Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, once the life of the party, has few A-list supporters
Sean “Diddy” Combs was once the life of the party. He was known for hosting lavish and exclusive gatherings in the Hamptons, having seemingly countless celebrity pals and toasting to the good life with powerful allies in the music industry.
Yet a question remains as opening statements approach next week in his federal sex-trafficking trial: Why haven’t more of his famous friends come to his defense?
“The music industry is fickle,” said Ramal “The Hometown Heat” Brown, a former hip-hop disc jockey at 105.3 KJAMZ in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “Everyone wants to be around when you’re on top.”
But when a video of Combs beating his former girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura was aired by CNN last year, “nobody wanted to be around because it could tarnish their image and name,” he said. “Being around Diddy could get you implicated in the case.”
After the video aired, Combs apologized publicly, saying his behavior in it was “inexcusable” and that he took full responsibility for his actions.
Combs is charged in a five-count indictment with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and faces 10 years to life in prison if convicted.
Opening statements in the federal trial in Manhattan are expected to begin next week.
The government’s case centers on allegations that Combs forced women to participate in drug-fueled sexual encounters with male sex workers that he directed and filmed. He called the sex parties “freak offs,” prosecutors said.
In addition to the federal charges, Combs has been accused of sexual assault and misconduct in more than 50 civil lawsuits, including one filed by Ventura in 2023 that was privately settled within a day.
His attorney said the settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing, and Combs has vehemently denied the allegations in the pending civil suits.
The past year has seen a stark turn of events for the hitmaker, who has been nominated for 14 Grammy Awards over three decades while turning unknown musicians, such as Ma$e, Total and Carl Thomas, into platinum-selling recording artists.
During jury selection last week, as the magnitude of the moment began to mount, Combs appeared to nervously look around the courtroom and asked U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian for a bathroom break.
No celebrity supporters have shown up in court during jury selection. Being associated with Combs and his federal case is risky and can only tarnish the burnished images of A-list celebrities, music experts said.
“People aren’t speaking out because they don’t want any level of implication,” said Gerrick Kennedy, a freelance journalist and culture critic based in Los Angeles.
Madison Gray, a former website editor for Black Entertainment Television, said he thinks many of Combs’ associates have distanced themselves because of the heinous acts he’s accused of.
“Celebrity friends and powerful friends scatter. Nobody wants to be attached,” said Gray, pointing to similar scenarios when Bill Cosby and R. Kelly faced legal battles. “When things are good, the parties are great, the liquor is flowing. But as soon as something goes wrong, friendships are fleeting.”
Rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has been one of Combs’ staunchest celebrity supporters leading up to the trial, defending him online on multiple occasions and accusing Ventura, who was once signed to Combs’ record label, of attempting to pressure him for money.
Ye accused Ventura of attempting to extort Combs in a since-deleted post on X on March 18.
Ventura responded the next day by resharing a post from the culture website Shade Room showing a screenshot of rapper Playboi Carti telling Ye to shut up. Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, declined to comment this week.
Ye’s comments came amid controversy over a slew of posts on X in which he made hate-filled remarks about the Jewish community and said “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi.”
Former in-house Bad Boy Records producer Stevie J has also expressed support for Combs, calling many of the civil lawsuits filed against his ex-boss “bogus” and saying he prays for Combs and his family every day.
“I never knew of an instance where you’ll be guilty before you even go to f—–g court,” he told the entertainment YouTube channel VladTV. “I’m never going to stop being there for someone I consider to be a friend. I’m not going to turn my back. I’ve been scrutinized just by being a friend. I guess someone has never had a true friend before.”
Singer Ray J has acknowledged attending Combs’ parties in multiple interviews but said he never saw any freak offs or orgies.
“I can guarantee you most of the celebrities that went to Diddy’s parties never even heard of a freak off,” he told News Nation host Chris Cuomo in November. “In the beginning it sounded really interesting and entertaining, I would say, but when you look back, where were the freak offs? From my knowledge, I’ve never seen a freak off.”
Ventura is expected to take the stand once the trial begins, but a witness list has not been released. Potential jurors this week received a list of places and names that might be mentioned during the trial, including celebrities such as Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers and Ye, none of whom are implicated in the case.