Latest news with #Diddy
Washington Post
21 minutes ago
- Washington Post
An ex-college basketball player testifies that Sean 'Diddy' Combs got 'extremely creative' on drugs
NEW YORK — A former Syracuse University basketball player who worked recently for Sean 'Diddy' Combs as a personal assistant testified at the music mogul's sex trafficking trial on Friday that Combs got 'extremely creative' when he was on drugs. Brendan Paul, 26, was arrested last year at a Miami airport with cocaine he says belonged to Combs, and he testified with immunity about what it was like working for the hip-hop entrepreneur for a year and a half. Paul was arrested in March 2024 — the same day federal agents conducted multiple searches related to the Combs' investigation.
BreakingNews.ie
23 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Former assistant says Sean ‘Diddy' Combs was ‘extremely creative' on drugs
A former college basketball player has claimed that Sean 'Diddy' Combs got 'extremely creative' when he was on drugs. The former player, who worked as a personal assistant, gave evidence at the music mogul's sex trafficking trial on Friday. Advertisement Prosecutors are winding down their case after six weeks of testimony (Willy Sanjuan/AP) Brendan Paul, 26, was arrested last year at a Miami airport with cocaine he says belonged to Combs, and he gave evidence with immunity about what it was like working for the hip-hop entrepreneur for a year and a half. Mr Paul was arrested in March 2024 — the same day federal agents conducted multiple searches related to the Combs investigation. Prosecutors are winding down their case after six weeks of evidence from an array of witnesses ranging from ex-girlfriends and former employees to male sex workers and the rapper Kid Cudi. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, even made a surprise appearance at the courthouse. Advertisement The prosecution seeks to convince the jury that Combs oversaw a sprawling racketeering enterprise for two decades that relied on obedience by employees willing to do anything for him, including buying drugs when necessary. Defence lawyers say Combs did not commit federal crimes, although they acknowledge that prosecutors have exposed domestic violence during the trial. Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, made a surprise appearance at the courthouse (Michael R Sisak/AP) After pleading not guilty following his September arrest at a Manhattan hotel, Combs has been held without bail at a federal prison in Brooklyn. Prosecutors were expected to rest their case by Monday and the following defence presentation is expected to last from two to five days. Advertisement Mr Paul said he bought drugs for Combs between five and 10 times, spending up to 500 dollars (£370) for drugs including cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and marijuana. He said he only did drugs with Combs once, when the mogul asked him to try 'tusi', also known as pink cocaine, to see if it was good. Mr Paul said he did so because he 'wanted to prove my loyalty' and said he thought it was good. 'We continued on with our night,' he told assistant US attorney Christy Slavic. Advertisement Sean 'Diddy' Combs (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Mr Paul said that prior to his arrest, he had forgotten about the cocaine after collecting it while 'sweeping' Combs's room that morning and had accidentally left it in a bag he carried as he prepared to go on vacation with Combs and other aides. The charges were dismissed after Mr Paul completed a pre-trial diversion programme. Under questioning by defence lawyer Brian Steel, Mr Paul said his 'heart dropped' when he realised that there was cocaine in a travel bag after telling officers at the airport that everything in the bag belonged to him. Mr Steel asked Mr Paul if Combs was generally happy and didn't hurt anyone when he was on drugs. Advertisement 'He got extremely creative,' Mr Paul responded. A view from the jury box is shown inside a federal courtroom similar to the room where the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' is being held (Jefferson Siegel /The New York Times via AP, Pool) At another point, Mr Steel asked: 'You would not work for a criminal, would you?' 'Absolutely not,' Mr Paul responded. Ms Slavic, though, elicited Mr Paul's mixed feelings about Combs just before he finished his evidence when the prosecutor asked him: 'Sitting here today, how do you feel about Mr Combs?' 'It's complicated,' he answered.
