
'Held over a 17-story balcony': What Cassie's friend told the jury in Sean Diddy case
Here's everything Bryana Bongolan said in the court
Live Events
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
A close friend of singer Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura testified on Wednesday that Sean 'Diddy' Combs once dangled her over the edge of a 17-story balcony during a violent altercation in 2016."I was held over a 17-story balcony," said Bryana Bongolan , 33, speaking before a jury in Manhattan federal court. Bongolan told jurors that after pulling her back, Combs threw her onto balcony furniture, leaving her bruised and traumatized.The dramatic testimony came during the fourth week of Combs' federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial. Bongolan said she continues to suffer from night terrors and paranoia stemming from the encounter. The judge called a recess before prosecutors could question her further. Her testimony was scheduled to continue in the afternoon.Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. Prosecutors allege that over a span of two decades, the music mogul coerced multiple women — including Ventura — into participating in drug-fueled group sex encounters with male sex workers, referred to as "Freak Offs."According to CNN, Bongolan recalled a beach photoshoot in early 2016 where Combs allegedly came up close to her and said: 'I'm the devil and I could kill you.'She said she didn't know what triggered the threat and that it was the first time he had said anything like that to her.Later that year, Combs allegedly threw a knife at Cassie Ventura during a late-night confrontation in her apartment.Bongolan said Combs gave her drugs on multiple occasions. She saw him use marijuana, ketamine, and cocaine.Bongolan and Ventura would often use drugs together weekly but also tried to stay sober by cooking or doing other activities—efforts that didn't last long.During a shopping trip in 2016, Combs somehow sent Ventura a list of all the places Bongolan and Ventura had visited that day—even though they hadn't told him.Bongolan testified that she saw Ventura with a black eye during a FaceTime call before the "The Perfect Match" movie premiere.She said Ventura had sent her the call just after the 2016 hotel assault, which was caught on video and already shown in court.Bongolan also noticed other bruises on Ventura over time.During Ventura's 29th birthday at Blind Dragon club in West Hollywood, Bongolan said Ventura and Combs seemed fine at first but then started arguing.After the club, Ventura abruptly packed a bag and left her apartment. Bongolan didn't know where she went.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
‘Private ultimatums to Iranians': JD Vance says Trump made decision minutes before bombs were dropped on nuke sites
US Vice President JD Vance reportedly said that US President Donald Trump made the final decision to launch strikes on Iranian nuclear sites 'minutes before the bombs dropped.' During an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" with Kristen Welker, JD Vanvce said Trump "had the ability to call off this attack until the very last minute" and decided to proceed. On the question whether Trump coordinated with Israel on his decision to attack Iran, JD vance said Trump decided to issue some "private ultimatums to the Iranians" as he decided by "midday that this process was not going eventually we decided to destroy the Fordow nuclear facility and other facilities ourselves." According to a timeline provided by the US Joint Chiefs of Staff as reported by CNN, massive "bunker buster" bombs were dropped on two of the nuclear sites around 6:40 pm ET Saturday in the US, placing the time of the attack around 2:10 a.m. local time Sunday in Iran. Trump had been deliberating for days about US involvement and directed his press secretary to offer a two-week timeline from the briefing room in recent days. But he had been leaning toward joining Israel's military campaign in private discussions with senior staff as his envoy Steve Witkoff was still making diplomatic efforts, CNN reported. "President Donald Trump made the final order for the US to strike Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday," CNN reported, quoting a senior White House official. 'Trump made the final call on Saturday and directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to go ahead,' this official said. The US is now closely watching whether Iran attacks American troops or continues its nuclear weapons program, Vance said, calling the current situation "a very delicate moment," as reported by CNN. He noted that Iran's next steps would become clear within the next 24 hours. So far, the US has "received some indirect messages from the Iranians," Vance said. Earlier on Sunday, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that "both public and private messages are being directly delivered to the Iranians in multiple channels." Asked about what would happen if Iran takes steps to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Vance said that action "would be suicidal" and would "destroy their own economy," CNN reported. Reiterating the administration's stance, Vance said the US has "no interest in boots on the ground" and dismissed concerns that the US involvement would escalate. Addressing local concerns in an interview that aired on Sunday, VP Vance said, 'The president, more than anybody, is worried about protracted military conflicts. That is not what we're getting ourselves involved in.'

Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
Warner Bros Discovery restructuring may back India OTT plans—but faces challenges
Warner Bros Discovery's decision to split its streaming and studio business from its traditional TV networks may give a fresh push to its digital plans in India—but growing in the country's crowded and price-sensitive OTT market won't be easy. Under the restructuring, Global Networks will house entertainment, sports and news television brands such as CNN and Discovery, along with digital products including the discovery+ streaming platform. The newly formed Streaming & Studios entity will comprise Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group and DC Studios, which will continue releasing their films theatrically in India. David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros Discovery, said in a global release, 'By operating as two distinct and optimised companies, we are empowering these brands with the sharper focus and strategic flexibility they need to compete most effectively in today's evolving media landscape." Also read: Why Warner boss Zaslav is having to split up the media empire he built 'This separation will invigorate each company by enabling them to leverage their strengths and specific financial profiles. This will also allow each company to pursue important investment opportunities and drive shareholder value," added CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels. India playbook challenges The separation could allow Warner Bros Discovery to invest more aggressively in OTT in India, especially in subscription-based models. However, the challenges are plenty. Currently, the company only runs the discovery+ streaming service in India, while syndicating most of its intellectual property (IP) to JioHotstar. Experts believe that the platform, now free from having to serve traditional TV audiences, could lean into bold, edgy content aimed at younger demographics. 'The digital business isn't big in India, and it will have to show revenue now," said Girish Dwibhashyam, streaming industry expert and former vice-president and chief operating officer of DocuBay, a documentary streaming service. 'The split could rejuvenate their investments in OTT but it would also bring down their negotiating power with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and aggregators for distribution partnerships since it would no longer come under the same umbrella as broadcast," he added. While Warner Bros Discovery has dabbled in infotainment, science, and mythology in India, Dwibhashyam sees room for more daring content experiments. Given that they no longer have the baggage of producing the same programming for both TV and OTT, the company could explore edgier themes, he said. Also read: Online games and self-publishing platforms: movie producers tap new avenues for fresh plotlines Vinay V. Singh, managing director (USA), Primus Partners, added that the company could now double down on high-quality originals and global formats. 'These are key to capturing Indian millennials and Gen Z in a fiercely competitive OTT landscape," he said. Singh also said HBO-branded content, currently available via video-on-demand through partnerships like JioHotstar, may gain more muscle with renewed global backing. Despite the digital optimism, linear television remains dominant in India, especially in smaller towns and non-English-speaking markets. However, if other global media giants follow Warner Bros Discovery's decoupling strategy, standalone TV units may need to raise ad or subscription rates to remain viable. This could further drive viewers toward cheaper OTT platforms, including those that rely on advertising-based video-on-demand (AVoD). Industry experts anticipate that the decoupling trend could push streaming companies to innovate their pricing models. Expect bundles that include local originals, micropayments, ad insertions, and dynamic pricing to boost reach while protecting average revenue per user (ARPU). Subscription blues Yet, streaming monetization remains a hurdle in India. According to a report by Ormax Media, India's video streaming audience stood at 547.3 million, but active paid subscriptions stagnated at 99.6 million. Notably, the SVoD (subscription video-on-demand) audience declined by 2% in 2024, even as the AVoD base grew by 21%. 'Foreign companies haven't really seen India as a hot market. Plus, there isn't real value in SVoD yet," said Sunil Lulla, founder, The Linus Adventures. Warner Bros Discovery has also refrained from fully adopting the ad-supported model in India. Last year, Sai Abishek, head of factual and lifestyle cluster, South Asia, had said the platform would continue to focus primarily on a subscription-driven model. What's next While Warner Bros Discovery declined to comment on Mint's queries for this story, industry watchers say the company's strategic split could be a reset moment for its India plans. However, competing in a saturated market—dominated by players like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, ZEE5, and SonyLIV—will demand more than just capital. It will require smart partnerships, platform innovation, and the courage to bet big on differentiated content. Also read: Few winners, many misses in Bollywood's lopsided H1 recovery story


Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
After striking Iran without broad consultation, Trump faces criticism from US Congress
US President Donald Trump's decision to strike Iranian nuclear sites without full congressional consultation has widened existing rifts on Capitol Hill, raising sharp criticism from Democrats and even some Republicans. As per The Associated Press (AP), the Trump administration briefed top Republican leaders—including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune—prior to the operation. In contrast, Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries were only informed after the military strikes had begun. Speaking to CNN, Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee said: 'Bad enough that we weren't informed… But unconstitutional that we didn't have the opportunity to debate and speak… on one of the more consequential foreign policy things that this country has done in a long time.' This uneven communication has deepened partisan tensions. Critics argue that the strikes may have bypassed constitutional requirements by not seeking congressional approval. Senator Mark Warner and others voiced concern, as per CNN, that the action lacked a clear legal basis and was executed without regard for intelligence community input. Senator Tim Kaine is calling for a Senate war powers vote, aiming to reassert Congress's constitutional role in authorising military action. Speaking to CBS, he said: 'Congress should be consulted… We were not.' According to NBC News, Senator Mark Kelly said: 'The president can act when there's a clear and imminent threat… That wasn't the case here.' Some Democrats even called the action grounds for impeachment, while Republican lawmakers like Senator Lindsey Graham defended the strike: 'Congress can declare war or cut off funding. We can't be the commander-in-chief.' Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene voiced opposition to prolonged involvement in the Middle East, as per CNN. Representative Thomas Massie, a longtime non-interventionist, plans to push for a House vote limiting Trump's military authority. Speaking to CBS, he said: 'We were tired of endless wars in the Middle East.' Trump lashed out at Massie on social media, labeling him a 'pathetic LOSER.' Iranian officials have warned of retaliatory attacks following the US strikes, and concerns are growing about the safety of US personnel and regional stability. Iran could disrupt vital commercial shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a global chokepoint for oil transit. US Vice President JD Vance, speaking to NBC, said: 'We're not at war with Iran. We're at war with Iran's nuclear program.' Vance also responded to criticism by the Congress, saying Trump had 'clear authority to act to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.' Congress is now gearing up for a showdown over presidential war powers. Lawmakers are expected to debate—and potentially vote on—measures limiting Trump's ability to launch further military operations without legislative approval. (With inputs from AP, CNN, Reuters, NBC News)