The trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs continues, and with it, more testimonies and shocking stories have been heard in court. The music mogul- who also goes by Puffy, Puff, Puff Daddy and P. Diddy- faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution as well as a slew of civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault, abuse and drugging over a 20-year period. Combs has denied all allegations and has pleaded not guilty in court.
So far, we’ve already heard from Diddy’s ex-girlfriend of eleven years Cassie Ventura, singer Dawn Richard, and an escort Diddy allegedly paid for ‘freak offs’ called Daniel Phillip, and that’s just the beginning of the ‘mammoth’- according to the judge- list of famous names that could potentially be called to testify. The latest is David James, who followers of the case might be less familiar with considering he worked as Diddy’s assistant.
Here's everything you need to know about what he said about his former employer in court.
Who is David James?
David James worked as Sean Combs’s personal assistant from the years of 2007 to 2009. He was paid a starting salary of $70,000 and is said to have worked gruelling 20 hour shifts five to six days a week. During those hours, he was in charge of scheduling the star’s day-to-day life. In court, he said that when he interviewed for the job, Vashta Wilson, the senior vice-president of HR told him, ‘This is Mr Combs’s kingdom, we’re all here to serve in it.’
What did David James say at the Diddy Trial?
David James worked for Diddy while he dated Kim Porter, Cassie Ventura and several others.
According to James, when he asked Cassie why she didn’t leave Diddy, she reportedly told him, ‘I can’t get out. Mr. Combs oversees so much of my life.’ He then alleged that she revealed, ‘[Diddy] controls my career, pays my allowance, and pays my rent.’ He also alleged that he overheard Diddy describe Cassie as ‘young’ and ‘mouldable’ to a friend.
When the rapper was dating Kim Porter, David James said that he was also dating a roster of other women. ‘Ms. Porter was his main girlfriend,’ James said in court, adding that Combs had simultaneously dated at least three other women at the time, including ‘Sarah,’ ‘Tara’ and ‘Cassie.’
Sarah O'Byrne has worked for Bauer Media since May 2023. She writes for Grazia, heat, Closer, Bella and Yours.