CTV News
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
An ex-college basketball player testifies that Sean ‘Diddy' Combs got ‘extremely creative' on drugs
This courtroom sketch depicts Sean "Diddy" Combs sitting at the defence table during his bail hearing in New York on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Elizabeth Williams via AP, File) NEW YORK — A former Syracuse University basketball player who worked recently for Sean 'Diddy' Combs as a personal assistant testified at the music mogul's sex trafficking trial on Friday that Combs got 'extremely creative' when he was on drugs. Brendan Paul, 26, was arrested last year at a Miami airport with cocaine he says belonged to Combs, and he testified with immunity about what it was like working for the hip-hop entrepreneur for a year and a half. Paul was arrested in March 2024 — the same day federal agents conducted multiple searches related to the Combs' investigation. Prosecutors are winding down their case after six weeks of testimony from an array of witnesses ranging from ex-girlfriends and former employees to male sex workers and the rapper Kid Cudi. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, even made a surprise appearance at the courthouse. The prosecution seeks to convince the jury that Combs oversaw a sprawling racketeering enterprise for two decades that relied on obedience by employees willing to do anything for him, including buying drugs when necessary. Defence lawyers say Combs did not commit federal crimes, although they acknowledge that prosecutors have exposed domestic violence during the trial. After pleading not guilty following his September arrest at a Manhattan hotel, Combs has been held without bail at a federal lockup in Brooklyn. Prosecutors were expected to rest their case by Monday. A defence presentation is expected to last from two to five days. Paul said he bought drugs for Combs between five and 10 times, spending up to $500 for drugs including cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and marijuana. He said he only did drugs with Combs once, when Combs asked him to try 'tusi,' also known as pink cocaine, to see if it was good. Paul said he did so because he 'wanted to prove my loyalty' and said he thought it was good. 'We continued on with our night,' he told Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavic. Paul said that prior to his arrest, he had forgotten about the cocaine after collecting it while 'sweeping' Combs' room that morning and had accidentally left it in a bag he carried as he prepared to go on vacation with Combs and other aides. The charges were dismissed after Paul completed a pretrial diversion program. Under questioning by defence attorney Brian Steel, Paul said his 'heart dropped' when he realized that there was cocaine in a travel bag after telling officers at the airport that everything in the bag belonged to him. Steel asked Paul if Combs was generally happy and didn't hurt anyone when he was on drugs. 'He got extremely creative,' Paul responded. At another point, Steel asked the witness: 'You would not work for a criminal, would you?' 'Absolutely not,' Paul responded. Slavic, though, elicited Paul's mixed feelings about Combs when the prosecutor asked him just before he finished his testimony: 'Sitting here today, how do you feel about Mr. Combs?' 'It's complicated,' he answered. Paul, originally from Cleveland, was a 6-foot-2 guard who walked on at Syracuse University and came off the bench in 16 games over two seasons, playing a total of 17 minutes and scored just 3 points. He later transferred to lower-tier Fairmont State University in West Virginia, where he played for two more seasons. Michael R. Sisak And Larry Neumeister, The Associated Press
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
An ex-college basketball player testifies that Sean 'Diddy' Combs got 'extremely creative' on drugs
NEW YORK (AP) — A former Syracuse University basketball player who worked recently for Sean 'Diddy' Combs as a personal assistant testified at the music mogul's sex trafficking trial on Friday that Combs got 'extremely creative' when he was on drugs. Brendan Paul, 26, was arrested last year at a Miami airport with cocaine he says belonged to Combs, and he testified with immunity about what it was like working for the hip-hop entrepreneur for a year and a half. Paul was arrested in March 2024 — the same day federal agents conducted multiple searches related to the Combs' investigation. Prosecutors are winding down their case after six weeks of testimony from an array of witnesses ranging from ex-girlfriends and former employees to male sex workers and the rapper Kid Cudi. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, even made a surprise appearance at the courthouse. The prosecution seeks to convince the jury that Combs oversaw a sprawling racketeering enterprise for two decades that relied on obedience by employees willing to do anything for him, including buying drugs when necessary. Defense lawyers say Combs did not commit federal crimes, although they acknowledge that prosecutors have exposed domestic violence during the trial. After pleading not guilty following his September arrest at a Manhattan hotel, Combs has been held without bail at a federal lockup in Brooklyn. Prosecutors were expected to rest their case by Monday. A defense presentation is expected to last from two to five days. Paul said he bought drugs for Combs between five and 10 times, spending up to $500 for drugs including cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and marijuana. He said he only did drugs with Combs once, when Combs asked him to try 'tusi,' also known as pink cocaine, to see if it was good. Paul said he did so because he 'wanted to prove my loyalty' and said he thought it was good. 