As a survivor of sex trafficking, I am following Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial very closely.
It may seem obvious why this trial matters so much to survivors like me. But there’s more to it than simply bringing predators like Diddy to justice.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, as Sean Combs rose to fame as a hip-hop artist and producer, hip hop itself underwent a transformation — something oftentimes credited to Diddy himself. Lyrics shifted to more directly glamorize street life, often portraying pimps as powerful, enviable figures and the women and girls they exploited as mere accessories and products.
To many, these were just lyrics: hyperbole, fantasy, and entertainment. But for some of us, they were the soundtrack to our real-life horror.
Imagine growing up in a loving, stable family. Imagine meeting a man who is kind and generous, until he reveals, months later, that he’s a pimp. He forces you, just 21-years-old, to work as a prostitute.  Imagine being sold, night after night, against your will.
Can you hear the music playing in the background? I speak from experience when I say it’s music, some of it recorded and produced by Diddy himself, that glorifies violence against women as “pimpin’ hoes”. My trafficker would blare songs that celebrated beating women so they would “make more money.”
But this wasn’t just music to my sex trafficker: it was a blueprint. A reinforcement. By glamorizing men like him, this music made my trafficker popular in his community. That gave him power. And he used that power to make me a victim.
Did Diddy do it? The jury will decide that. But I can tell you this: his music, and the music of many like him, created a cultural safe haven for traffickers, where exploitation could be repackaged as power, where suffering could be rebranded as luxury, and where the victim in the back seat — terrified, traumatized, and praying to survive another night, is portrayed as loving her part in this game they call “the life.”
Diddy isn’t the only one on trial. It’s the sexual culture he represents and helped make possible.
To be sure, Diddy isn’t the only one who glorified “the life” in his music. Consider Andres Louis Hicks,“Mac Dre”, the late Bay Area rapper from Vallejo, California. He’s immortalized by a mural in his old neighborhood, where marginalized communities revere him as the artist who “put the Bay Area on the map.” Even after his murder in 2004, his music is remembered as music that depicts real-life pimpin’ that has reached and influenced global audiences in glamorizing the overt abuse, isolation, kidnapping, and sex trafficking of women and girls.
But what I remember most about Mac Dre is not his music, but how excited my sex trafficker was when one of his albums dropped. To him, it was more than music — it was instruction. A manual on how to control, break, abuse, exploit, terrify, and keep women and girls enslaved in prostitution.
I specifically remember the lyrics from the song, “Dollalalalots,” in which Mac Dre raps:
“I got a stable full of hoes and I’m breakin’ &#8217;em daily.”
This is one of those lyrics that may sound abstract to the casual listener, but is all too real for survivors. It calls to mind the trauma, isolation, psychological manipulation, and violence used systematically to strip away a person’s will to run, resist, or even ask for help.
Sex traffickers often refer to their victims as  their “stable.” Just like horses, these women are kept in isolation, subjected to brutal “training,” and then sent out to perform on the street, in hotels, in back alleys — so someone else can profit. That’s also why the areas where victims are forced into prostitution are called “tracks.” It’s not just slang. It’s a system, one built on dehumanization and sexual slavery.
Lyrics from Sean Combs’ music will not be a part of the upcoming trial, but his attorney, Brian Steel, brings extensive experience in similar cases. In 2024, Steel represented Jeffrey Williams, known as “Young Thug”, who faced multiple RICO charges, including racketeering, the same charges brought against Combs. In a surprising development during the Williams’ case, the judge permitted the use of lyrics as evidence. Williams ultimately accepted a plea deal that year, pleading guilty to firearms, drugs, and street gang charges.
For many survivors of sex trafficking, this trial isn’t just about Diddy. It’s about reckoning with a culture that lets artists hide abuse and sex trafficking behind popular beats. And it’s about whether we’re finally ready to listen to the women who miraculously survived the world they glorify.
For survivors, this trial isn’t just about one man’s guilt or innocence. It’s about the cost of glamorizing their enslavement.
Christina Rangel is the Director of Public Policy at Exodus Cry, where she advocates for legislation to combat sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Cassie and Diddy

I’m A Survivor Of Sex Trafficking. Diddy’s Trial Matters More Than You Think.

