NOTE: The following article accommodates disturbing particulars and video footage. Please learn at your personal discretion.
Grammy-winning rapper Kid Cudi (actual title Scott Mescudi) testified on the Sean “Diddy” Combs intercourse trafficking and racketeering trial on Thursday, telling the courtroom about his temporary relationship 14 years in the past with Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
Prosecutors say Combs was so upset in regards to the relationship that he organized to have the rapper’s convertible firebombed, in response to court docket filings.
Ventura testified final week that Combs organized for her to fulfill Mescudi a number of occasions in 2011 to work on music. She mentioned her relationship with him started late within the 12 months and he or she acquired a burner cellphone so the 2 might talk with out Combs studying about it.
She mentioned Combs grew to become enraged when she left him, and he kicked her within the again exhausting sufficient to go away a bruise as she was exiting his Los Angeles house for the final time that 12 months.
Ventura mentioned that though she and Combs broke up, they nonetheless engaged in so-called freak-offs. It was throughout a kind of episodes that Combs picked up her common cellphone and seen communications that exposed Ventura was seeing Mescudi, Ventura mentioned.
Day 9
Wearing a leather-based jacket, a white T-shirt and denims, Mescudi entered the courtroom round 10:45 a.m. He recognized himself as an actor and musician and famous he’s identified by one other title: Kid Cudi.
Prosecutor Emily Johnson started her questioning by displaying Mescudi a photograph of Ventura and asking him if he knew her.
“We were friends and we dated briefly,” he replied.
He mentioned they first met in 2008, recorded some music collectively and dated in 2011.
Asked if he knew who else Ventura was concerned with across the time they dated, Mescudi replied: “Sean Combs.”
Mescudi mentioned that in December 2011, he obtained a cellphone name from Ventura round 6 a.m. and he or she advised him that Combs had came upon they have been courting.
He advised the court docket that he was confused when she mentioned that as a result of he didn’t suppose she was nonetheless courting Combs.
“She asked me to pick her up,” Mescudi mentioned. “She sounded really stressed on the phone, nervous, scared, so I went to go pick her up.”
Mescudi testified that after he picked up Ventura, they went to a resort and spoke with considered one of Combs’ workers, Capricorn Clark, on the cellphone.
Rapper Kid Cudi (C) arrives at federal court docket for the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs intercourse trafficking trial in New York City on May 22, 2025.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP by way of Getty Images
He mentioned Clark appeared “very scared, sounded like she was on the verge of tears.”
He mentioned Clark advised them that Combs and an affiliate have been inside Mescudi’s home and he or she was within the automobile exterior ready for them.
“She was forced to go along with them over there,” he mentioned.
On the way in which again to his home from the resort, Mescudi mentioned, he known as Combs and requested him if he was inside his home.
Mescudi mentioned Combs advised him that he simply needed to “talk to you” so he advised him he was on his option to meet him.
“I’m over here waiting for you,” Combs responded, in response to Mescudi, including that he wasn’t positive what was occurring so he determined to name the police.
Mescudi described returning to his home in December 2011 after assembly with Ventura, and mentioned that the skin of his house appeared regular. He mentioned he later realized that his safety cameras had been moved.
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He testified that when he entered his house, he discovered a present he had purchased his household open and on the kitchen counter. He additionally mentioned his canine was locked inside a rest room and claimed he didn’t shut the canine in there earlier than he left to fulfill Ventura.
“I wanted to confront him. I wanted to fight him,” Mescudi advised the court docket, including that he didn’t know who Combs was with and “what his intentions are.”
Mescudi mentioned he filed a police report that day following the alleged break-in.
He advised the court docket that he spent the Christmas holidays with Ventura at her household’s house in Connecticut and Combs texted him a couple of occasions whereas he was there.
“I guess he was in the dark about things and wanted to talk, but at that point, post break-in, I didn’t want to talk,” Mescudi mentioned.
“You broke into my house, you messed with my dog, I don’t want to talk to you.”
In January 2012, Mescudi mentioned that his canine watcher known as him from his home to let him know that his automobile was on hearth. He mentioned he was at his ex-girlfriend’s sister’s home about 45 minutes away.
His good friend despatched him photographs of his broken automobile in his driveway and people photographs have been proven to the jury.
Mescudi described the picture as “the damage of the Molotov cocktail in my Porsche.”
