DINH DOONG

On the afternoon of October 10, hip-hop mogul Diddy appeared in court at the Manhattan Federal Court (New York, USA) facing charges of sex trafficking, prostitution, and extortion, among others. This was the first public hearing in Diddy’s shocking case. No images from the trial were released to the media. However, sources reported that Diddy arrived at the courthouse in a relaxed mood and showed no health issues. “Diddy wore gray prison clothing, entered the courtroom through a side door with a bright expression. He smiled and waved at his son Christian ‘King’ Combs, then blew kisses to other family members. Afterward, Diddy turned to hug each of his lawyers before stepping into the hearing,” the source said.

Present in the courtroom were Janice Combs (Diddy’s mother) and 6 out of 7 of the rapper’s children, including Quincy Brown, Justin Combs, Christian “King” Combs, Chance Combs, and the twin girls Jessie and D’Lila Combs. Diddy’s mother, who recently criticized the allegations against her son, faced boos as she exited the vehicle. The crowd outside pressured the twin girls Jessie and D’Lila to protect the content of their mother’s shocking memoir.

On social media, Diddy’s smiling, confident, and indifferent demeanor on the day of his court appearance sparked outrage. Many believe the rapper showed no remorse or embarrassment for the horrific sexual crimes he has allegedly committed over the decades. As of now, the content of the hearing remains undisclosed. However, according to CNN sources, Diddy did not make a statement in court. Meanwhile, his attorney filed a lawsuit claiming that the government leaked a video of Diddy assaulting his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, to the media. However, Diddy’s lawyer did not provide specific evidence for his claims. A few hours later, Damian Williams, a lawyer from the Southern District of New York, sent a letter to the judge confirming that “the government does not possess the video of Diddy assaulting his girlfriend prior to CNN’s release.” Additionally, Diddy’s team submitted a third appeal for bail during the trial, despite having been denied twice before.

Diddy’s next hearing is scheduled for December 18, 2024, with his trial set for May 5, 2025. Diddy was indicted in September on charges of extortion, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and prostitution. He is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn (USA) and has been denied bail twice. During the indictment hearing on September 17, Diddy pleaded not guilty and denied all charges against him.

On October 1 (local time), Diddy faced new sexual assault allegations from 120 additional victims. Notably, attorney Tony Buzbee shocked many by claiming that the notorious rap mogul had sexually assaulted 25 minors, with the youngest victim being only 9 years old. According to the attorney, Diddy and his accomplices exploited auditions organized by the company to commit vile acts against minors.

Sources within the industry revealed that even behind bars, Diddy remains a powerful force in the entertainment world, maintaining significant influence. “Diddy is very powerful. People are afraid to confront him. Even though he’s behind bars, he still wields considerable power. We all knew that from the beginning. Diddy is extremely intelligent, knows many people, and has helped a lot of others. So, many people owe him, and he knows that,” People quoted a source close to the situation.

The mogul’s power is believed to be the reason why numerous stars linked to the case, such as Justin Bieber, Usher, and the couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z, have remained silent, unwilling to utter a word in the media. Additionally, many powerful figures, including artists, executives, and managers in the music industry, are reportedly on edge, fearing they might be named in Diddy’s case. Some stars have reportedly reached out to victims to “resolve matters privately.” They are trying to pay and settle issues to avoid being named in court during Diddy’s trial.