Diddy Trial Jury Tales: Open Containers and the Magic Wand Theft

Sean “Diddy” Combs is currently facing significant legal challenges, but there have been some lighter moments during the jury selection process.

As the trial commenced in New York City during the week of Monday, May 5, Us Weekly observed Judge Arun Subramanian as he interviewed prospective jurors, who will listen to evidence over the next two months. To narrow down the candidates, the judge inquired about their knowledge of the case as well as factors that could lead to bias—such as past criminal records or personal acquaintances with celebrities like Michael B. Jordan and Mike Myers.

The judge provided some comic relief by humorously comparing the lengthy list of names and locations tied to the case to the appendices of The Lord of the Rings. He also chuckled and teased Juror 55, who admitted to receiving a ticket for having an open container of alcohol, saying, “shame on you.”

Diddy, 55, was taken into custody in September 2024 on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation for the purpose of prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all accusations and strongly refutes the claims made against him.

“We are dismayed by the decision to proceed with what we consider an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” stated Diddy’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo. “He is not perfect, but he is not a criminal. Mr. Combs has cooperated fully with the investigation and even moved to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. We ask that you withhold judgment until all the facts are presented. These actions reflect an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he is eager to vindicate himself in court.”

Keep reading for some of the most amusing interactions with jurors during the Diddy trial:

Juror 7

This juror expressed reluctance to miss work since he had just started a new job last month. When asked why he should be excused, he replied, “To pay my mortgage.”

Juror 8

In response to inquiries about prior offenses, she shared that she was caught shoplifting a magic wand from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios and received a one-year ban.

Juror 52

When asked if the trial timeline would cause any issues, she mentioned it may clash with the Spirit Weavers Gathering in Oregon, for which she had nonrefundable tickets. She characterized the event as featuring “some pretty artsy women in the woods.”

Juror 140

During a discussion about media consumption, Juror 140 commented that they have been watching “a lot more sports since the Mets became good again.”

Juror 143

This juror had a recent run-in with the law just a week prior, being accused of credit card fraud.

Juror 210

After the judge instructed him not to use marijuana throughout the trial, Juror 210 confessed to having used it the previous night and mentioned that it would be challenging to abstain for two months. The judge responded with humor, saying, “He was honest.”

Juror 220

This potential juror revealed that his father operates a “canna-bus” company, which means he holds no bias against drugs. He also noted that he is an alumnus of Diddy’s high school, attending three decades later. Juror 220 humorously explained the concept of doom-scrolling to the judge, who replied, “I don’t really use social media.”

Juror 239

She had fainted once when a teacher discussed oral sex and claimed she dozed off, so she expressed concern about the potentially explicit content of the trial. She was dismissed.