Spare a moment for the jurors serving on the biggest sex trafficking trial of the century, otherwise known as the trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Not only do those 12 individuals have a vast and culturally significant responsibility – one that stands to open the floodgates of misconduct in the music industry – but they will spend the next three months combing through more than 20 years’ worth of horrendous allegations.
Combs’ trial began on 5 May and the music mogul faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He was arrested last September following a federal investigation and has been denied bail three times. As well as his criminal charges, Combs faces dozens of sexual assault, abuse and drugging civil allegations that range from the ‘90s to the past year. He denies all allegations and has pleaded not guilty in court.
Which celebrities were the jury asked about?
Even before the opening statements were presented on 12 May, the magnitude of the trial was made clear. Judge Arun Subramanian, who is overseeing the case, has described the extensive list of famous names that might come up in court.
The unpublished list was put to more than 600 potential jurors who were required to fill out a questionnaire to decipher whether they know those included. Judge Arun Subramanian joked, ‘I read through the people and places list, which is several pages long. I felt like I was reading an appendix from, like, The Lord of the Rings.’
Those questioned were asked about their knowledge of celebrities including Kanye West, Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers, Kid Cudi, actress Lauren London, producers Dallas Austin and Harve Pierre, director Laurieann Gibson, former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard and former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams. It's important to note that none of these people have been accused of any wrongdoing, nor does their inclusion guarantee they will be called as witnesses or named throughout the proceedings.
On the first day of the trial, one juror reportedly told the court he was familiar with a few of the names on the elusive list, mentioning Jordan and Myers in particular. Another said they recognised Jordan and Cudi, but both contended they could still impartially evaluate the evidence.
From the reported scope of potential witnesses, it would be challenging to find 12 individuals who have never so much as heard of the celebrities. They are, after all, likely to include global stars and household names. Then there’s the fact the ‘Diddy List’ has been speculated about since Combs’ arrest back in September. The judge’s Lord of the Rings quip is, if nothing else, likely to refuel those rumours and add to the media frenzy that already surrounds the trial.
As one of the most powerful and successful artists in the industry, Combs has worked with almost every big name in music. Not only that, but he was famed for hosting elite, A-list parties, which read as a who’s who in entertainment. Save for Kanye West’s erratic social media tirades defending Combs, most of the Hollywood stars once close with Combs have avoided or declined to comment on his legal proceedings. While it's not difficult to understand why, if they are called as witnesses then they will not have that luxury.
Nevertheless, Combs’ defence team has maintained that he is innocent and that ‘the truth will prevail in court’. Days before the trial began, Combs rejected a final plea offer from the prosecution and pleaded not guilty.
If he is convicted, however, Combs faces up to life imprisonment. A far cry from the fast-paced life of luxury and hedonism that he was once used to, for the past six months Combs has had a taste of life behind bars while living in the notoriously dangerous and unhygienic Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, New York. He has taken great pains to escape, allegedly attempting to contact witnesses using other inmates’ phone calls and appealing to move to house arrest on bail on three occasions. All of which were denied – once by Subramanian himself.
If it wasn’t already a blockbuster trial with huge implications for the music industry, it is likely to blow up even more as more and more names of elusive list of A-listers are mentioned in court.
Who has testified in Diddy's trial so far?
So far we've heard from various celebrities including Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Cassandra Ventura, better known as Cassie, who filed her own lawsuit against Combs at the end of 2023 alleging that he subjected her to a pattern of abuse and control over a decade. He vehemently denied the allegations at the time, but last May CCTV footage of Combs violently kicking and beating Ventura outside their hotel room in 2016 was leaked online. The following day, Combs issued an apology and said his actions were ‘inexcusable’ and that he has since sought help. ‘I was disgusted then when I did it,’ he added. ‘I’m disgusted now.’
A source has since told People that in Ventura’s complaint she claims to have begun a ‘flirtatious relationship with an actor’ and alleges that Combs ‘called the actor and threatened him’. According to the source, that actor is Michael B. Jordan, which is why his name has been included.
So far in court, we've also heard from singer Dawn Richard- who accused Diddy of sexual and physical abuse throughout the eight years they worked together- as well as rapper Kid Cudi, Daniel Philip- an escort allegedly hired by Diddy- and Diddy's former personal assistants Capricorn Clark and David James.
Who else has been named during Diddy's trial?
Since court began, even more names have been thrown into the mix, although none of these named celebrities have been accused of any crime and are not guaranteed to testify. Rihanna's name came up twice in court- once when it was revealed that she had been on holiday with Diddy's former personal assistant Capricorn Clark when she was fired by Combs and once in a picture show to Cassie's former make-up artist, Mylah Morales, who Rihanna also worked with.
Capricorn Clark also brought up Marion 'Suge' Knight as she interned at his company before landing a job as Diddy's assistant. She also alleged that Combs 'had an issue with 50 Cent.'
Usher's name was mentioned during Dawn Richard's testimony when she claimed he was present at a dinner in 2009 where she allegedly saw Combs punch Ventura. According to Richard, music executive Jimmy Iovine was also present at the dinner.
Britney Spears's name has also come up during the trial because Cassie mentioned that the Toxic singer was in attendance at her 21st birthday party. Chris Brown was also briefly mentioned during Cassie's cross-examination- Diddy suspected Cassie had danced with the singer on a night out in 2013, but when his lawyers asked her about it she denied ever dancing with Brown.
Finally, and perhaps most surprisingly of all, Barack Obama's name was also mentioned during the trial. When being questioned about Diddy's drug-taking habits, his former personal assistant David James answered, 'There were various pills, but there was one that was in the shape of a former president's face.' The prosecutor then asked, 'Which former president?' to which James answered, 'President Obama.'
The trial of Sean Combs continues and is expected to last eight weeks.
Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, working across pop culture, TV and news. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things TV for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow shows with equal respect).