Latest news with #Ye
BreakingNews.ie
5 hours 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.
Korea Herald
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Ye's Korea concert on again, after cancellation following Nazi controversy
Ye's concert to take place July 26 in Incheon American hip-hop artist Ye is set to return to Korea for a concert next month, following the cancellation of his previously scheduled show due to controversial behavior. Event organizer Channel Candy announced on Friday that 'Ye Live in Korea' will be held July 26 at Incheon Munhak Stadium. Channel Candy previously hosted Ye's listening party "Ye x Ty Dolla Sign Vultures Listening Experience" at Goyang Sports Complex in August. The agency was also involved in planning Ye's scheduled May 31 concert in partnership with Coupang Play. Coupang Play announced the show's cancellation on May 19, citing the artist's recent controversies. 'Due to recent issues surrounding Kanye West, the upcoming concert has been unavoidably canceled,' the streaming platform agency had said. The controversy stemmed from Ye's recent track 'Heil Hitler,' released on May 8. The track sparked outrage for including excerpts from a 1935 speech by Adolf Hitler and lyrics that appeared to praise the Nazi regime.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Diddy's son Christian Combs visits Kanye West at Chateau Marmont after rapper attended father's trial
Diddy 's son Christian 'King' Combs was spotted visiting Kanye West at the legendary Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Kanye, 48, was not pictured, however Christian, 27, was seen at the hotel with several friends and appeared in good spirits despite his father's ongoing sex trafficking trial in New York City. has contacted Christian and representatives for Kanye about the meeting but did not immediately hear back. Kanye is known to frequent the Hollywood hotspot and on Tuesday, his custom Maybach was towed away from the establishment. Kanye has publicly professed his support for Diddy on multiple occasions amid the music mogul's legal woes, and on Friday even attended the trial, where he was greeted by Christian. The pair shared a hug outside the courthouse before entering together. West caused chaos at the trial in Manhattan as he surprised crowds outside the courthouse. The artist, who now performs by the name Ye, wore an all-white denim outfit to the trial. Kanye had not announced his arrival beforehand, with footage from crowds outside the courthouse showing their surprise as he made his entrance. He was seen entering the courthouse, and briefly entered an overflow room, but did not enter the courtroom itself where Diddy has stood trial since May 5. According to the New York Times, Kanye was not on the approved attendee list for the day and was instructed to watch the proceedings via a closed-circuit video feed in an overflow room. He watched a closed-circuit video feed of the trial with Christian and Diddy's friend Charlucci Finney before departing, The Times adds. He was in the courthouse for approximately a half hour, the publication also reported. It comes as Diddy faces up to life in prison for drug trafficking and racketeering charges, which he has pleaded not guilty to. Over the weekend, Christian paid tribute to his dad with a gushing Father's Day tribute. King shared a post of his father holding him when he was a child. He captioned the shot: 'Happy Fathers Day Pops!!' King said. 'I Love you & miss you !!! We waiting for you at [home].' Diddy is father to seven children with four women. His children are: Quincy, 33, Justin, 30, Christian, Chance, 18, twins D'Lila and Jessie, 18, and Love Sean, two. Diddy faces life in prison on five federal charges: racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Prosecutors say Diddy used his fame and power in the music industry, along with violence and money, to coerce girlfriends for nearly two decades to submit to sexual performances involving male sex workers, sometimes on a weekly basis. The sex marathons, called "freak-offs" and "hotel nights," sometimes lasted several days as Diddy watched, directed and sometimes filmed his girlfriends having sex with other men, according to testimony. Two former girlfriends testified that they relied on drugs supplied by Diddy to stay awake - and numb - throughout the events. They both said they endured the sexual marathons because they were in love with Diddy and it enabled them to spend more time with him. Defense lawyers say prosecutors are trying to criminalize sexual activity between consenting adults. They say their client was involved in domestic abuse, but had not committed the federal crimes of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Kanye West reportedly receiving treatment at mental health clinic in Spain
Kanye West, now known as Ye, is reportedly receiving treatment at a luxury mental health clinic in Mallorca, Spain, amid ongoing legal issues and public backlash linked to his recent behaviour and controversial statements. According to RadarOnline, the 47-year-old rapper checked into The Balance Rehab Clinic, a high-end wellness facility known for its discreet treatment programs and amenities, including private therapy, yoga sessions, and gourmet cuisine. The clinic reportedly charges $170,000 per week. Ye's wife, Bianca Censori, is said to be staying with him during his treatment. Court documents filed as part of a wrongful termination lawsuit by former employee Benjamin Provo reportedly disclosed West's location. The legal filing adds to a series of issues facing the rapper, whose reputation and business ties have suffered significantly in recent years following a series of inflammatory and antisemitic remarks. Ye has openly admitted to struggles with mental health and substance use, including a dependency on nitrous oxide. His behaviour drew heightened concern in February 2025 after he posted 'I'm a Nazi' and other offensive statements on X (formerly Twitter). The posts were widely condemned and subsequently removed. Despite undergoing treatment in Spain, Ye made a surprise appearance at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal sex trafficking trial in New York on June 13. He reportedly entered the Manhattan courthouse alongside Christian 'King' Combs and observed the proceedings from an overflow room to avoid disrupting the courtroom, remaining for about 40 minutes before departing. Earlier this year, Ye faced widespread criticism after airing a Super Bowl commercial advertising a $20 T-shirt, labelled 'HH-01,' which many interpreted as a reference to 'Heil Hitler.' The stunt led Shopify to shut down his store. South Korean retailer Coupang also cancelled a concert and pulled Yeezy products following the release of a track titled 'Heil Hitler,' which was later removed from streaming platforms.
