Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs trial is underway in New York for the second week after testimony from his ex-girlfriend and main accuser Cassie Ventura concluded.
The music mogul, 55, is accused of exploiting his status as an entertainment executive to force women, including Cassie, into drug-fueled ‘freak-offs’ with male sex workers and engaged in other abusive acts against people who relied on him for their careers.
Last week Justin Bieber finally broke his silence on his relationship with Diddy, with experts telling The U.S. Sun the struggling former child star wants to become ‘symbol of survival and allyship.’
On Friday, Cassie Ventura finished testifying against him after four emotional days on the witness stand during which she was questioned about the deepest, most disturbing secrets of her sex life and described being beaten and raped by a man she once loved.
Diddy’s lawyers have argued that he is guilty of domestic violence – which he is not charged with – but innocent of sex trafficking and racketeering.
All the explosive testimony from inside Diddy courtroom on Daily Mail’s podcast The Trial
To hear all the explosive testimony from singer Cassie Ventura and the other witnesses in Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs’ trial, tune in to Daily Mail’s hit podcast The Trial.
From sworn testimony to video evidence and the rapper’s every subtle move, our team of journalists take you inside the courtroom of the world’s biggest celebrity case.
Daily Mail has been following Diddy’s downfall from the very beginning. Join us as we hear from experts involved in the case, and members of the rapper’s inside circle.
Justin Bieber wants to be a ‘symbol of survival,’ says PR expert
Justin Bieber broke his silence on explosive rumors connecting him to Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs just days after the disgraced music mogul’s sex trafficking trial began.
‘Although Justin is not among Sean Combs’ victims, there are individuals who were genuinely harmed by him. Shifting focus away from this reality detracts from the justice these victims rightfully deserve,’ his spokesperson said in a statement to TMZ.
PR expert Chad Teixeira told The U.S. Sun that Beiber chose to speak out as a publicity move.
‘The allegations against Diddy have reached critical mass. Bieber knows that if he doesn’t speak now, the narrative will be written without him and probably not in his favor,’ Teixera said.
‘This is a moment of calculated authenticity.’
Beiber wanted to make sure he is not seen as a bystander but rather a ‘symbol of survival and allyship,’ per the expert.
Cassie Ventura’s testimony ends with $10M settlement bombshell
Cassie said she expects to receive a $10 million settlement from the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles, where she was assaulted by Combs in 2016.
Security camera footage aired last year on CNN shows the hip-hop mogul hitting and kicking Cassie, knocking her to the floor as she attempted to leave a ‘freak off’ sexual encounter at the hotel.
Cassie revealed the figure during questioning by Combs’ lawyer in a phase of her testimony known as re-cross. She said the figure was an estimate and that the settlement was reached recently. She didn’t disclose the nature of her claim against the hotel.
Aubrey O’day slams Diddy as ‘selfish’ for having his kids attend his trial
O’Day, a former member of the Didd-created group Danity Kane, said on the Amy & TJ podcast that the rapper was ‘selfish’ for allowing his kids to attend his trial.
Six of Combs’ seven children; Quincy, 33, Justin, 31, Christian, 27, Chance 19, and 18-year-old twins Jessie and D’Lila, have been stoically trying to listen to the graphic descriptions of their father’s alleged sexual fetishes.
His youngest child, Love, is two-and-a half.
‘The fact that the kids are marching up to that court,’ she said on the podcast.
‘I don’t know any father that would want their children to sit through [that kind of] testimony.’
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Diddy trial live: The real reason Justin Bieber addressed rapper abuse allegations
