The trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is underway in New York City. Diddy faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs also 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.
There is a list of famous names that could potentially be called to testify, which was described as 'mammoth' by the judge. The centre of the prosecution's case is his alleged abuse of his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, and other unnamed accusers.
As the trial continues, there has been renewed interest in Diddy's ex-girlfriend, the late Kim Porter who dated Diddy in the 90s and again in the noughties. The pair shared three children together. Kim was tragically found dead in her home on 15 November 2018 when she was 47. An autopsy report later revealed she died of lobar pneumonia, a severe infection affecting her lungs.
Who was Kim Porter?
Kim Porter, born Kimberly Antwinette Porter was a model and an actress who had an on/off relationship with Diddy between 1994 and 2007. After a stint in modelling, Kim picked up acting roles, such as in the film The Brothers and The System Within.
How long did Kim Porter and Diddy date for?
Kim and Diddy first met in 1994, when Kim was in the studio with singer Al B. Sure! who she was dating at the time. In an interview with Essence, Diddy described that Kim made him 'nervous' continuing 'She wasn't like a New York girl. She was Bohemian, mixed with Georgia-peach hospitality. I got the idea she'd like doing stuff like walking barefoot in the grass. I didn't think I could get her to like me.'
The pair began a relationship, and welcomed their first child together in 1998. Kim already had a child from her previous relationship. However, they split the same year after Diddy had an affair with Jennifer Lopez. The pair had a court battle over child support for their son.
Diddy and Kim reconciled in 2003, and got back together. Speaking about Diddy's relationship with Lopez in an interview with Essence, Kim said: 'That relationship wasn’t real,' continuing 'The world just saw the bright lights and the camera. But I knew what was really going on. He was still in love with me.'
The couple welcomed twins together in 2006. In an interview that year, Combs told Essence that marriage wasn't part of the plan. 'I know she deserves to get married, but I'm just not ready,' he said. 'It's not a reflection on how much I love Kim. It's that I'm just learning how to be a good boyfriend. When I'm finished with this step, I'll move on to the next.'
While she was pregnant with twins, Kim found out that Combs had fathered a daughter with another woman. Combs and Porter eventually split for good in 2007. 'In ending this relationship, I made a decision that was in the best interest of myself, Sean and our family. I look forward to moving on with my life and my career and wish him prosperity, health and happiness in life and in love. We will remain friends and committed parents to our children,' Kim said in a statement at the time.
However, Porter and Diddy reportedly stayed in each others life to coparent their children. Just months after they broke up, Kim told Essence that the pair were 'friends' and that Combs 'still calls me every day,' adding 'We're committed to our children even if we couldn't commit to each other.'
What did Cassie Ventura say about Kim Porter in court?
In her testimony, Ventura said that Diddy was dating her and Kim around the same time. Speaking about the early days of their relationship, Ventura said 'We started to spend more time together,' continuing 'We were spending a lot of time together one on one—it was not public for many years. He just didn’t want it to look bad but also knew it was because of his children and personal things like his family.'
When Cassie was asked who Diddy was with publicly, she said 'Around this time, it was Kim Porter.'
What have Kim Porter's children said about her death?
On Mother's Day this year, Jessie and D’Lila, 18, shared a touching tribute to their late mother. 'These last couple years have been sooooo extremely difficult without you by our side,' the siblings wrote on their joint Instagram account. 'We really wish you were here for these years that we begin to grow and start to mature into young ladies.'
They included a photo of their late mother showing her pregnant by a Christmas tree. 'The siblings’ post also detailed how much they miss their mother. 'Dear mommy, You were the best mommy anyone could’ve ever had and we are so blessed that god chose you to be our mommy,' they wrote. 'We miss you so very much every single day and we wish you could be here with us today.'
What is the Kim Porter memoir controversy?
Last year, a self-published 'memoir' titled Kim’s Lost Words, was released by Chris Todd, who has no connection to the family. It contains alleged sexual encounters between Diddy and other celebrities, as well as graphic and disturbing accounts of Kim’s own experiences. Porter's children have denied the book's legitimacy and debunked its claims.
In a statement on their shared Instagram account, they said they had seen 'hurtful and false rumours circulating' about their parents. They wrote: 'Claims that our mom wrote a book are simply untrue. She did not. And anyone claiming to have a manuscript is misrepresenting themselves. Additionally, please understand that any so-called ‘friend’ speaking on behalf of our mom or her family is not a friend. Nor do they have her best interests at heart.'