Prostitution

Sean 'Diddy' Combs

Sex Trafficking

Pop star Justin Bieber has issued a statement via his rep addressing rumors that he was one of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ victims.
Combs, 55, is currently on trial for multiple offenses, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for purposes of prostitution. Bieber frequently consorted with the Bad Boys Records founder when he was younger, which has led people to speculate and circulate videos of the two interacting, which they deemed suspicious.
But Bieber has denied these rumors.  
“Although Justin is not among Sean Combs’ victims, there are individuals who were genuinely harmed by him,” the pop star’s rep <a href="https://pagesix.com/2025/05/15/celebrity-news/justin-bieber-issues-statement-on-sean-diddy-combs-amid-rap-moguls-sex-trafficking-trial/">told</a> Page Six on Thursday. “Shifting focus away from this reality detracts from the justice these victims rightfully deserve.”
One of the most widely distributed video clips shows Combs discussing his time spent with Bieber, who was 15 at the time. “Where we hanging out and what we doing, we can’t really disclose, but it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream,” the rap artist can be heard saying in the video.
“I don’t have legal guardianship of him, but for the next 48 hours, he’s with me,” Combs continued. “We gonna go full buck full crazy.”
Bieber agreed, echoing, “Going crazy.”
Reactions on social media discussed how “creepy” the video was. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This is creepy AF where the hell are the parents here!? 
And it was Usher who also lived with P.Diddy when he was a child that brought in Bieber…… <a href="https://t.co/qSnLIjUfu5">pic.twitter.com/qSnLIjUfu5</a>
&mdash; Luke Rudkowski (@Lukewearechange) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lukewearechange/status/1772675533282697499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“This is creepy AF where the hell are the parents here!? And it was Usher who also lived with P. Diddy when he was a child that brought in Bieber,” podcaster Luke Rudkowski <a href="https://x.com/Lukewearechange/status/1772675533282697499">wrote</a> on X last year.
Combs’ trial began with testimony from his longtime ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, who claims the rapper physically, mentally, and sexually assaulted her.
Ventura went into detail about her experience at Combs’ drug-fueled sex parties known as “freak-offs,” which involved her engaging in intercourse with male prostitutes for hours or days at a time. She said, “sometimes Sean — he, himself, or an escort would urinate on me.”
“The freak-offs became a job,” she added, saying that participating made her feel “disgusting” and “humiliated.”
The rapper’s legal team admits that their client was a “complicated” man who engaged in uncommon sexual behavior, but says they seek to prove that all encounters occurred between consenting adults. 
Combs pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Diddy and Bieber

Justin Bieber Responds To Rumors That He Was One Of Diddy’s Victims

Justin Bieber Responds To Rumors That He Was One Of Diddy's Victims

Celebrities

Entertainment

Justin Bieber

U.S.

Rapper 50 Cent, a longtime rival of disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, is once again publicly trolling Diddy for his apparent baby oil obsession.
Combs is currently on trial in New York City for sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Details of his sex life have been revealed during the testimony of his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, including graphic details of the drug-fueled sex parties known as “freak offs.” 
Ventura said Combs insisted she reapply baby oil every five minutes to appear “glistening,” as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/diddy-trial-combs-ex-girlfriend-cassie-ventura-shares-graphic-details-of-freak-offs">reported</a>. The rapper’s ex of 11 years also said Combs once made her get into an inflatable pool filled with baby oil.
50 Cent used that detail to create AI-generated images of Combs sitting in pools of baby oil. He shared those on Instagram along with his thoughts on the proceedings, writing, “Damn he did all that sh** to go out like this, [shaking my head].”
“This sh** crazier th[a]n regular crazy,” he added.
<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJnDEQbt5hg/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
&nbsp;
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div>
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJnDEQbt5hg/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 50 Cent (@50cent)</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
50 Cent has previously mocked Combs for his baby oil usage. Just after Combs was arrested last year, his former friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DABjyapOfTF/?igsh=MWpydGFwcWFqbnc4bw%3D%3D">shared</a> on Instagram, “Here I am keeping good company with [The Drew Barrymore Show]. And I don’t have 1,000 bottles of lube at the house.”
This comment came after it was revealed that investigators uncovered <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/diddys-lawyer-attempts-to-justify-those-1000-bottles-of-baby-oil-suggests-they-came-from-costco">more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil</a> and lubricant at Combs’ properties, which were allegedly used during the “freak offs.&#8221;
Attorney Marc Agnifilo, a member of Combs’ legal team, first tried to downplay the number of baby oil bottles recovered, then attempted to justify his client having so many.
“If these are genuinely threesomes, how do you explain the thousand bottles of baby oil?” TMZ founder Harvey Levin asked during the TMZ Studios documentary “The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment.”
“I don’t know where the number of a thousand came…” Agnifilo answered, prompting Levin to quickly reply, “The U.S. attorney said it.”
“I’m not really sure what the baby oil has to do with anything,” Diddy’s attorney said next. Levin mentioned how it’s being held up as evidence of the orgies that allegedly took place. Agnifilo said, “A little bit goes a long way” when it comes to lubricant.
“I don’t know what you need 1,000 for,” the lawyer said. “He has a big house, he buys in bulk. You know, I think there are Costcos in every place where he has a home. I mean, have you sat in the parking lot of a Costco and seen what people walk out of there with?”
“Not 1,000 bottles of baby oil,” Levin responded.
“I don’t think it was 1,000,” Agnilio said again. “Let’s just say it was a lot, OK?”
Combs&#8217; trial is expected to last eight weeks. If convicted of all charges, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

