Summary

  • The trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs is hearing from a witness testifying under the pseudonym of "Jane"

  • Warning: This page contains details some readers may find distressing

  • "Jane" testifies that she unwillingly participated in "hotel nights" for Diddy, in which he would hire escorts for her to have sex with while he watched

  • Combs is on trial in New York, facing charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution

  • The 55-year-old denies all charges. If found guilty, he could spend the rest of his life in prison

Live Reporting

Edited by Jacqueline Howard, with Sakshi Venkatraman, Kayla Epstein and Nada Tawfik in court

  1. Judge had threatened to ban Diddy from the courtroom

    There was a particularly tense moment in court yesterday, when the judge threatened to ban Diddy from the courtroom.

    Judge Subramanian said Combs was "vigorously nodding" during the cross questioning of Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura who accused the rapper of holding her over a balcony.

    Judge Arun Subramanian called his actions "absolutely unacceptable".

    Combs' attorneys assured the judge that it would not happen again.

  2. What did 'Jane' testify yesterday?

    A court sketch of DiddyReuters / Jane Rosenberg

    Today we're hearing "Jane" continue her testimony - she dated Combs between 2021 and his arrest in 2024. Here's what she told the court yesterday:

    • She described the initial months of her relationship with Combs as an exciting whirlwind; taking her on holidays, to upscale restaurants
    • She testified that Combs soon asked her to participate in what prosecutors referred to as "hotel nights", when Combs hired an escort in order to watch her engage in sexual acts with another man
    • "Jane" told the court that she believed would be a one-off experience, but that it opened a "Pandora's box" in the relationship
    • She said that she went along with additional encounters because she "really loved him" and "wanted to make him happy", but said she told him that she did not want to participate
    • Combs asked her to do several more, she told the court, saying she "felt frustrated, I felt just obligated" to go along with his wishes
    • Combs also provided her with drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine and ketamine from the onset of the relationship, she testified, saying she had used the substances during some of her encounters with Combs as well as the "hotel nights"

  3. Anonymous ex-girlfriend takes the stand in Diddy trial

    Sakshi Venkatraman
    Reporting from court

    I’m back at the New York courthouse where Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing the fourth week of his criminal trial.

    It’s a hot day in Lower Manhattan, and media and spectators have returned to hear more testimony from the anonymous “Jane,” who dated Combs from 2021-2024.

    So far, we’ve heard about the start of their relationship on a girls trip in Miami, and how it allegedly devolved from a “head-over-heels” love affair to a tumultuous relationship where she was made to have sex with escorts and drug abuse.

    She’s returning to the stand today, and her direct questioning will likely take us into Monday.

    Just like every Friday, the same courthouse where the trial is happening hosts a 'naturalisation' ceremony, where hundreds of immigrants become US citizens. Diddy spectators and new citizens are rubbing elbows, making for a busy, and interesting, day at court.