed in her 1986 autobiography that he had been abusive.
In his own memoir, he admitted: "Sure, I've slapped Tina. We had fights and there have been times when I punched her to the ground without thinking. But I never beat her."
Ventura said of Combs: "He was abusive and controlling. He was physically abusive. He put me down a lot as much as I would be built up, the sheer embarrassment, how he treated me in front of other people."
Her testimony also referenced a video of Combs attacking her at a hotel in 2016, with the footage showing her being ‘thrown to the ground’.
Drake and French Montana
In her testimony, Ventura claimed she was abused by Combs before going to Drake’s 2013 OVO Festival in Toronto, where she was seen with French Montana.
The night before the concert, Ventura claimed that Combs forcefully entered her apartment and attacked her.
"Sean came in. I was asleep. He was trying to attack me. We went into the master bedroom. My friends were jumping on his back trying to stop him." she said.
"I cut my eyebrow on the corner of the bed. Sean threw me onto the bed frame. I had a significant gash. I didn't go to the ER; it was a Sunday. Sean had security take me to a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills."
Ventura also detailed styling her hair so as to hide an alleged injury. Both Drake and French Montana also haven't been accused of any wrongdoing.
Dawn Richard
Danity Kane’s Dawn Richard was also included in the list to jurors, having accused Combs of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed last September – an accusation he has also denied.
Richard's attorney said that she was 'empowered' to come forward following the other lawsuits that were being levied at Combs at the time, including Cassie's 2023 lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend.
His attorney said in response to the allegations presented by Richard that Combs was 'shocked and disappointed' by the lawsuit, calling the claims 'false'.
Topics: Diddy, Cassie Ventura, Celebrity
Jess Hardiman