Multiple high-profile celebrities have been mentioned during testimony in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ ongoing federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial, with some appearing as witnesses while others were referenced in connection to alleged incidents.
Combs faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is being held at a Brooklyn prison while his trial continues.
Former President Barack Obama was mentioned during testimony when Combs’ former assistant David James testified on May 20 that the music mogul carried ecstasy pills shaped like the former president’s face. James told the court that Combs typically carried “25 to 30” undisclosed pill bottles, some containing ecstasy.
“Can you describe the ecstasy that you saw him taking?” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Slavik asked during James’ testimony.
“There were various pills, but there was one that was in the shape of a former president’s face,” James explained.
“Which former president?” the prosecutor questioned.
“President Obama,” James answered.
Usher was mentioned by former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard, who testified that the R&B star witnessed Combs punch his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in the stomach at a West Hollywood restaurant around 2009 or 2010.
“We were having a private conversation, and we were all sitting, eating at the tables together,” Richard recalled. “When I say we, I mean some Bad Boy, some of our other label, and even some celebrities were in the room. And they were secretly arguing, and he punched her in the stomach. Sean Combs punched her in the stomach.”
Richard added that “Usher was there, Jimmy Iovine was there, Ne-Yo came through. There were a few others, too. I don’t recall those people, but those are the ones I remember talking to.”
Michael B. Jordan was referenced multiple times during testimony about Combs’ suspicions regarding Cassie Ventura’s relationships with other men. Ventura testified that Combs suspected she was seeing the actor while she was filming a movie in South Africa in 2016.
Kerry Morgan, Ventura’s former friend, testified on May 19 about the connection. “What I remember was that she was speaking to Michael B. Jordan and they hung out together. And he was jealous of it,” Morgan told the court.
Kid Cudi took the witness stand on May 22 to testify about his brief relationship with Cassie Ventura in 2011. The rapper, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, testified that Combs allegedly broke into his home and later set fire to his car after discovering the relationship.
“I reached out to Sean Combs after my car had caught fire and … finally told him that we needed to meet up to talk,” Cudi testified. “He had been wanting to talk to me. So, after the fire, I was like, ‘This is getting out of hand/ I need to talk to him.'”
When asked why he reached out to Combs after the fire, Cudi responded, “Because I knew he had something to do with it.”
Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna were mentioned when Cassie’s former makeup artist Mylah Morales testified that she worked for both singers. Morales worked for Combs from 2000 to 2005, then worked with Rihanna for 13 years.
“After you stopped working for Mr. Combs, who is the next artist that you worked with?” Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey asked Morales in court.
When asked if there were other celebrities she worked with, Morales responded, “Yeah, there’s so many. It’s like a long list of names.”
Britney Spears was mentioned during testimony about Cassie’s 21st birthday party, which Combs organized. Defense attorney Anna Estevao revealed that Combs brought Spears and producer Dallas Austin to the celebration.
When asked about Spears’ presence at her party, Cassie testified, “That was all him. I didn’t know them.”
Ne-Yo was also present at the West Hollywood restaurant incident where Combs allegedly punched Cassie, according to Dawn Richard’s testimony.
Chris Brown was referenced during cross-examination when Combs’ lawyer questioned Cassie about a 2013 incident. “He found out you were dancing with another person in the entertainment industry? Do you remember the incident where he suspected you of dancing with Chris Brown?” attorney Anna Estevao asked.
Cassie responded that she did not remember the incident but said she “was not dancing” with Brown.
Prince was mentioned when makeup artist Mylah Morales testified about seeing injuries on Cassie’s face after a party at the late musician’s house in 2010 during Grammy weekend.
Bruce Willis came up in emotional text messages between Cassie and Combs that were shown in court. “As much as you think you’re Bruce Willis, you aren’t,” Cassie wrote to Combs. “He’s married and before he was married, the family as a whole went on trips together, or just with him and his woman.”
The Notorious B.I.G. was referenced multiple times during testimony. Former assistant George Kaplan testified that Combs used the alias “Frank Black” when booking hotel reservations. “I think it was a reference to Biggie. I think that [Biggie’s] nickname was Frank White,” Kaplan told the jury.
Suge Knight was mentioned when David James testified about a tense encounter at Mel’s Diner in Los Angeles. James said Combs brought three handguns in the car when they went to meet Knight, and he felt his life was in danger for the first time while working for Combs.
50 Cent was referenced by former assistant Capricorn Clark, who testified that Combs “had an issue with 50 Cent” during a visit to MTV for press interviews.
Other celebrities mentioned on the jury questionnaire or in passing testimony included Mike Myers, Lauren London, Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, Wiz Khalifa, Ryan Leslie, and Jay-Z.
Many of these celebrities have not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection to Combs’ case and were not on the witness list. The trial continues with prosecutors presenting their case against Combs, who once claimed to be a billionaire but now faces the possibility of decades in prison if convicted.