50 Cent and Diddy

50 Cent Trolls Diddy About His Baby Oil Obsession: ‘Crazier Than Regular Crazy’

50 Cent Trolls Diddy About His Baby Oil Obsession, Again: 'Crazier Than Regular Crazy'

50 Cent

Social Media

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ ex-girlfriend of 11 years, Cassie Ventura, made more allegations against the rapper during her second day on the witness stand on Wednesday.
The final line of questioning from the prosecution led to Ventura accusing Combs of raping her in 2018 when she was attempting to break up with him. She described a dinner in Malibu as a “closure conversation” which ended with Combs allegedly raping her after driving her back home to her apartment that night. Ventura said Combs was acting “romantic, “nice,” and “playful&#8221; before the incident.
&#8220;I just remember crying and saying &#8216;no,&#8217; but it was very fast,&#8221; she said from the witness stand. &#8220;I went inside, he came in and raped me on the living room floor,&#8221; Ventura recalled. &#8220;His eyes were black, he wasn’t himself, it was like somebody taking something from you.”
Ventura also said she had consensual sex with Combs one more time before cutting ties with him for good. When asked why this happened, she replied, “We had been together for over 10 years. You don’t just turn feelings off that way,” Variety <a href="https://variety.com/2025/music/news/cassie-diddy-settlement-alleges-rape-trial-1236398358/">reported</a>.
This was around the same time she began dating personal trainer Alex Fine, whom she married in 2019. The couple is currently expecting their third child.
At the end of her testimony, Ventura recalled suffering psychological repercussions following the incident. She testified that she began “spinning out” in February 2023. 
“I didn’t want to be alive anymore,” Ventura said, tearfully recalling an incident when she “tried to walk out the front door into traffic, and my husband would not let me.”
Ventura filed a civil lawsuit against Combs in 2023 accusing him of rape and physical abuse. While Combs claimed he wasn’t guilty of the charges, the lawsuit was settled just one day after it was filed for an undisclosed amount. During her Wednesday testimony, Ventura revealed that she received $20 million from Combs as part of the settlement.
Earlier in the week, Ventura went into <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/diddy-trial-combs-ex-girlfriend-cassie-ventura-shares-graphic-details-of-freak-offs">detail</a> about her experience at Combs’ drug-fueled sex parties known as “freak-offs,” which involved her engaging in intercourse with male prostitutes for hours or days at a time. She said, “sometimes Sean — he, himself, or an escort would urinate on me.”
“The freak-offs became a job,” she added, saying that participating made her feel “disgusting” and “humiliated.”
Next up, the defense is expected to cross-examine Ventura. As highlighted in opening statements, their objective will be to prove that Combs engaged in unorthodox yet consensual sexual exploits.
Combs pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Diddy Trial: Cassie Ventura Says Combs Raped Her After They Had Broken Up

Diddy Trial: Cassie Testifies Combs Raped Her In 2018 When She Tried To Leave Him

