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See '28 Years Later' in theaters, rent 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' and 'Friendship,' stream 'A Minecraft Movie' on Max, plus more movies to watch this weekend

See '28 Years Later' in theaters, rent 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' and 'Friendship,' stream 'A Minecraft Movie' on Max, plus more movies to watch this weekend

Yahoo10 hours ago

Hello, Yahoo Entertainment readers! Brett Arnold here, and I'm back with another edition of Trust Me, I Watch Everything. As a film critic who hosts a podcast called Roger (Ebert) & Me, I watch it all so I can bring you recommendations you can trust, and this week there are tons of movies to put on your radar.
28 Years Later, the highly anticipated sequel to 2003's 28 Days Later (which, hot tip, is available to stream on Pluto TV) arrives in theaters alongside Elio, the latest from Disney-Pixar in the kiddie sci-fi adventure genre. At home, recent hits like Final Destination: Bloodlines and A24's Friendship are now available to rent. On streaming, A Minecraft Movie comes to HBO Max, and a couple of indie flicks worth your time land on Shudder and Paramount+ with Showtime. Read on because there's something for everyone.
What to watch in theaters
Movies newly available to rent or buy
Movies debuting on streaming services you may already have
Movies newly available on streaming services you may already have
My recommendation:
Why you should watch it: First things first: 28 Years Later is the start of a planned trilogy, a fact you'd never know unless you're extremely plugged into reading about movies online. The sequel is already shot and has a January 2026 release date. The third film has not yet been produced.
The movie, disappointingly, is very much part one of three, feeling like an act one more than a cohesive and fully satisfying whole. An out-of-the-blue tonal shift button at the end is the only real indicator that there's more on the way, as the story of this movie pretty much ends, and there's an extra scene that teases something entirely different to come.
There's plenty to praise here, though, despite that inherent disappointment in expecting a finished product and getting merely the start of one. The creative team behind the original film returns, with Danny Boyle in the director's chair, Alex Garland penning the script and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle doing incredible work and keeping up with the digital aesthetic that became synonymous with 28 Days Later by shooting the movie on modified iPhone 15s.
The film takes place, well, 28 years after the rage virus began, and in that time the infected have evolved, but I won't spoil the sheer fun and horror of discovering these new variants. Like all good zombie flicks, it reflects on the era in which it was made, and there are obvious parallels here to real-world events like Brexit. It's hard to not think of the film as a response to the mass death we all experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It's a more thoughtful and somber film than some may be expecting, lighter on zombie action than its predecessors and more focused on domestic drama and acceptance of circumstances. It's surprisingly emotionally affecting by the third act, once Ralph Fiennes, the film's MVP, enters. Protagonist Alfie Williams, a child actor making his debut, is terrific too. Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson both feel more like plot conveniences than characters.
It's a shame that the movie is undercut by the 'this is the start of a trilogy' of it all, because when it works, it's damned good, and Boyle is really back in top form. It's a terrific showcase for his heightened, damn-near experimental style. In short, it's still good but may not be the movie audiences are expecting.
🍿 What critics are saying: Critics are big fans of it. AP's Jake Coyle writes, "Buried in here are some tender reflections on mortality and misguided exceptionalism, and even the hint of those ideas make 28 Years Later a more thoughtful movie than you're likely to find at the multiplex this time of year." William Bibbiani at TheWrap agrees, writing that "the filmmakers haven't redefined the zombie genre, but they've refocused their own culturally significant riff into a lush, fascinating epic that has way more to say about being human than it does about (re-)killing the dead."
👀 How to watch: 28 Years Later is now in theaters nationwide.
Get tickets
🤔 If that's not for you...
: The latest from Disney-Pixar arrives after a yearlong delay and a new creative team taking over the project, and the movie does show signs of tinkering. It's a story about a boy with dead parents who doesn't feel like he belongs on Earth, so he hopes to be abducted by aliens, which then happens. They mistake him for the leader of Earth, which he runs with. Despite the messiness that rears its head, mostly in the form of too many characters and subplots, it's imaginative and sweet in the way we've come to expect from Pixar, and it's fun to see the storied animation studio trafficking in sci-fi tropes that adults will recognize as references to classic films and kids will find new and exciting. It's a solid effort, but definitely not up there with the best of them. — Get tickets.
:Another week, another Die Hard variant, this time it's a comedy-focused spin on the material starring Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Anna Chlumsky and recent Oscar winner Da'Vine Joy Randolph. The premise here is 'Die Hard meets Bridesmaids,' with the action scenario unfolding at a wedding and the maid of honor being a secret agent, much to the surprise of the rest of the wedding party. It's not without a few laughs, but it's largely uninspired, and your mileage will vary depending on how funny you find Wilson. — Get tickets.
