Sean “Diddy” Combs was once the life of the party. He was known for hosting luxurious and exclusive Hamptons meetings, seemingly countless celebrity friends and toasting good life with powerful allies in the music industry.
However, one question remains when the opening statements approach next week in his federal judgment of sex trafficking: Why didn’t more of his famous friends come from defense?
“The music industry is fickle,” said Ramal “The HomeTown Heat” Brown, a former Hip-Hop former Disci Jockey at 105.3 Kjamz in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “Everyone wants to be around when you’re at the top.”
But when a Comb video hit his former Namorada Casandra “Cassie” Ventura was shown by CNN last year, “no one wanted to be around because he could stain his image and name,” he said. “Being around diddy can imply it in the case.”
After the video Turned, Combs apologized publicly, saying that his behavior was “undescribable” and that he took full responsibility for his actions.
Combs is charged with a charge of five accusations for sexual trafficking, extortion and transportation to engage in prostitution. He declared himself innocent and faces 10 years of life in prison, if convicted.
Opening statements at the federal trial in Manhattan are expected to start next week.
The government’s case focuses on allegations that Combs forced women to participate in sexual meetings with male professionals he has directed and filmed. He called the sex parties “strangers,” the prosecutors said.
In addition to federal accusations, Combs was accused of sexual assault and misconduct in more than 50 civil proceedings, including a 2023 presented by Ventura, which was resolved in particular within one day.
His lawyer said the deal was not an admission of irregularities, and Combs vehemently denied the allegations in pending civil processes.
Last year saw a turnaround of events for Hitmaker, which was nominated for 14 Grammy Awards for three decades while turned unknown musicians such as MA $ and, Total and Carl Thomas, into platinum recording artists.
During the jury selection last week, when the magnitude of the moment began to ride, Combs seemed to look nervously around the court room and asked us the district judge Arun Subramanian for a break in the bathroom.
No celebrity supporter appeared in court during the jury selection. Being associated with Combs and your federal case is risky and can only stain polished celebrity images from list A, said music experts.
“People are not talking because they don’t want any level of implication,” said Gerrick Kennedy, a freelance journalist and Los Angeles -based culture critic.
Madison Gray, an eg Black Entertainment Sites Television, said she thinks many of the Comb members have distanced themselves because of the heinous acts that he is accused.
“Friends of celebrities and powerful friends dispersed. No one wants to cling to,” Gray said, pointing to similar scenarios when Bill Cosby and R. Kelly faced cool battles. “When things are good, the parts are great, the liquor is flowing. But as soon as something goes wrong, friendships are fleeting.”
Rapper Ye, previously known as Kanye West, has been one of the most firm supporters of Comb celebrities who preceded the trial, defending -on -line on several occasions and accusing Ventura, who has been hired with the Comb label, trying to press it for money.
YE accused Ventura of trying to extort Combs in a post since X on March 18.
Ventura replied the next day, reformulating a post from the Shadow Culture website, showing a screen capture of the Rapper Playboi Carti telling you to silence the mouth. Ventura’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, refused to comment this week.
YE’s comments occurred amid controversy about a series of X posts, in which he made comments full of hate about the Jewish community and said “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi.”
Former Bad Boy Records Producer Stevie J also expressed support for Combs, calling many of the civil processes moved against his former “false” chief and saying that he sometimes for Combs and his family every day.
“I never knew an instance where you will be guilty before you even go to the court,” he said to entertainment on the YouTube channel. “I will never stop being there for someone who I consider a friend. I won’t turn my back. I was examined just for being a friend. I think someone has never had a true friend before.”
Singer Ray J recognized participating in the Comb parties in various interviews, but said he never saw any clearance or orgies.
“I can assure you most of the celebrities who went to Diddy’s parties have never heard of an aberration,” he told News Nation host Chris Cuomo in November. “At first it seemed really interesting and fun, I would say, but when you look back, where were the strangers? From my knowledge, I never saw an aberration.”
Ventura is expected to take the position when the trial begins, but a list of witnesses was not disclosed. This week’s potential judges received a list of places and names that could be mentioned during the trial, including celebrities such as Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers and Ye, none of which is implied in the case.