Courts

New York City

Rape

Sex Crimes

Cassie Ventura, the prosecution’s key witness in the trial against rap artist Sean “Diddy” Combs, took the stand beginning on Tuesday and became emotional as she detailed years of alleged sexual, physical, and mental abuse.
“He controlled a lot of my life,” she said.
Combs, 55, has been charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He was arrested in September 2024 and has been awaiting trial behind bars after multiple attempts to be released on bail.
Ventura, 38, described what went on during her decade-long relationship with the disgraced rap mogul, highlighting several specific instances of abuse during her lengthy testimony. 
She described the highly publicized “freak-offs,” during which she said, “sometimes Sean — he, himself, or an escort would urinate on me.”
She recalled often choking because there was “too much urine in my mouth.&#8221;
“I don’t want anyone to urinate on me,&#8221; Ventura said from the stand. &#8220;Sean would urinate in my mouth — not super often but often enough.”
The rapper’s ex-girlfriend described the “freak-offs” as lengthy, elaborate, and exhausting sex parties. “The longest was 4 days or even more with breaks,” Ventura told the court. “Then I was recovering from the drugs, dehydration — just trying to stay awake all the time.”
&#8220;The freak-offs became a job,&#8221; she added, saying that participating made her feel “disgusting” and “humiliated.”
She said Combs was in charge of everything about the “freak-offs,” insisting on Ventura wearing her nails a particular way. She said she was forced to apply baby oil every five minutes to appear “glistening,” per <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/arts/music/cassie-sean-combs-diddy-trial-takeaways.html">The New York Times</a>. 
Ventura also described times Combs would &#8220;punish&#8221; her by having members of his security team block access to her cell phone and computer. She claimed that these punishments were dictated by his mood. 
Combs’ ex said she was “naive” when they met and was impressed by the rapper and all his success. She also said she felt coerced because she had signed a 10-album deal with Bad Boy Records and saw Combs as having power over her career.
“When you’re in love with someone you don’t want to disappoint them,” Ventura said.
“I wanted to be around Sean for the same reasons as everyone else at the time,&#8221; she said, becoming emotional. &#8220;This exciting, entertaining, fun guy who also happened to have my career in his hands.”
During cross-examination, Combs’ lawyer attempted to prove that all sexual encounters between her client and Ventura were consensual. 
The judge denied a request from the defense to downplay Ventura’s current pregnancy by having her seated before the jury entered the courtroom. Ventura is currently in her third trimester, and the defense said &#8220;the visibility of her pregnancy&#8221; could unfairly prejudice the jury against Combs.
Ventura’s testimony continued on Wednesday. The entire trial is expected to last eight weeks.
Combs pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Cassie Ventura

Diddy Trial: Combs’ Ex-Girlfriend Cassie Ventura Shares Graphic Details Of ‘Freak-Offs’

Diddy Trial: Combs' Ex-Girlfriend Cassie Ventura Becomes Emotional During Testimony