My recommendation:
Why you should watch it: Final Destination: Bloodlines was a box office success, making more than $273 million worldwide. Now that it's available to rent or buy at home, I hope even more people tune in. This movie is an absolute blast and finds a clever and fun way to retool the concept of the series. As I previously wrote, the bread and butter of the franchise, cruelly funny Rube Goldberg-style death sequences that have a lot of fun teasing the audience with misdirects before landing on the ultimate mode of demise, is in top form here, one-upping itself as it goes with some truly jaw-dropping set pieces. Formula can really be such a comfort, even if it's disgustingly gruesome! It also features an unexpectedly emotional send-off to the late Tony Todd, as it becomes clear that the scene was written with the knowledge that he didn't have much time left.
🍿 What critics are saying: It's the highest-rated entry in the series with 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Radheyan Simonpillai at the Guardian raved that it 'breathes new life' into the franchise, and Jacob Oller at the AV Club says it 'honors a legacy of unrepentant silliness and gleeful gore with a knowing wink.'
👀 How to watch: Final Destination: Bloodlines is now available to rent or purchase on digital and on-demand.
Rent or buy 'Final Destination: Bloodlines'
🤔 If those aren't for you...
I first recommended this movie when it hit theaters and now that it's available to watch at home, I stand by what I previously wrote: It's a silly movie that knows it, and it has a lot of fun getting as bloody as possible. — Rent or buy.
A good old-fashioned horror flick — no irony to be found here, just pure commitment to its own spooky aesthetic — that mashes up A Nightmare on Elm Street with a more generic supernatural 'urban legend' flick. It's a cheap indie, but it has a great creature design, the backstory they've come up with is compelling, and there are several unsettling images throughout. It's solid!— Rent or buy.
The comedy of Tim Robinson is definitely not for everyone, but those who do appreciate his sense of humor rabidly anticipate his work. It's about a suburban dad (Robinson) with an unsatisfied wife (Kata Mara) and a kid who thinks he's a loser befriending his super cool neighbor (Rudd) and becoming a little too into him. It's funny throughout — if you find Robinson's antics amusing — and likely aggravating if you don't. It also features probably the funniest drug trip sequence of all time. — Rent or buy.
My recommendation:
Why you should watch it: This documentary about astronaut Sally Ride delves into an aspect of her life that was once hidden from public view. It's about her life with Tam O'Shaughnessy, her life partner of 27 years whose existence was only made known after Ride's death from cancer in 2012. The dramatizations of their relationship that occur in the film feel a bit off, but once you realize they're doing it because there's no documented evidence of their relationship, the tactic hits home. It's an enlightening doc about a fascinating subject.
🍿 What critics are saying: Lisa Kennedy at Variety notes that O'Shaughnessy's "candor here marries a spectacular professional saga with the personal love story convincingly." Caryn James at the Hollywood Reporter sums it up well: "Sally stands perfectly well without any fussy touches, as an important addition to the record of what we know about a pioneering cultural figure — in all her complexity, ambition and guardedness."
.👀 How to watch: Sally is now streaming on Hulu.
Stream 'Sally'
My recommendation:
Why you should maybe watch it: I previously recommended A Minecraft Movie and what I thought then still stands: I am not the target demographic so I did not enjoy it but the movie is a huge hit and kids are going absolutely feral for it. Helmed by director Jared Hess, the man behind Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre, it feels like a movie made by the guy who made those, and that's fun, but there's just something ironic about the idea of making a movie about the power of creativity and imagination that's indistinguishable from similar formulaic fare about characters chasing a glowing orb.
🍿 What critics are saying: Critics gave it a 48%, according to Rotten Tomatoes, but the audience score is 85%. The Atlantic's David Sims wrote that it's "the first genuine smash hit of the floundering 2025 movie season, and I exult in anything that's bringing young people to cineplexes, even if the film occasionally made me want to pop an Advil." Mark Kennedy at the Associated Press, however, liked it and praised Jason Momoa's performance in particular.
.👀 How to watch: A Minecraft Movie is now streaming on HBO Max.
Stream 'A Minecraft Movie'
🤔 If that's not for you...
Musician turned filmmaker Flying Lotus directed this derivative sci-fi horror flick that's all style over substance. If you've seen genre classics like The Thing, Alien or Solaris, or even something like Event Horizon, you've seen this movie, which plays like a mash-up of all of those films and more. It never transcends the fact that it's a love letter to other films to become its own movie, even if it has some striking visuals. Starring Eiza Gonzáles and Aaron Paul. — Now streaming on Shudder.
Love Me couldn't be stranger: It's a love story set in a post-apocalyptic, human-free future, between a buoy and a satellite. The story spans billions of years as they learn what life was like on Earth, and the two sentient beings discover themselves and what it means to be alive and in love. It's easier to watch than it is to explain, and it stars Kirsten Stewart and Steven Yuen. — Now streaming on Paramount+ w/ Showtime.
That's all for this week — see you next Friday at the movies!