Observer
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Observer
Kubica wins ‘mental battle' to triumph at Le Mans
*Ferrari win Le Mans for third year in a row *Kubica takes chequered flag for customer AF Corse team *Ye becomes first Chinese driver to win *Porsche Penske second, factory Ferrari third LE MANS, France: Former Formula One driver Robert Kubica has long since tackled the demons of a near-fatal accident 14 years ago but Sunday's victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is arguably his greatest achievement yet. The 40-year-old Pole roared to victory in his bright yellow "privateer" Ferrari to give the Italian marque a third consecutive win in the most famous endurance race in the world. In a thrilling 93rd edition of the race, which saw the top four separated by just over 20 seconds going into the final 15 minutes, Kubica and his AF Corse co-drivers Philip Hanson and Ye Yifei (#83) finished just 14.084sec ahead of a Porsche (#6) driven by Kevin Estre, Matt Campbell and Laurens Vanthoor. In so doing they knocked the two factory Ferraris, who started the race as favourites, into third and fourth. "It's been a long 24 hours but an enjoyable one. Grazie mille, grazie a tutti," said Kubica over the team radio as he took the chequered flag. AF Corse's Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Philip Hanson celebrate on the podium. — Reuters Kubica was one of Formula One's brightest prospects when he won the 2008 Canada Grand Prix but a harrowing accident in a rally in Andorra in 2011 almost cost him his life. Trapped upside down in his car before being freed and whisked to hospital, Kubica suffered several serious injuries and underwent a partial amputation of his right forearm. "What happened was very unfortunate, but I was very lucky," he said after Sunday's victory. "It took me quite a few years, not only to recover physically but also mentally. "What happened happened and I have to accept it. One of the worst periods of my life was when my mind wouldn't accept the fact that my arm was failing." He returned to racing cars, however, winning the WRC2 championship and taking part in sports car races. In 2017 he moved back into Formula One, testing for Renault before racing for Williams in 2019. GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT But Sunday's win which made him the first Pole ever to win Le Mans tops any of his other achievements behind the wheel. "It was quite difficult to live with, but I'm happy to have achieved my personal goals," he said. "The best thing I've achieved in my life - it's nothing to do with racing - it's more the battle I won with my mind." Both of Kubica's co-drivers were also first-time winners with Ye the first Chinese driver to triumph. "I'm at a loss for words," said Ye who arrived in Le Mans at the age of 14 on an exchange programme to try and become a professional driver. "It's going to take me some time to realise everything that's happened today. Right now I feel like I'm dreaming. Maybe in two seconds I'll wake up and none of this will exist. "In China, the car industry has come a long way. When my father was my age, there were no cars on the roads, and we're talking about the 1990s. Becoming a professional driver was impossible." With three of the top four, it was certainly a good day for Ferrari but there will undoubtedly be some at headquarters in Maranello who might not be so happy. As the winning car was not entered directly by the manufacturer, but by the AF Corse team, Ferrari will not take the points for victory in the World Endurance Championship. Cadillac locked out the front row of the grid but #12 of Will Stephens, who had taken pole, had to settle for fifth with the second car (#38), featuring former Formula One world champion Jensen Button, coming home in eighth. — AFP
