High-profile trial initiates in New York courtroom, with Sean 'Diddy' Combs present for jury selection.
Trial of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs underway, with jurors selection in progress. Combs, sporting a grey-haired goatee and dressed in a white shirt, black crew-neck sweater, grey trousers, and glasses, arrived at the federal courtroom in Manhattan for proceedings. He's been in detention since his September 2024 arrest, facing charges of engaging in sex trafficking and leading a 20-year racketeering conspiracy.
Denying all allegations of wrongdoing, Diddy maintains all sexual relationships were consensual. The high-profile trial, starting this week, will last approximately eight weeks, with opening statements expected next week. Unlike some high-profile cases, it won't be broadcast live as federal courtrooms don't allow electronic recordings inside.
During the jury selection process, also known as "voir dire," potential jurors are being questioned about their views, personal experiences, and biases. They're asked about their opinions on the prosecution, defense, hiring sex workers, illegal drug use, hip-hop artists, and law enforcement. Questions also cover their familiarity with celebrities who may be mentioned during the trial, such as Michael B Jordan, Mike Myers, and Kanye West.
Jurors are also being questioned about whether they have heard about names on a list of individuals, including potential witnesses. One juror stated they had heard of some celebrities but believed they could remain impartial, while another mentioned a social media joke about baby oil found in Combs' residences. Some potential jurors indicated they had seen news about Combs, with one describing a still image as "damning evidence."
Several jurors were dismissed due to strong opinions and personal connections to the case. At one point, Combs requested a bathroom break, stating he was feeling nervous. Throughout the process, Combs appeared to show approval or disapproval to his attorneys.
Combs is accused of a two-decade pattern of abusive behavior, involving forced drug-fueled sexual performances with male sex workers called "Freak Offs." Prosecutors claim he used violence, including beatings, kidnapping, and arson to bully his way. However, the defense contends all group sex was consensual, with no coercion or criminal activity involved. If convicted, Combs faces decades in prison.
One controversy likely to surface during the trial involves an incident in 2016, where a security camera recorded Combs allegedly kicking and hitting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a Los Angeles hotel hallway. In May 2024, the hotel footage emerged, leading Combs to release a video apology, acknowledging his behavior was "inexcusable." One defense lawyer has stated Combs was "not a perfect person" but stressed all sexual activity was consensual.
- The upcoming trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs, scheduled for eight weeks on crime-and-justice related charges, will not be broadcast live due to federal courtroom restrictions on electronic recordings.
- During the jury selection process, potential jurors are being questioned about their biases, including opinions on celebrity figures like Michael B Jordan, Mike Myers, and Kanye West, who may be mentioned during the trial.
- Controversial topics in the trial may include Combs' alleged abusive behavior, including "Freak Offs" involving forced drug-fueled sexual performances with male sex workers, and a 2016 incident where he is accused of kicking and hitting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a Los Angeles hotel.
- Jurors are under scrutiny for their impartiality, with several dismissals due to strong opinions and personal connections to the case, while some have shown evidence of pre-trial knowledge, such as a social media joke about baby oil found in Combs' residences or descriptions of damning evidence.
- If convicted, Sean "Diddy" Combs could face decades in prison for his charges of sex trafficking, engaging in racketeering, and other criminal activities spanning decades.