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Cubs legend Sammy Sosa returns to Wrigley Field after 20-plus-year hiatus
Cubs legend Sammy Sosa returns to Wrigley Field after 20-plus-year hiatus

CBS News

time43 minutes ago

  • CBS News

Cubs legend Sammy Sosa returns to Wrigley Field after 20-plus-year hiatus

Legendary Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa returned to Wrigley Field for the first time in more than 20 years on Friday before Chicago's afternoon game with the Seattle Mariners. Sosa, who is set to be inducted into the Cubs' team Hall of Fame this year, arrived at the iconic North Side ballpark in a black SUV. He was greeted by owner Tom Ricketts, who embraced him in a hug as he exited the vehicle. Sosa became the face of the Cubs franchise where he played 13 seasons after coming in a trade from the crosstown White Sox in March 1992. A seven-time All-Star, Sosa hit 545 homers in 1,811 games with the Cubs and hit a franchise-record 66 in 1998 when he was named the NL's MVP. Sosa, now 56, played his final game with the Cubs at Wrigley on Oct. 2, 2004, when he homered and had two hits in an 8-6 loss to Atlanta. During his years with the Cubs, Sosa appeared to bulk up drastically and was a headliner in a generation of baseball's biggest names linked to performance-enhancing drugs. The Cubs traded him to Baltimore with cash in February 2005 for three players. Sosa appeared to acknowledge using performance-enhancing drugs in December when he released a statement saying he was sorry for mistakes, without specifying them. "There were times I did whatever I could to recover from injuries in an effort to keep my strength up to perform over 162 games," he said in the statement. "I never broke any laws. But in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize." On Friday morning, Sosa posed for photos with rising Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong outside the team's clubhouse and a video showed Sosa embracing manager Craig Counsell in his office before the game. "(Sosa) saw the wind blowing out today and planned this trip around a good day to be here," Counsell joked. "He asked to be in the lineup because the wind's blowing out." The Cubs honored Sosa with a video board tribute after the second inning. Sosa waved and bowed to fans from a suite during the presentation. In Thursday's 8-7 loss to Milwaukee, Crow-Armstrong went deep to set a new team record for reaching 20 homers and 20-plus stolen stolen bases the fastest, doing it in 73 games. Sosa had the old mark of 96, set in 1994. Counsell, who faced Sosa as a player, saluted the former slugger for his strength at the plate and long homers, as well as star power. "Probably the best thing, Sammy was a true entertainer," Counsell said. "I think when you're in this long enough, you realize that's part of this. "We're also here to entertain and I think Sammy was great at that."