Manhattan

President Donald Trump travels to the Middle East, where he inks massive arms and investment deals, Sean Combs’ sex trafficking trial brings shocking testimony, and the Left is outraged as Trump welcomes Afrikaner refugees.
It’s Wednesday, May 14, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Trump’s Middle East Trip, Diddy Trial &amp; Afrikaners Controversy" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vUrUtYCcb5E?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
If you’d rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trumps-middle-east-trip-diddy-trial-afrikaners-controversy/id1576594336?i=1000708428702" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2>Trump Secures Massive Saudi Investment</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-919927 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_00_33_14.Still001-1.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="360" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_00_33_14.Still001-1.jpeg 640w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_00_33_14.Still001-1-300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></div>
Topline: President Trump secures a $600 billion investment in the U.S. from Saudi Arabia.
President Trump and an entourage of his top officials were in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, where the president secured a $600 billion investment in the United States and the largest arms deal in history. Trump arrived in Qatar on Wednesday morning and plans to visit the United Arab Emirates while negotiating economic deals and signaling a new approach to American foreign policy in the Middle East.
“Far too many American presidents have been afflicted with the notion that it&#8217;s our job to look into the souls of foreign leaders and use U.S. policy to dispense justice for their sins,” Trump said. “It is God&#8217;s job to sit in judgment — my job to defend America and to promote the fundamental interests of stability, prosperity, and peace.&#8221;
Trump also celebrated a recent ceasefire with the Houthis, who agreed to suspend attacks on American shipping in the Red Sea after months of intense aerial bombardment by U.S. military forces. The president announced the cessation of sanctions on Syria, to give the new government, which ousted the Russian- and Iranian-backed Bashar al-Assad last December, “a chance at greatness.&#8221; Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, is a former Al-Qaeda fighter who fought against American forces in Iraq. He has been Syria&#8217;s president since January and has attempted to rebrand himself as a moderate figure focused more on Syrian interests than jihad.
“In Syria, which has seen so much misery and death, there is a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace. That’s what we want to see,” Trump said.
However, Trump’s rhetoric was not entirely dovish – he issued a stern warning to Iran, a longtime regional adversary of the United States that has come perilously close to developing nuclear weapons. “Iran CAN have a much brighter future — but we will NEVER allow them to threaten America and our allies with terrorism or a nuclear attack. The choice is theirs to make.”
<h2>Did Diddy Do It?</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-919929" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_01_37_02.Still004-1.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="360" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_01_37_02.Still004-1.jpeg 640w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_01_37_02.Still004-1-300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></div>
Topline: Eight months after his arrest, the federal trial of music mogul Sean &#8220;Diddy&#8221; Combs kicked off this week in Manhattan. The charges Combs faces — including sex trafficking, coercion, and racketeering — have sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry.
The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs began on Monday. Prosecutors painted a dark picture, alleging that Combs used his fame, wealth, and multimedia empire to orchestrate a decades-long scheme involving sex trafficking and violence. They claim he lured women with promises of romance or career opportunities, only to force them into “freak offs” — drug-fueled sexual performances involving male prostitutes, some recorded to blackmail victims into silence. They also claim it was particularly during these “freak offs” where women, including his former girlfriend, R&amp;B singer Cassie Ventura, were abused and manipulated.
Combs has been charged with five felony counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of transportation for prostitution. If convicted, he could face life in prison, with a minimum of 15 years for the sex trafficking charges alone.
On Tuesday, Ventura took the stand and said Combs “too frequently… mashed in [her] head, dragged [her] along the floor, kicked [her], stomped on [her] head.&#8221; She also said he characterized these drug and alcohol-fueled “freak-offs” as part of her “job” and that they increased in frequency over the course of their relationship. She said that in the final years she was with Combs, these sex sessions became “all-consuming” and she spent most of her time engaging in the freak-offs or recovering from them while enduring abuse from Combs.
The jury also heard from Daniel Phillip, a former male escort. He gave graphic testimony about being paid to have sex with Ventura at the Gramercy Park Hotel in 2012 while Combs watched from the corner, masturbating and directing the encounters. He also recounted a disturbing incident where Combs allegedly forced him to urinate into Ventura’s mouth. Phillip also said he witnessed Combs’ physical abuse when he threw a liquor bottle at Ventura, dragged her into a bedroom, and slapped her as she screamed, “I’m sorry!” Phillip said he was “terrified” to intervene, citing Combs’ power and nearby bodyguards.
Combs’ defense admitted their client is a “complicated man” with flaws, including a history of drug use and domestic violence, but stressed that domestic abuse is not a federal crime and insisted this isn’t a racketeering or trafficking case. Teny Geragos, one of Combs’ attorneys who is the daughter of celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos, told jurors, “This is about Sean Combs’ private sex life,” emphasizing that the women involved, including Ventura, were “strong, capable, and in love with him,” making consensual choices.
<h2>Afrikaner Refugees Arrive In The United States</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-919931" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_02_34_15.Still003.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="360" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_02_34_15.Still003.jpeg 640w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_02_34_15.Still003-300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></div>
Topline: The first group of white Afrikaners who were granted refugee status by the Trump administration arrived in the United States this week, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/12/trump-afrikaners-refugees-immigration-00342029?utm_source=chatgpt.com">sparking outrage</a> on the Left.
Afrikaners are a South African ethnic group. Fifty-nine Afrikaner men, women, and children arrived in America this week, many of them farmers. They were vetted and granted refugee status very quickly, within a matter of months – the refugee vetting process ordinarily takes years. President Trump, who has been outspokenly opposed to the treatment of white South Africans by their government, signed an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/addressing-egregious-actions-of-the-republic-of-south-africa/">executive order</a> in February to end aid to South Africa over its discriminatory racial policies, specifically pertaining to white farmers. The order notes that South Africa has taken “aggressive positions” toward the U.S. and her allies, including Israel, and also notes the recently enacted Expropriation Act, which the order said enables the South African government “to seize” Afrikaners&#8217; agricultural property without compensation.”
The State Department said Afrikaners face unjust racial discrimination in South Africa, and added that no one should be subject to “violent attacks because of their ethnicity.” One refugee said that she was attacked on her farm four different times. She said that Afrikaners are being blamed and targeted for the past apartheid in South Africa. Hundreds of people have been killed on farms in just the last four years or so. Not all of those people were white, but many were.
“What’s happening in South Africa fits the textbook definition of why the refugee program was created,” White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said. “This is persecution based on a protected characteristic, in this case, race. This is race-based persecution. The refugee program is not intended as a solution for global poverty.”
The Left has argued that Trump is favoring these refugees because they’re white – they’ve cited the president’s moves to halt most of the refugee programs established under Joe Biden from nations like Afghanistan, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Trump argues that those programs did not vet refugees properly, especially from those nations that are considered high-risk.

