The trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, otherwise known as Puffy or P. Diddy, is in its first week in New York City. Combs faces charges including racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted. Combs denies all charges against him.
Judge Arun Subramanian, who is overseeing the case, has described the extensive list of famous names that might come up in court. The second witness to take to the stand was Daniel Phillip, who was allegedly hired as an escort by Combs to have sex with his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, aka Cassie.
The second day of the trial also saw Cassie give evidence against him. One man who is expected to be at Ventura's side throughout is her husband Alex Fine, who showed up in court on Monday to support her.
Who is Alex Fine?
Alex Fine is a personal trainer from Ohio. Now, he lives and works in LA and counts celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Mark Wahlberg as his clients. He runs his own business, Alex Fine fitness, and works as a personal fitness trainer for the Unbreakable Performance Center. The New York post describes him as 'a gym trainer to the stars who rides bulls in his spare time.'
How long have Alex Fine and Cassie been together?
Cassie and Alex met at the gym in 2018, when Alex was her personal trainer. They went public with their romance in December, when Alex shared a picture of the two kissing on Instagram. Cassie fell pregnant with their daughter soon after they started dating, and it wasn't long before Alex proposed - which she told Vogue came as a surprise. 'I knew that Alex was designing a ring, but I honestly wasn’t expecting a super elaborate proposal because we already had the wedding date set, but he planned such a beautiful experience for me,' she said. 'I was so surprised!'
Alex and Cassie married in 2019, less than one year after going public with their romance. 'I felt really relaxed during the ceremony,' Cassie told Vogue. 'As soon as I saw Alex, any nerves that I did have went away and I just couldn’t stop smiling.'
How many children do Alex and Cassie have?
Alex and Cassie have two children together. In February this year, Cassie announced she is expecting another baby. She shared the news on Instagram while posting a tribute for Fine's 32nd birthday,
'There aren’t words to describe how grateful I am that I get to do this life with you! The laughter and pure joy that I get to experience with you is beyond any of my dreams and manifestations,' she wrote. 'You’ve taken care of me and my heart like no other, you’re hands down the best girl dad and I’m SO excited to see you now become a father to OUR SON! 🤯.'
What has Cassie accused Diddy of?
In November 2023, Cassie filed a lawsuit against Combs accusing him of sexual assault and physical abuse, including a rape in 2018 when she tried to leave him. At the time, Combs vehemently denied all allegations, but then last May CCTV footage from 2016 was leaked online and showed Combs violently kicking and beating Ventura outside their hotel room. The following day he issued an apology on social media and the case was reportedly settled for an eight-figure sum outside of court. In November last year, Diddy’s defence lawyers claimed the video was 'edited. An attorney for Cassie called Diddy’s apology “disingenuous.’
What has Alex Fine said about Diddy?
According to People, Fine has been supportive of Cassie through out the legal process. When CNN released video footage from 2016 of Diddy attacking Cassie in a LA hotel, he spoke out publicly in a lengthy letter he shared on Instagram. He noted he written it 'awhile back,' but the 'words ring true not just today but everyday.' The caption also included a number for a domestic violence hotline.
'Men who hit women aren't men. Men who enable it and protect those people aren't men,' he wrote on Instagram. 'Our daughters, sisters, mothers, and wives should feel protected and loved. Men who hurt women hate women.'