‘Jaws' New 50th Anniversary Release And Documentary Get Better With Age
‘Jaws' New 50th Anniversary Release And Documentary Get Better With Age

Forbes

timean hour ago

  • Forbes

‘Jaws' New 50th Anniversary Release And Documentary Get Better With Age

Hollywood icon Steven Spielberg's Jaws was released 50 years ago today and quickly became the highest grossing movie in cinema history. The filmmaker's career, the summer blockbuster, and our modern obsession with sharks all owe their existence mostly to Jaws, and a new anniversary release (including documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story) all prove it just gets better with age. American actor Richard Dreyfuss (L) and British actor Robert Shaw (1927 - 1978) hold ropes while ... More leaning off the back of their boat, 'Orca,' in pursuit of the giant Great White shark in a still from the film, 'Jaws,' directed by Steven Spielberg, 1975. (Photo by Universal Pictures/Fotos International/Courtesy of Getty Images) Jaws - Trial By Water Spielberg began shooting in May 1974 on Martha's Vineyard, insisting on real ocean locations for authenticity. The eight-week shoot ballooned to 159 days and the budget soared from $4 million to nearly $10 million. Every day brought new woes, as rough seas wrecked shots, boats drifted into frame, equipment failed, and the mechanical shark seldom worked as intended. There were actually three 'Bruces' built, but saltwater corroded their innards, causing one shark to sink and others to fall apart. 'We never fixed the shark, and it was a total disaster,' Spielberg later admitted of those early trials. Faced with constant delays and a creature that wouldn't cooperate, Spielberg improvised. He and co-writer Carl Gottlieb were rewriting nightly to work around the malfunctioning shark, slashing its screen time and letting imagination fill the gaps. Spielberg's ingenuity under duress helped transform a B-movie creature feature into white-knuckle Hitchcockian suspense. Yet during the shoot, Spielberg felt anything but confident. Morale was low among a crew stuck at sea for months, many far over schedule and far from home. The director himself was anxiety-ridden. He feared he'd be fired at any moment for the budget overruns and delays, so much so that he refused to leave the island even on weekends. 'If I left the island I was certain I would never come back,' he recalled. At one point, Spielberg even suffered what he thought was a heart attack on set. It was actually a full-blown panic attack, brought on by stress (as he reflects now, 'We didn't have words like PTSD then' to describe the toll). When the final scene wrapped, the 27-year-old filmmaker was convinced his career was over. Of course, Spielberg's fears proved unfounded. Instead, Jaws's torturous production forged a filmmaker. The young director's trials by water taught him hard lessons in resourcefulness and resilience. He emerged with a mastery beyond his years – a fact noted even at the time. Despite his youth, Spielberg 'showed a maturity behind the camera that belied his years,' one critic later observed of Jaws. In the decades that followed, Spielberg would never again face such a loss of control on set or such financial jeopardy. Jaws's success granted him creative latitude for life. But he also never forgot the experience, always saying Jaws made him a better director and helped exorcise some personal fears. Spielberg noted that perhaps Jaws was even his own fear of water incarnate. Five decades on, Spielberg participates fondly in 50th anniversary retrospectives, able to laugh about the nightmare shoot that minted his legend. As he says in the Jaws @ 50 documentary, making the film involved 'naive people against nature,' and it taught him 'you're gonna need a bigger boat' in more ways than one. Jaws Births The Blockbuster Before Jaws, the summer months were a Hollywood dead zone typically reserved for B movies or ignored entirely ('why go to the movies when the sun is shining?' as one writer put it). Jaws turned that wisdom on its head. Universal Pictures had boldly decided to market Jaws as a must-see summer event, even delaying its release to June so that 'people were in the water off the summer beach resorts,'producer David Brown noted. They blanketed television with millions of dollars worth of ads – an unprecedented blitz at the time – and plastered the now-famous image of a monstrous shark and swimmer on posters, paperback covers, and merchandise everywhere. Tie-ins ranged from Jaws-themed clothing to beach towels to hilarious toilet-seat covers. Jaws was everywhere before