MorningWire-0428 V2

Morning Brief: Trump Lands Huge Saudi Investment & Diddy Faces The Music

Crime

Donald Trump

Iran

Middle East

Refugees

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

World

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial officially kicked off today with opening statements from both the prosecution and the defense.
While the rapper’s legal team painted him as a “complicated” man with an unorthodox but fully consensual sex life, prosecutors wasted no time sharing some sordid details from sexual encounters they say were coerced, per <a href="https://deadline.com/2025/05/sean-diddy-combs-trial-starts-opening-statements-1236393819/">Deadline</a>.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Ann Johnson provided a list of “crime after crime” during opening statements in Manhattan court Monday morning, mentioning kidnapping, arson, drugs, sex crimes, and bribery allegedly committed over the past two decades.
“He called himself the king, and he expected to be treated like one,” she said as a reference to the viral hotel surveillance footage showing him physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and “flinging her around like a rag doll.”
The prosecutor also went into detail about one specific incident which allegedly occurred at the rapper’s notorious “freak-off” parties. Johnson alleged that a male prostitute was instructed to urinate in Ventura&#8217;s mouth, which led to har saying she &#8220;felt like she was choking.&#8221;
Johnson said Combs was able to get away with it for so long thanks to his “inner circle and vast resources of his business empire.”
“Her livelihood and safety depended on keeping him happy,” Johnson said of Ventura, who is slated to take the stand at a later date.
Defense Attorney Tenny Geragos presented a different portrait of the Bad Boys Records founder.
“Sean Combs is a complicated man, but this is not as complicated case,” Geragos said.
“Sean Combs has a bad temper and sometimes he gets out of control,” the attorney added. “We take full responsibility for the domestic violence. Domestic violence is not sex trafficking.”
“We will not shy away from the things Mr. Comb did,” the attorney added, saying her client “has a bit of a different sex life,” but asserting that the encounters occurred between consenting adults.
Gergagos also mentioned the surveillance video, repeating the claim that it was “overwhelming evidence of domestic violence … but it is not evidence of sex trafficking.” She said the incident seen on security footage represented a “toxic relationship between two people who loved each other.”
The attorney also pointed out that Ventura stayed with Combs as a romantic partner for 11 years.
Combs, 44, has been charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He was arrested in September 2024 and has been awaiting trial behind bars after multiple attempts to be released on bail.
Combs pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Sean “Diddy” Combs

Diddy Trial: Defense Admits He’s ‘Complicated,’ But ‘Domestic Violence Is Not Sex Trafficking’

Diddy Trial: Defense Admits He's 'Complicated,' But 'Domestic Violence Is Not Sex Trafficking'

The trial for Sean “Diddy” Combs kicked off this week in Manhattan with jury selection.
Prosecutors have accused Combs’ legal team of consulting with celebrity attorney Mark Geragos, who has represented big-name talent such as Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, Jussie Smollett, and the Menendez brothers. 
Per <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/06/entertainment/sean-diddy-combs-mark-geragos-defense">CNN</a>, Geragos has been present in court since Monday and was seen speaking with Combs’ defense team in what prosecutors called an “apparent role as an advisor to the defendant.” But Geragos claimed he was only there to support his daughter, Teny Geragos, who was hired to help defend Diddy.
“I’m here to support my daughter. (Combs) is a friend,” the high-profile attorney told the outlet on Tuesday.
Prosecutors wrote a letter to the judge saying Geragos was acting as &#8220;an advisor&#8221; for the defense. They say if Geragos is working with the defense, he should have to follow the rules of the court and refrain from publicly commenting about the allegations. They said Geragos has discussed the case on his podcast.
Meanwhile, the pool is being narrowed down from 45 potential jurors to 10 as U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian continues questioning the group. Next, the attorneys will have a chance to veto individual jurors. 
Many of them said they had seen the 2016 surveillance footage of Combs grabbing, dragging, shoving, and kicking his former girlfriend, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura.
At least one man in the pool said the footage “gives the appearance of an angry hostile person who is entitled,” adding that he believes “mostly everybody saw the video.” However, he claimed he was still able to be impartial if selected.
Potential jurors were also asked if they were familiar with celebrities like Kanye West, Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers, and Kid Cudi, but it’s not immediately clear how those individuals will be relevant to the trial.
A female juror was dismissed on Tuesday after saying in court on Tuesday, &#8220;Diddy has a lot of money to use at his discretion and possibly buy his way out of jail,&#8221; per <a href="https://people.com/diddy-trial-potential-juror-dismissed-buy-way-out-jail-11728969">People</a>. When the judge asked her to clarify, she replied, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know how to explain it.&#8221;
Ventura will be testifying during the trial using her real name, per multiple reports.
Combs, 44, has been charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He was arrested in September 2024 and has been awaiting trial behind bars after multiple attempts to be released on bail.
Combs pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Sean Combs

Diddy Trial: Prosecutors Say Famous Celeb Attorney Is Breaking The Rules

Diddy Trial: Prosecutors Accuse Sean Combs' Defense Team Of Consulting With Celeb Attorney