'We continued on with our night,' he told Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavic. Paul said that prior to his arrest, he had forgotten about the cocaine after collecting it while 'sweeping' Combs' room that morning and had accidentally left it in a bag he carried as he prepared to go on vacation with Combs and other aides. The charges were dismissed after Paul completed a pretrial diversion program. Under questioning by defense attorney Brian Steel, Paul said his 'heart dropped' when he realized that there was cocaine in a travel bag after telling officers at the airport that everything in the bag belonged to him. Steel asked Paul if Combs was generally happy and didn't hurt anyone when he was on drugs. 'He got extremely creative,' Paul responded. At another point, Steel asked the witness: 'You would not work for a criminal, would you?' 'Absolutely not,' Paul responded. Slavic, though, elicited Paul's mixed feelings about Combs when the prosecutor asked him just before he finished his testimony: 'Sitting here today, how do you feel about Mr. Combs?' 'It's complicated,' he answered. Paul, originally from Cleveland, was a 6-foot-2 guard who walked on at Syracuse University and came off the bench in 16 games over two seasons, playing a total of 17 minutes and scored just 3 points. He later transferred to lower-tier Fairmont State University in West Virginia, where he played for two more seasons.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kanye West Raises Eyebrows As He Storms Diddy's Trial Months After Begging For His Release
Kanye West has made an unannounced appearance at the high-profile sex crime trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs. Dressed in an eye-catching all-white outfit, the rapper's dramatic entrance raised more than a few eyebrows and left many wondering what his motive was behind the appearance. Following Kanye West's arrival, he interacted with fans for a bit before being met at the entrance of the courthouse by Diddy's son, Christian Combs. After days of speculation that Kanye West had been in contact with Diddy's family about possibly attending the embattled rapper's trial, the rumors were put to rest when the Yeezy founder made a dramatic entrance at the courthouse during today's hearing. According to The U.S. Sun, West pulled up around 11:20 a.m. in a blacked-out Maybach, accompanied only by his personal security team. He dressed in a striking all-white ensemble that starkly contrasted with his sleek ride and completed the look with dark sunglasses that shielded his eyes. As he made his way into the courthouse, West briefly interacted with a few bystanders, exchanging handshakes while paparazzi cameras flashed in rapid fire around him. At the steps of the courthouse, West was met by Diddy's son, Christian Combs. The two exchanged a hug for a moment before Christian led the "Donda" crooner into the building. As to why the rapper made the appearance, he said "yes" when a media outlet asked if he was there to support Diddy. He is said to have spent nearly an hour in the building but never actually entered the room where the trial is being held, according to NBC News. Prior to the start of Diddy's trial, West showed support for his music colleague by calling on President Donald Trump to pardon him. "PLEASE FREE MY BROTHER PUFF," the Yeezy CEO wrote in a tweet on X while tagging Trump. In a separate tweet, he slammed his industry colleagues for not showing support for the embattled rapper. "ALL THESE CELEBRITY N-GGAS AND B-TCHES IS P-SSY Y'ALL WATCH OUR BROTHER ROT AND NEVER SAY SH-T," West stated. In yet another tweet, West suggested that Diddy had been witch-hunted by the authorities. "THEY TRYNA PROVE A POINT AND YALL KNOW THAT YALL F-CKING KNOW THAT AND SITTING LAUGHING AT THE F-CKING INTERNET ON INSTAGRAM THIS MAN GAVE HIS LIFE TO US THIS MY IDOL THIS MY HERO," West remarked. Before he attended Diddy's trial, West had a video phone call with the embattled music mogul, obtained by The Shade Room. On their call, Diddy encouraged the Yeezy founder to "get behind the mic." "When I get out there, man, I want to see you f-cking tear down the stadiums. I need to see you back on that stage, f-cking actually rapping and f-cking performing and everything. I be dreaming of that sh-t," Diddy told West. It remains unclear when the conversation between them happened, but Diddy seemingly made sure to warn West to stay out of trouble as he attempted to describe what prison life looks like. "Tell you real from the front line. This sh-t is wicked, wicked, wicked, so you be careful," Diddy said. "You can't do nothing for just... I need you out there, you hear me?" "I hear you, yes, sir," West answered. The rapper's trial, which began last month, is expected to last around eight weeks. He is facing two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, and one count of racketeering. Diddy has pleaded not guilty to all charges and reportedly rejected a plea deal ahead of the trial. Amid the trial, several witnesses have testified on behalf of the prosecutors, including Diddy's ex-girlfriend Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura. She testified to participating in the rapper's "freak-offs" and being blackmailed by him in instances when she refused his requests. If Diddy is ultimately convicted of all the charges, the rapper potentially faces life in prison.