it even opened. The tagline 'See it before you go swimming,' was a dare that became a cultural catchphrase. The strategy worked beyond anyone's expectations. Audiences flocked to cinemas, especially the new multiplexes in shopping malls. Many returned for multiple viewings, bringing friends in tow. An event movie mentality was born. Jaws became the highest-grossing film of all time after a record debut and months atop the box office charts. By the end of that summer, the 'sleepy months' had become prime box-office real estate. As screenwriter Carl Gottlieb later observed, Jaws's release proved that selling a film 'as a phenomenon, as a destination' could yield massive returns. It's a lesson Hollywood would take to heart. Jaws - From Popcorn Hit to Classic On its 10th anniversary in 1985, Jaws was already enshrined as a pop culture icon that spawned imitators and its own lesser sequels, as audiences' appetite for sharks remained strong. Meanwhile, directors like James Cameron and John Landis were citing Jaws as formative, and products from toys to theme-park rides continued to rake in money and prove the films' continued popularity. At 10 years old, Jaws was demonstrating its generational staying power. The 25th anniversary in 2000 saw Jaws celebrated in fan circles and by a new generation of filmmakers. Although initially some critics turned up their noses at the film as low-brow entertainment for the masses, by 2000 Jaws was almost universally lauded and the film frequently landed on 'greatest movies' lists. The 30th anniversary in 2005 brought JawsFest to Martha's Vineyard: a large fan gathering that featured cast reunions, location tours, and panel discussions with Jaws scholars. Hundreds of fans descended on the little island. By the time Jaws's 45th anniversaries rolled around, society was locked down in the Covid pandemic's first year, terror gripping communities worldwide. And once again, Jaws proved its relevance. With indoor cinemas mostly shuttered, drive-in theaters sprang up across the country, and what was the top draw? Jaws, of course, sometimes in double features with Spielberg's Jurassic Park. You can read my own review for the film's 45th anniversary release here. Now, for the 50th anniversary this year, Jaws is getting the full treatment. Martha's Vineyard, forever synonymous with Amity Island, is hosting commemorative screenings, Jaws-themed concerts, and a 'shark in the park' event. The Academy Museum in Los Angeles has opened a special exhibit featuring the last surviving Jaws shark prop (restored to its former glory). Notably, there is the brand-new aforementioned documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story. And of course, there is a 4K UHD special edition home release of Jaws for the 5oth anniversary, including the documentary, which I'll discuss more below. Jaws And Me Five Decades Later Jaws turns 50 the same summer I turn 55. Jaws is my favorite film, encompassing my feelings as a young wide-eyed child seeing it for the first time at a drive-in (talk about larger than life, especially for a small kid) and then rewatching it endlessly on TV and VHS until the tapes wore out. Much of my early years revolved around my love of comics and films, with Jaws, Taxi Driver, Star Wars, and Superman being among the biggest focuses of my attention and remaining long-lasting favorites and influences. In my teen years, I was more interested in music and other pursuits, and aside from a handful of films – including The Terminator, Aliens, Witness, The Right Stuff, Platoon, Die Hard, and Raising Arizona – mid- and late-1980s cinema is mostly something I rediscovered in college when I went back to see what I'd missed. In those first few years, Jaws represented a grounded realistic portrayal at immense scale, horrifying and thrilling and funny, at once seeming like ordinary everyday life and yet also mythic and consequential. My small mind grasped much of that, even if in simplistic and more limited form. But as I grew up, and as I watched more films and read more comics and spent more time on boats and in life itself, Jaws seemed to grow and take on new relevance. It revealed itself to me in different ways, and in turn helped me also think about its themes and the world in different ways as well. It is one of the films that most made me dream of making my own movies, and its been an immense influence on my own approach to dialogue, pacing, and sequencing when I write screenplays. I personally think of Jaws as primarily a suspense thriller with horror elements, rather than an outright horror movie, but I