Hip-hop mogul Sean Combs, known professionally as P. Diddy, appeared Monday, May 5, before a federal court in New York, where he faces serious charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, and interstate transport for the purpose of prostitution.
The artist and producer—famous for his lavish parties and close ties to the entertainment elite—is accused by prosecutors of orchestrating a sophisticated system of sexual exploitation spanning over twenty years. Behind the glitz and glamour, Combs allegedly ran “freak offs,” sexual marathons in which women, lured by promises of fame, were coerced into sex acts—sometimes drugged, often filmed, and in certain cases, used for blackmail.
The primary victim, identified as “Jane Doe #1” in court documents, is singer Casandra Elizabeth Ventura, known by her stage name Cassie, who was previously in a relationship with Combs. She filed a civil lawsuit in 2023, which was settled privately. A recently surfaced video from 2016 shows Combs violently assaulting her in a Los Angeles hotel, fueling public outcry.
Despite the severity of the allegations, Combs maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty. He has been held in a secure unit reserved for high-profile detainees for the past eight months. Through his lawyers, he insists that all encounters were consensual.
The high-stakes trial—closely watched by the entertainment industry—is expected to last eight to ten weeks. Jury selection begins today.