The trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution continues in New York. Combs denies all allegations and has pleaded not guilty in court. The trial is expected to last eight weeks.
So far, several people have been called to testify in court, including Combs' ex-girlfriend of 10 years, Cassie Ventura, Kid Cudi, who Cassie briefly dated in 2011, an escort hired by Combs, Daniel Phillip, and several of Combs' former assistants. One of whom is Jonathan Perez.
Who is Jonathan Perez?
Jonathan Perez used to work for Diddy as a personal assistant from late 2021 until his arrest in September last year and was subpoenaed by the government. According to court reports, he was often spinning in his swivel chair during testimony.
What did he testify in Diddy's trial?
During Jonathan Perez's testimonial, he told the court about his experiences of working for Diddy, including his alleged sex parties and drug habit. According to Perez, Diddy's now notorious 'freak offs' were also called 'king nights'.
Perez testified that he and his co-workers had to make sure Diddy 'was going to have everything he would need for 12 to 24 hours without having to bother anybody', which included liquor, music, food, drinks and 'personal items' such as lubricant and 'Vital Honey' for 'enhancing a man’s libido'.
The former assistant then spoke about some of the guests who attended the 'king nights' and identified a woman who testified last week as 'Jane' as one of the guests. Perez said he used cash or a corporate credit card to buy supplies for the freak offs from stores such as Target, CVS and Amazon, as well as sex shops.
Staff would have between two hours and a day of notice to set up the sex parties, the court heard. They would then find the room 'just a bit of a mess and in disarray… just like lots of sheets and towels and oils'. Perez added staff would 'arrange a good meal, a massage' for the women after each session, or an IV drip 'to put them to sleep'.
Perez said Diddy would carry a Gucci pouch of items to 'king nights' including cash and drugs such as ketamine, molly and Adderall. In a text exchange seen by the court, Perez texted Diddy's other assistants in a group chat, 'I found items in the Balenciaga pouch that should never leave the Gucci pouch. Perez clarified in a follow-up text, 'Cocaine.' The former assistant claims he was often sent by Diddy to buy drugs.
The court then heard that Perez was the assistant who set up Jane’s date night with Diddy last year. That date allegedly turned into an argument when Jane accused Diddy of taking another woman to Wyoming. They then physically fought, Jane testified, and Diddy allegedly forced her to perform sex acts on another man in a freak off. Perez said he was told to pick Diddy up from the date and to bring Jane '$3,500 cash asap'.
Jane previously testified that after Diddy assaulted her, he called an adult film actor to her house for a freak off. She said she protested, and alleged that Combs made her let the man in, gave her an ecstasy pill and ordered her to perform oral sex.
Perez described Diddy's arrest as a time when 'there was a lot going on personally for Mr. Combs … not a lot of communication about what was happening. He added, 'I thought it was a good time to leave to hopefully avoid a situation like this.'
The former employee then said he still feels 'great' about Diddy and was testifying under subpoena, against his wishes. Perez was granted immunity from the charge of purchasing illegal drugs in exchange for his evidence.
When cross examined by the defence, he added that the aforementioned 'king night' duties made up about one per cent of his work for Diddy. Perez also added that he never saw Diddy assault any women, including Jane. 'Did Jane appear to you … in any way upset or unhappy after the king night?' Diddy's defence lawyer followed up. 'No,' Perez replied.
The trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs continues in New York.
Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, working across entertainment, TV and news. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things pop culture for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow with equal respect).