won't argue with anyone who puts it in the latter category. Interestingly, the extent to which it leans more toward thriller or horror often depends on which themes and perspectives are at the forefront of my mind and interpretations while viewing it, including any subtextual social relevance I bring into the screening. Mark Travers' excellent 50th anniversary piece about Jaws notes the way ambiguity enhances our fear by letting our own minds fill in the horror-blanks, so to speak. This is similar to the same reason I'm a fan of zombie films – they're less about the literal particulars of zombies than whatever the zombies come to represent in the minds of individual and collective viewers. Zombies are a metaphor for whatever terrifies and threatens us, be it pandemics or nuclear war or climate change or civil war, the living dead are an empty slate upon which we write our own nightmares. Jaws is a perfect early example of this, within a more refined context as Travers discusses. And the way the shark is more menacing and more terrifying when we don't see it speaks to a point Robert Patterson's Bruce Wayne makes during his opening narration in Matt Reeves' The Batman when he says that because he could be anywhere, scared villains see him everywhere. Jaws - The Legacy Lives On Half a century after it first made audiences cry and popcorn fly, Jaws remains a powerful force in pop culture. Its legacy is seen every year when summer movie season rolls around. Its DNA is present whenever a filmmaker holds back a monster reveal to build suspense or a blockbuster balances character moments with eye-popping thrills. Its cautionary themes about respecting nature, heeding warnings and science, and finding courage are as relevant as ever. And in the simple act of scaring people out of the water, Jaws achieved a kind of immortality that few works of fiction ever do. Modern viewers are still struck by how Jaws, despite launching an era of big-budget popcorn spectacle, remains a relatively modestly human-scaled thriller at heart. Compared to today's CGI-filled epics, Jaws was a mid-budget film that relied on character, suspense, and primal fear more than flashy effects. When the time for effects did come, the realism and selective use made them all the more impressive and scary. In fact, many argue Hollywood took the wrong lessons from Jaws, that studios focused on 'bigger boat' spectacle rather than what truly made the film great – its tight storytelling and craft. The real keys were suspense, relatable characters, and Spielberg's deft directing. Thus, while Jaws undeniably gave Hollywood a new formula for summer hits, it also stands apart from the very blockbusters it inspired. Jaws would thrive in any era. Indeed, the modern masterpiece Godzilla Minus One from writer-director-VFX Supervisor Takashi Yamazaki is heavily inspired by Jaws. The film reflects the best sort of inspiration from Spielberg's film, including the power of character-driven storytelling, suspense and anticipation, and a brilliant vision from its director. If you want a particularly great 50th anniversary of Jaws, the new 4K UHD edition and the gorgeous Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color make for a perfect pairing. Then watch the anniversary documentary Jaws @ 50 (either on the excellent physical home release, or when it runs on National Geographic/Hulu/Disney+) for insightful and revelatory conversations with cast and crew, including Spielberg's conversations about his own reactions and lingering traumas over the many years and decades after making Jaws. For Spielberg and the cast and crew, it probably seems astonishing that a film made under such duress could endure so powerfully. But perhaps it's precisely those challenges that made Jaws great, the creative solutions and on-the-fly brilliance born from chaos and necessity. Jaws transcended its humble 'summer thriller' origins to become a classic. Despite the great Roger Ebert's own glowing review, many of his contemporaries couldn't all see of its greatness, with many dismissing it as nonsense or mere shock entertainment. But time has vindicated Jaws. Today, it is firmly entrenched as a historic turning point in American cinema, dissected in film courses, and beloved by filmmakers and audiences alike. From its metaphorical depths exploring fear of the unknown and the perils of greed and hubris, to its lasting impact on filmmaking and pop culture, five decades on Jaws remains a timeless masterpiece reflecting changes in Hollywood and society, even as it continues to scare new generations out of the water.

