Key Highlights from Diddy Trial Opening Statements

The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs commenced in New York City on May 5, following his arrest in September 2024 on charges linked to sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transporting individuals for prostitution purposes.

The proceedings kicked off with jury selection, which was completed by May 12, just before the opening arguments began that same day. Diddy, aged 55, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has refuted the allegations against him.

As jury selection began, the music mogul appeared in court dressed in a sweater over a white collared shirt with gray pants, according to the Associated Press. (Judge Arun Subramanian had previously allowed Diddy to wear casual clothes throughout the trial instead of a jail uniform.)

Prior to the voir dire (the preliminary examination of jurors), Diddy declined a plea offer which could have lessened his potential sentence had he agreed to plead guilty. When questioned by the judge on May 1 about rejecting the prosecution’s offer, Diddy responded, “Yes, I do.”

Diddy was arrested the previous year after several accusers came forward with claims of sexual assault. In November 2023, his former girlfriend Cassie filed a lawsuit against him, alleging that he had sexually and physically abused her throughout their on-and-off relationship from 2007 to 2018. Diddy has denied her allegations, and they reached an out-of-court settlement just one day later.

In May 2024, CNN released a surveillance video from 2016 that depicted Diddy kicking and grabbing Cassie, who is now 38, in a hotel. Subsequently, Diddy issued an apology via Instagram, stating, “My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then and I’m disgusted now. … I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”

In April, prosecutors submitted a motion noting that the individual referenced in the indictment as “Victim-1” would testify under her actual name. Multiple sources reported that “Victim-1” is Cassie, although she has not publicly confirmed her role in the trial.

Continue scrolling for daily updates from the courtroom:

May 5

At the start of jury selection, the judge lightened the atmosphere with a joke about Diddy’s numerous aliases, suggesting that the list of potential jurors was as extensive as the renowned Lord of the Rings novels.

Us Weekly confirmed that several potential jurors admitted to having seen news coverage of the CNN video showing Diddy striking Cassie in 2016 while they were in a relationship. One woman described a still from the video as “damning evidence” and was subsequently dismissed from consideration.

At one point during the proceedings, Diddy requested a bathroom break, as reported by the AP, saying to the judge, “I’m sorry, your honor, I’m a little nervous today.”

Numerous celebrities were mentioned as potential witnesses during the trial, and jurors were asked if they recognized them. Notable names included Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, and Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams, though the specifics regarding their relevance remain unclear.

May 6

As jury selection progressed, the judge adjusted his questions about celebrities, instructing potential jurors to specify whether they “personally know” the individuals rather than merely being “familiar” with their names.

Throughout the day, the judge displayed “frustration” with the number of prospective jurors exhibiting “clear issues,” leading to the dismissal of several for various reasons, including Crohn’s disease, hearing impairments, and a woman who described herself as a “very sensitive person” who once fainted when a teacher mentioned oral sex.

May 7

During jury selection, a potential juror elaborated on the concept of doom-scrolling, to which the judge replied, “I don’t really use social media.”

May 9

Agnifilo informed the court that the defense team intends to argue that Cassie displayed abusive behavior towards Diddy during their relationship. “I think we’re probably going to refer to that as domestic violence,” he shared. The judge indicated he would determine on May 12 whether allegations of domestic violence would be permissible during the trial.

Cassie’s attorney did not provide a comment when approached.

May 12

Following the finalization of the jury, both sides presented their opening statements, focusing primarily on the claims made by Cassie and an unnamed Jane Doe. “This is Sean Combs,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson began. “But there is another side to him. A side that managed a criminal enterprise … and he didn’t do it alone.”

The prosecution accused Diddy of having “brutally” assaulted Cassie upon discovering her affair with another man and threatening her with videos of her intimate moments with other men. “That’s not the only incident where he kidnapped someone,” Johnson asserted. “That’s not the first girlfriend he sexually assaulted.”

Johnson further alleged that Diddy’s bodyguards and chief of staff “colluded to commit crimes and concealed those acts,” stating, “This case is not solely about a celebrity’s private sexual decisions.”

She later addressed Diddy’s well-known “freak offs,” claiming they occurred weekly “and lasted for multiple days at a time.” According to Johnson, Cassie once suffered an overdose during a freak off where a sex worker urinated in her mouth. “She initially participated in a freak off because she loved the defendant and wanted to please him,” the lawyer added, while Jane Doe reportedly thought her experience was a “one-time wild night.”

After Johnson’s statement, Diddy’s attorney Teny Geragos delivered the defense’s opening argument, asserting, “Sean Combs is a complex individual, but this case is not complicated.”

Geragos claimed there would be no witnesses to corroborate the government’s racketeering allegations, asserting that no racketeering conspiracy existed, though she acknowledged her client’s history of violence.

“Sean Combs has a temper, and he exhibits violent behavior when he uses drugs. He is not proud of this,” she remarked. “We fully acknowledge there is domestic violence in this case, but domestic violence does not equate to sex trafficking.”

She concluded by indicating that the jury would hear about Diddy’s “infatuation with baby oil,” questioning, “But is that a federal crime? No.”

Geragos went on to contest Cassie and Jane Doe’s allegations, stating, “Every witness in this case had the free will to make the choices they made.”

After the opening statements, two witnesses provided testimony. The first, Israel Florez, a former security guard at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, claimed he responded to reports regarding the alleged incident involving Cassie and Diddy, captured on surveillance video in 2016 and broadcast by CNN in 2024. Florez recounted finding Diddy in a “devilish state,” while Cassie appeared “scared.”

The second witness, Daniel Phillip, testified that he was hired to engage in sexual activities with Cassie on several occasions while Diddy observed. Phillip claimed to have received payments ranging from $700 to $5,000 or $6,000 for these intimate encounters while Diddy was “always in the corner masturbating.”

He further alleged that Diddy documented these sexual interactions on his phone “once or twice” and took a photo of Phillip’s driver’s license, stating, “It’s just for insurance, in case,” which Phillip interpreted as a threat.

May 13

The day unfolded with revelations about the notorious freak off parties, as the prosecution claimed that around 10 bottles of baby oil were utilized at each event, accompanied by “strong smelling” candles. Various escorts provided testimonies before Cassie took the stand. The singer began recounting her relationship with Diddy, asserting that it was filled with violence. She alleged that he exerted control over “a lot” of her life, would tape her during sexual activities for “blackmail,” and more.

She elaborated on the freak offs, which she began attending at the age of 22, indicating that she resorted to drugs such as marijuana, mushrooms, GHB, ketamine, and ecstasy to remain “detached” from the experience. She explained how she was expected to participate in freak offs even while on her period, mentioning that these events made her feel “dirty” but she was eager to please Diddy — who she claimed was in charge and “directed” the encounters. Cassie recounted nearly choking while being urinated on by two male escorts she allegedly found on Craigslist.

She also shared insights about her music career, stating that she regularly felt “stifled” by Diddy’s dominance over her work.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, please reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance. Should you or someone you know be a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.