Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Set to Reveal the Dark Side of Rap’s ‘Bad Boy’ Era
Once celebrated for his extravagant White Parties in the Hamptons, hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs now faces a dramatic fall from grace, as federal prosecutors prepare to portray him not as a music legend but as a serial abuser who used his fame to exploit women in secret.
Opening Monday in Manhattan, the trial centers on disturbing allegations spanning over 20 years. Prosecutors claim Combs orchestrated drug-fueled “Freak Offs,” where women were coerced into sex acts and filmed, often under pressure or manipulation by Combs and his staff. The indictment describes a pattern of violence and intimidation—including choking, beating, and even dangling someone from a balcony—to control and silence victims.
Combs, 55, has denied most allegations, though he has acknowledged a 2016 assault on singer and former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, caught on hotel surveillance footage. While her lawsuit was settled quickly, it prompted a deeper investigation, culminating in a federal indictment last September. Authorities later seized nearly 100 electronic devices and illegal firearms from his homes.
The trial, which begins with jury selection Monday, will focus on testimony from four women, including Cassie, and could reshape Combs’ legacy. He faces multiple serious charges—racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transporting individuals for prostitution—that could result in decades behind bars if convicted.
Prosecutors intend to present digital records, hotel bookings, messages, and video evidence to support claims of what they call “Freak Off activity.” Meanwhile, Combs’ defense argues the case is built on exaggerated or consensual encounters, motivated in part by money and publicity.
Combs remains in federal custody in Brooklyn after judges deemed him a potential threat to witnesses.