Former assistant describes putting on gloves to clean up Diddy's freak offs - as $6k bill for hotel damage revealed
Former assistant describes putting on gloves to clean up Diddy's freak offs - as $6k bill for hotel damage revealed

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Former assistant describes putting on gloves to clean up Diddy's freak offs - as $6k bill for hotel damage revealed

The former assistant for Sean 'Diddy' Combs described how he set up and cleaned up hotel rooms after 'freak offs.' Brendan Paul, who worked as the rapper's assistant for 18 months until he was arrested in March 2024 for cocaine possession, testified about his role preparing and tidying up hotel rooms after his boss and his then-girlfriend had 'freak offs.' Clad in a blue suit, the former Syracuse basketball player spoke quickly and confidently while on the stand Friday morning. Paul, who worked 100-hour weeks for the mogul, recalled 'advancing' locations for his boss's hotel stays. This included setting up hotel rooms, bringing baby oil, lubricant, condoms, candles and liquor, as well as calling room service to bring up extra towels, sheets, and water, he testified. Although Paul said he didn't know what the 'wild king nights' — another term for 'freak offs' — entailed, he understood they involved sex and partying. When cleaning up, Paul recalled putting on gloves 'for sanity reasons' while placing towels and sheets 'in a nice pile.' He noted the rooms were often 'in disarray.' He said he understood he was tasked with tidying up the rooms after 'wild king nights' to 'avoid getting damage charges.' He then left cash tips for hotel staff. Later in the day, however, the jury learned that Diddy was charged hundreds, and sometimes thousands, for damages to hotel rooms. Records revealed that the mogul was charged $6,000 for 'losses and damages' during his stay at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Miami in December 2021. The mogul faces five federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He's pleaded not guilty. The former assistant's duties were one of several shocking revelations during Friday's testimony. Paul recalled working three days straight without sleeping while the mogul worked on releasing his 2023 album 'The Love Album: Off the Grid.' Diddy told his team to 'move like SEAL Team Six,' which Paul took to mean 'be militant' and 'get things done without him asking,' he testified. Asked about how he feels about Diddy today, Paul replied: 'It's complicated.' The mogul shot a 'thumbs up' at his defense attorney Brian Steel after he cross-examined Paul. The government expects to rest its case as soon as Monday. If that's the case, the defense said it could rest its case on Tuesday or Wednesday, meaning the jury could have the case as early as next week. At The London West Hollywood in January 2023, records revealed a $3,750 charge for damaged furniture. A damage report read in court Friday stated that hotel staff noticed 'bodily fluids stained on the wood floor' as well as 'used linens in various sections of the room.' Months later in April at the same hotel, a damage report revealed a $1,800 charge for towels that 'appear to have been soaked in baby oil' and signs of smoking in the room. While on the stand, Paul clarified he was 'absolutely not' a drug mule. Brian Steel, one of Diddy's defense attorneys, asked if drugs were just a 'minor part' of what he did for his boss; Paul agreed. The witness also clarified that when he was arrested, he had Diddy's cocaine. 'I was sweeping his room earlier that morning' when he grabbed the drugs and put them in his bag and 'I forgot to put it elsewhere," he said on the stand. He had 0.7 grams of cocaine on him at the time of his arrest, he testified. Paul didn't tell police at the time that they weren't his drugs out of 'loyalty' to his boss, he told the court.

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