The Trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs: Rap mogul ‘stared blankly’ in courtroom as prosecution ‘graphicly’ detailed alleged coercive treatment of former girlfriend Cassie Ventura

On the latest installment of the Mail’s The Trial of Diddy podcast, reporter Germania Rodriguez described Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ muted reaction to the prosecution’s opening remarks against him, which included ‘graphic’ detail from the rapper’s former partner Cassie Ventura.

The sex-trafficking and racketeering trial formally began on Monday, with the rigorous process of jury selection concluding last week.

Combs denies all charges against him. If found guilty, the rap mogul could spend decades behind bars.

Ms Rodriguez explained that the prosecution’s opening statement clearly shows that their case rests on the evidence provided by two different women: Cassie Ventura, Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, who’s victory in civil court against Combs began the police investigation into his activities, and another anonymous partner of the rapper.

Speaking to co-host and reporter Kayla Brantley, Ms Rodriguez painted a picture of Combs’s reaction in court to the ‘graphic’ allegations made by the two women.

Ms Brantley began: ‘The main prosecutor Emily Johnson said much of the evidence will involve two women – and that it would be difficult to hear.

‘The first of course, is Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. We know her as the R&B singer, who first met him as a teenager in 2006 and was with him for 12 years. The other woman, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was a single mum when she met and quickly fell in love with Diddy in 2020 and was with him for three years.

Ms Rodriguez continued: ‘Both women said that they were forced to take ecstasy and have sex with multiple male escorts, sometimes for days on end, which Diddy filmed for his sexual gratification.

‘These secret sex parties were highly orchestrated and nicknamed freak-offs or wild king nights.

‘He allegedly masturbated during these sessions, which he also filmed, and then would beat the women if they tried to leave without his permission. He allegedly used the footage to control and blackmail them, threatening to release it publicly to destroy their careers.

‘While all this graphic detail was being outlined to the jury, Diddy simply stared blankly, looking straight ahead, with his hands folded in his lap.’

After lunch, it was the defence’s turn to appeal to the jury. Ms Rodriguez abridged Diddy’s lawyer Teny Geragos argument to shift focus away from the lurid accusations made against her client.

Ms Rodriguez recounted: ‘She asked Diddy to stand and explained to the jury how he was born in Harlem and came from nothing. She said he had worked hard to create a music label that changed a generation.

‘She admitted he could be extremely jealous and could lose his temper. She said to the jury that they might think he’s a jerk and kind of mean. She also said the jury might not approve of his drug use and preference for a swinger lifestyle and kinky sex.

‘She claimed that money played a significant role in Diddy’s relationships. He was paying for the women’s homes, their cars, their trips on private planes. She alleged that Cassie had demanded $30 million when she sued him for physical abuse in 2023.

‘The defence lawyer said that while the evidence would show a flawed individual and a complicated man, this was not a complicated case. That was how she summed up: that the case is about love, jealousy, infidelity, and money.’

The trial is expected to run for the next eight weeks.

To listen to the full episode, where Germania Rodriguez and Kayla Brantley break down Diddy’s interaction with his family in court, search ‘The Trial of Diddy’ now, wherever you get your podcasts. 

New episodes providing live updates from the courtroom will be released every Monday and Friday.