“It looks like the top of my Porsche was cut open, and that’s where the Molotov cocktail was put in,” he added.
He mentioned regulation enforcement discovered a Molotov cocktail in his driver’s seat however as soon as he arrived again house, it was “kind of just burnt up.”
When Mescudi was requested about his response to the fireplace, he mentioned, “what the f—.”
After his automobile was set on hearth, Mescudi requested to fulfill with Combs. When requested in court docket why he needed to fulfill with him, the rapper responded that he reached out as a result of he claimed he knew Combs was in some way concerned within the hearth.
Combs’ lawyer objected to Mescudi’s hypothesis, and his reply was struck from the report. Combs has not been confirmed liable for the automobile hearth, and his involvement in any approach has not been confirmed.
Mescudi mentioned when he went to fulfill Combs, the music mogul was staring out the window standing with fingers behind his again “like a Marvel supervillain.”
He mentioned that Combs remained calm all through the one-on-one assembly and even supplied him water on a few events.
They finally stood and shook fingers. Then Mescudi mentioned he requested Combs: “What are we going to do about my car?”
Mescudi mentioned Combs gave him a “very cold stare” and responded: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Mescudi mentioned he determined to let it go, however recalled Combs noticing his hesitation. “I thought we were cool, is there a problem?” Combs requested.
The Day ‘n’ Nite rapper mentioned he advised Combs he would take him at his phrase, and he finally made peace with the state of affairs. After that, there have been no extra break-ins at his home and no extra hassle together with his automobile.
Music artist Kid Cudi testifies on the witness stand throughout Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ intercourse trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan federal court docket,Thursday, May 22, 2025, in New York.
Elizabeth Williams by way of AP
Mescudi mentioned that Combs ended up apologizing a couple of years later, once they bumped into one another once more on the SoHo House resort.
He mentioned Combs was there together with his daughter and pulled him apart and mentioned: “Man, I just want to apologize for everything and all that bull sh–.”
“After the apology, I found peace with it,” Mescudi testified. “That was the last thing I was expecting to get from him.”
Makeup artist noticed accidents on Ventura’s face throughout Grammys weekend
Makeup artist Mylah Morales testified that she noticed accidents on Ventura’s face solely as soon as whereas doing make-up for her between 2007 and 2021.
She mentioned it occurred in 2010 throughout Grammys weekend after Combs stormed into Ventura’s bed room at a resort and he or she heard “yelling and screaming.”
“I was just frantic and I didn’t know what to do,” she mentioned.
After Combs left the room, Morales mentioned, she went in and noticed Ventura.
“She had a swollen eye and a busted lip and knots on her head,” Morales testified.
Morales mentioned she took Ventura house, the place she stayed for a couple of days, and had a good friend who’s a physician come to the home to verify on her.
The physician examined Ventura’s accidents on her face, abdomen and ribs and beneficial Ventura go to the emergency room, Morales mentioned.
She mentioned that Ventura refused to go to the emergency room and they didn’t name the police. Morales added that she didn’t name the police as a result of she was frightened of Combs.
Defence lawyer Anna Estevao requested Morales if she noticed what occurred between Combs and Ventura contained in the bed room after he entered.
Morales confirmed that she didn’t witness what occurred within the room.
She additionally testified that she and Ventura continued their friendship after she and Combs had damaged up.
What Combs is on trial for
U.S. prosecutors allege that for 20 years, behind the scenes, Combs was coercing and abusing ladies with assist from a community of associates who helped silence victims by way of blackmail and violence.
Combs faces an indictment that features descriptions of freak-offs, that are outlined within the court docket doc as “elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded.”
Numerous witnesses have come ahead to accuse Combs of terrorizing individuals into silence by choking, hitting, kicking and dragging them, in response to prosecutors. One indictment alleges that Combs dangled somebody from a balcony.
Although dozens of women and men have alleged in lawsuits that Combs abused them, this trial will spotlight the claims of 4 ladies.
Combs is charged with intercourse trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to have interaction in prostitution. He has denied all the fees in opposition to him and has rejected a plea deal, selecting to go to trial as a substitute.
If discovered responsible within the New York court docket, he might face life in jail.
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Global News shall be masking the Diddy trial in its entirety. Please verify again for updates.
— with recordsdata from The Associated Press