Court

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial began on Monday in Manhattan federal court, and the 55-year-old rapper admitted he was “nervous” during the appearance.
The recording artist was allowed to trade in his prison garb for regular clothing after he had been awaiting trial behind bars for the past seven months, despite rallying to be let out on bail. The Bad Boy Records founder could be sentenced to life in prison if he’s convicted on multiple charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking crimes.
“I’m sorry, your honor, I’m a little nervous today,” Combs told Judge Arun Subramanian after asking for a two-minute bathroom break following 90 minutes of juror questioning. Jury selection began Monday with 50 potential jurors.
The rapper pleaded not guilty to the charges and turned down a plea deal from prosecutors about 10 days ago, per <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/05/us-news/diddy-trial-jury-selection-kicks-off-with-rapper-admitting-hes-nervous/">the New York Post</a>.
One of the lawyers for Combs withdrew from his defense team in February, saying, “Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs. It is respectfully but regrettably requested that the court grant the relief requested.”
But despite that hiccup, Combs has faith in his legal team to win, evidenced by his turning down the undisclosed plea deal.
Combs is charged under the Mann Act, officially the White-Slave Traffic Act, which prohibits the transport of people across state or international lines for prostitution.
The defense has called the Mann Act “racist” and historically “used to target black men and supposedly protect white women from them.”
Federal authorities allege Combs had “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others, and led a racketeering conspiracy that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice, among other crimes,” per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York. 
Prosecutors also said Combs “engaged in a persistent and pervasive pattern of abuse toward women and other individuals. This abuse was, at times, verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual,” as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sean-diddy-combs-trial-date-set?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Sean+%E2%80%98Diddy%E2%80%99+Combs+Trial+Date+Set">reported</a>.
There have been many headlines about the alleged “freak-offs,” or parties which included non-consensual sexual activity, and inspired Combs to stock his property with a reported one thousand bottles of baby oil. The rapper’s attorneys will argue that Combs did have sex parties, but will insist that all participants were of age and willing to participate in the events.
Combs is also facing 120 or more additional lawsuits in the near future, including complaints from at least 25 minors.

Diddy Tells Judge He’s ‘Nervous’ As Sex Trafficking Trial Begins In NYC

One of the lawyers for Sean &#8220;Diddy&#8221; Combs withdrew from his defense team as the disgraced music mogul faces several civil lawsuits and a federal sexual abuse and racketeering case.
Attorney Anthony Ricco on Friday <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2025/02/21/sean-combs-diddy-lawyer-quits/79423969007/">filed</a> the motion to withdraw in New York Federal Court, with the request still awaiting final approval from the judge. Ricco declined to offer specifics regarding the reason for his request, citing attorney/client privilege, according to USA Today.
“Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs,” the lawyer said. “It is respectfully but regrettably requested that the court grant the relief requested.”
His exit comes amid mounting legal pressure on the Bad Boy Records founder. Combs has denied several accusations of drugging and rape and is pleading not guilty to sex trafficking charges. He is charged under the Mann Act, officially the White-Slave Traffic Act, which prohibits the transport of people across state or international lines for prostitution.
The defense has called the Mann Act “racist” and historically “used to target Black men and supposedly protect white women from them.”
In court documents, the defense highlighted boxing legend Jack Johnson and musician Chuck Berry as prior high-profile examples of black men charged under the White-Slave Traffic Act.
<a class="c-link" href="http://dailywire.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://dailywire.com/subscribe" data-sk="tooltip_parent">PRESIDENTS’ DAY SALE! 40% Off DailyWire+ Annual Memberships With Code DW40</a>
One recent filing expanded on that argument, stating, “No other person, and certainly no white person, has ever previously been prosecuted under the White-Slave Traffic Act for hiring male escorts from another (state).” The filing asserted that Combs was being treated differently by federal authorities than white people in similar circumstances.
Additional complaints detailing alleged misconduct have continued to emerge in recent years, with attorneys for Combs categorically denying wrongdoing. His lawyers have moved to dismiss the federal indictment in New York, maintaining that the charges are misplaced and reflect selective enforcement rather than equal treatment under the law.
The federal judge presiding over the case has not yet indicated when a decision on a potential dismissal might be handed down.

Invest Fest 2023

Diddy’s Lawyer Suddenly Quits: ‘Under No Circumstances Can I Continue’

