Music mogul and Bad Boy Records founder, Sean “Diddy” Combs, is facing the most damning chapter of his career as he stands trial for a series of explosive sex trafficking allegations that could land him in prison for life. The trial, which began with opening statements on May 12 after the conclusion of jury selection, has already delivered harrowing claims and disturbing testimonies that have shocked the entertainment world.
Federal prosecutors allege that Diddy operated a deeply disturbing underworld beneath his glamorous lifestyle, one that involved coercion, manipulation, and abuse, masked as lavish parties.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson did not hold back in her opening remarks, describing events that allegedly occurred at Diddy’s infamous parties, referred to as “freak offs.” These gatherings were said to be meticulously orchestrated sexual events, involving male escorts and women allegedly forced into degrading acts.
One particularly graphic allegation shocked the courtroom: Johnson claimed that Diddy forced a male escort to urinate in the mouth of his ex-girlfriend, singer and model Cassie Ventura. “She felt like she was choking,” Johnson said, recounting the traumatic moment.
The trial took another dramatic turn when male escort Daniel Phillip took the stand. He testified that he had been hired multiple times to have sex with Cassie, receiving as much as $6,000 per session. According to Phillip, Diddy often directed or recorded these encounters. “Cassie was actually the one that asked me to urinate on her,” Phillip told jurors. “She asked me if I had ever done that before, then told me to do it. Apparently, I wasn’t doing it right, because they both corrected me,” he added.
He further described feeling powerless in Diddy’s presence: “I felt like I was dealing with someone who had unlimited power. Even if I went to the police, I believed I could still lose my life.”
Johnson also pointed to a 2016 surveillance video that allegedly shows Diddy violently kicking, hitting, and dragging Cassie down a hotel hallway, footage that made headlines when it surfaced online.
The defense team for Combs has announced their intention to portray Cassie as a willing participant, claiming there was “mutual violence” in their relationship. Nonetheless, Cassie is expected to take the stand during the trial, potentially offering firsthand insight into her experience with the music mogul.
Combs, who was arrested on September 16, 2024, in Manhattan, has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution.
But the case doesn’t end there. In a broader investigation, Diddy is reportedly being accused of sexually abusing 120 individuals including men, women, and even a 9-year-old boy.
If convicted of racketeering, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. A conviction on sex trafficking charges alone carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years.
With the courtroom revelations only just beginning, the world is watching closely as the once-celebrated icon faces a reckoning that could dismantle his legacy forever.