Sexual Assault

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss charges against him, citing claims of “racist” laws which they say are unfairly used to target black men.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He is currently being held in a federal jail in New York City awaiting trial in the spring and, if convicted on all counts, is facing a maximum of 15 years in prison.
Diddy’s defense attorneys are now saying the government is guilty of racist actions because &#8220;no white person has ever been the target of a remotely similar prosecution,&#8221; per <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/sean-diddy-combs-singled-black-defense/story?id=118959797">ABC News</a>. They state that enforcement of The Mann Act of 1910 has historically been used to “target black men.”
<a class="c-link" href="http://dailywire.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://dailywire.com/subscribe" data-sk="tooltip_parent">PRESIDENTS’ DAY SALE! 40% Off DailyWire+ Annual Memberships With Code DW40</a>
The legal team says the statute has a “long and troubling history” with “racist origins,” plus was “used to target black men and supposedly protect white women from them.”
“The government has concocted a criminal case based primarily on allegations that Mr Combs and two of his longtime girlfriends sometimes brought a third party — a male escort — into their sexual relationship,” they add.
The Mann Act was called the White-Slave Traffic Act when it was enacted in 1910. It made it illegal to transport people across state or international lines for the purpose of prostitution, which in that era was happening frequently as young girls worked in brothels, The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/02/20/us-news/sean-diddy-combs-claims-hes-been-singled-out-by-racist-us-law/">noted</a>. 
“What was racist in its inception has often been racist in its operation,” the filing states.
One of the charges involves Combs’ highly publicized “freak off” parties, or drug-fueled orgies, which included acts of coercion, force, and prostitution. These events are mentioned in the motion to dismiss.
&#8220;Yet no other person, and certainly no white person, has ever previously been prosecuted under the White-Slave Traffic Act for hiring male escorts from another State,&#8221; defense attorneys Alexandra Shapiro and Marc Agnifilo wrote. 
&#8220;Mr. Combs has been singled out because he is a powerful black man, and he is being prosecuted for conduct that regularly goes unpunished. Count Three should be dismissed because this is a clear case of selective prosecution.&#8221;
They argue that Combs should not be prosecuted because other high-profile individuals have engaged in threesome sexual encounters and paid for the experience. 
&#8220;Many couples, including wealthy high-profile couples, involve third parties in their sexual relationships, sometimes for implicit or explicit remuneration,&#8221; the filing says. &#8220;No federal prosecutor, in this district or any other, has targeted the company, its CEO, or its escorts.”
Despite the attorneys’ claims, Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime companion of Jeffery Epstein, was <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/what-are-charges-ghislaine-maxwell-sex-abuse-trial-2021-11-30/">convicted</a> under the Mann Act for transporting minors with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Maxwell was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022.

Diddy

Diddy’s Lawyers File Motion To Dismiss, Claim He’s ‘Singled Out’ By ‘Racist’ Laws

Diddy's Lawyers File Motion To Dismiss, Claim He's 'Singled Out' By 'Racist' Laws

Racism

Rapper <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jay-z">Jay-Z</a> will not have his petition to dismiss <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/sexual-assault">rape accusations</a> granted, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres ruled on Thursday.
The anonymous <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lawsuit">plaintiff</a> accused the 55-year-old recording artist and Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexually assaulting her when she was 13. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, vehemently denied the allegations and immediately motioned to dismiss the case. 
The judge also chastised Carter&#8217;s lawyer for “relentless filing of combative motions containing inflammatory language and ad hominem attacks [on accuser’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee],” per a court order obtained by <a href="https://variety.com/2024/music/news/jay-z-accuser-remain-anonymous-judge-criticizes-his-lawyers-1236260405/">Variety</a>. “Since Carter’s attorney first appeared in this case seventeen days ago, he has submitted a litany of letters and motions attempting to impugn the character of Plaintiff’s lawyer [Buzbee],” the document said.
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-11188">50% OFF ALL DAILY WIRE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS FOR A LIMITED TIME!</a>
The judge further described the flurry of complaints as “inappropriate, a waste of judicial resources, and a tactic unlikely to benefit his client [Jay-Z].”
Judge Torres also ruled that the plaintiff may remain anonymous for the time being, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rape-lawsuit-against-jay-z-sean-diddy-combs-accuser-can-remain-anonymous/">reported</a>.
The Jane Doe originally filed the claim against Combs in October. It was re-filed earlier this month to include Jay-Z as an additional defendant, making him the first other person named in the multiple cases against Diddy. 
She claims that after the VMAs in 2000, Carter held her down and raped her while Combs and an unnamed female celebrity watched, followed by Combs allegedly raping her while the woman stayed and observed.
Jay-Z issued his denial via social media through his Roc Nation account, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jay-z-issues-denial-to-rape-claim-we-dont-play-these-games">reported</a>. 
“These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree? These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case,” the statement said in part.
“You have made a terrible error in judgment thinking that all ‘celebrities’ are the same. I’m not from your moral world. I’m a young man who made it out of the project of Brooklyn,” the letter went on. “We don’t play these types of games. We have very strict codes and honor. We protect children, you seem to exploit people for personal gain. Only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake physics, will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable.”
Combs is currently being held in a Brooklyn jail awaiting trial, which is scheduled to begin in May.

Jay-Z

Judge Denies Jay-Z’s Motion To Dismiss Rape Case, Condemned ‘Relentless’ Filings

Judge Denies Jay-Z's Motion To Dismiss Rape Case, Condemned 'Relentless' Filings

Lawsuit

Menu