An official start date for Diddy‘s sex trafficking trial has been set during a hearing that also saw new rules set for evidence in the case.
On Thursday (October 10), Manhattan federal court Judge Arun Subramanian scheduled the trial’s start date for May 5, 2025. According to the Associated Press, Diddy’s mother, Janice Combs, and his children where present for what was the Bad Boy founder’s first appearance before Subramanian, who will preside over the case moving forward.
During the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson also responded to defense attorney’s argument that the footage of Puff’s 2016 assault on ex-girlfriend Cassie should be excluded as evidence, as they claim the U.S. Department of Homeland Security leaked the video to the media.
The disgraced executive’s attorneys argued that this and other leaks by the government “have led to damaging, highly prejudicial pretrial publicity that can only taint the jury pool and deprive Mr. Combs of his right to a fair trial.”
Diddy's Legal Team Implies Feds Leaked Cassie Beating Video
Shocking new claim from Diddy and his legal team ... they believe the federal government "orchestrated" the leak of the Cassie beating video to the media.
According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Diddy's attorneys accuse the feds of misconduct in his criminal case ... namely, by allegedly orchestrating the leak of the Cassie tape to CNN. The video in question is from 2016 and it shows Diddy brutally beating Cassie in the hallway of a swanky Los Angeles hotel during their relationship.
In the docs, Diddy is specifically blaming the Department of Homeland Security ... not the U.S. Attorney's office.
Diddy's lawyers claim the day CNN published the Cassie video -- May 17 -- a correspondent from the network contacted a member of Diddy's team to seek comment on a video they intended to publish in a few hours ... with the correspondent indicating CNN came "across a video and currently have in our possession surveillance footage from the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016."
His attorneys say after being approached by CNN, they emailed the prosecutors assigned to Diddy's case and told them they had gotten word CNN had been given a video tape of the Intercontinental Hotel from 2016 and told prosecutors, "My concern is that someone (not any of you and not the lead case agents) provided this footage to CNN. I bring this to your attention solely because I imagine you didn't want this to happen any more than I do."
Diddy's lawyers say after CNN released the video on May 17, an Assistant United States Attorney assigned to the case responded, "We really appreciate you giving us a heads up. We have now seen the video."
Diddy Sued by Men Who Claim He Sexually Assaulted Them
The floodgates are open and Diddy is being sued left and right by people who claim he sexually assaulted them ... including a handful of men.
Diddy has now been named in 6 separate lawsuits filed by Tony Buzbee, the Texas attorney who says he's representing up to 120 alleged Diddy victims ... and 4 of the 6 filed so far feature male accusers.
In one suit, a man says he was working for Ecko Clothing back in 2008 and knew Diddy through his work ... as Diddy was developing and marketing Sean John, a competing brand. He says he ran into Diddy and Diddy's 3 bodyguards in the stockroom of Macy's flagship store in NYC in May 2008, and he claims someone pistol-whipped the back of his neck and caused him to fall to his hands and knees. He claims Diddy approached him and said "Suck my d***, Ecko" and brutally, orally raped him.
In another suit, a man claims he was hired to work security for Diddy's 2006 White Party, where he believes he consumed a drink laced with GBH and/or Ecstasy. He says Diddy forced him into a van, overpowered him, and sexually assaulted him. The man claims Diddy inserted his penis into the man's anus and sodomized him. He says the alleged rape resulted in semen leaking out of his body.
Another man suing Diddy claims he went to a Diddy party in October 2021, where he became disoriented after consuming one drink. He says the room started spinning and the next thing he remembers is being in a bedroom, paralyzed. He says at least 3 men sexually assaulted him through sodomy and other forced acts and claims he "distinctly recalls" seeing a naked Diddy above him at one point during the alleged assault.
A fourth lawsuit is from a man who says he was only 16 years old when he was invited to Diddy's 1998 White Party in the Hamptons, where he says they snapped a photo together. He says Diddy took an interest in him and took him to a more private area to chat, where Diddy told him he had the right look for the music industry and could be made into a star, with Diddy's help.
He claims Diddy abruptly told him to drop his pants and expose his penis for inspection, with Diddy saying it was a rite of passage and asking, "Don't you want to break into the business?" He says he succumbed and dropped his pants, exposing his penis, and claims Diddy cupped and held onto his genitals, squeezing and feeling them.
The lawsuits are among the 120 Buzbee says he's filing against Diddy.
We reached out to Diddy's camp ... so far no word back.
Kanye West Sexual Harassment Accuser Claims He Drugged Her at Diddy Studio Session
Kanye West's ex-executive/personal assistant is adding to her previous claims about the mogul ... claiming not only was she sexually harassed by Ye -- but, she alleges the rapper drugged her at a studio session cohosted by Diddy, too.
Lauren Pisciotta -- who filed a lawsuit against against Kanye back in June claiming he fired her after sending vile sexual texts and and videos -- amended the lawsuit with several new claims ... including saying she attended a studio session with the "Donda" rapper and Diddy Pisciotta says she and her former artist management client -- who's name is not in the lawsuit -- were invited by Ye to the session he cohosted with Diddy.
According to the lawsuit, soon after they arrived "drinks were served to her and others in attendance, followed by an announcement that everybody had to drink, if they wanted to stay." LP says she drank, but ... "After a few small sips of the beverage, poured at the direction of Kanye West a.k.a. Ye by a studio assistant and then served to her by Kanye West, Plaintiff suddenly started to feel disoriented."
Pisciotta says she woke up the next day remembering almost nothing of what took place at the alleged studio session and felt "immense shame and embarrassment." LP says years later, while working with Kanye, she claims West brought up the night in question ... saying they did hook up and preceding to provide further details of the alleged incident.
Before Kanye allegedly provided those details, Lauren says she thought she simply got roofied and embarrassed herself at a work function. As we told you ... Lauren was already suing Kanye for allegedly sending her dirty text messages in which she claims he wrote things like, "see my problem is I be wanting to f*** but then after I f*** I want a girl to tell me how hard they been f***ed while I'm f***ing them. Then I want her to cheat on me ..." followed by even more graphic language.
Pisciotta also claims Kanye would masturbate while on the phone with her ... and, he allegedly fixated on the penis size of her boyfriends. Worth noting ... Lauren is claiming Kanye drugged her at the studio session cohosted by Diddy. She is not accusing Diddy of any alleged wrongdoing.
We've reached out to Diddy team and Kanye's team ... so far, no word back.
R. Kelly's Daughter Claims Singer Sexually Abused Her Growing Up: 'I Was Scared'
R. Kelly's daughter just made a bombshell accusation in the latest exposé about the disgraced Grammy Award winner -- claiming the "Bump & Grind" singer sexually abused her as a child.
While speaking in TVEI Network's new two-part documentary "Karma: A Daughter’s Journey." Kelly's daughter Abi, now 26, says the abuse occurred when she was 8 or 9 years old claiming she woke up to the singer touching her, and she pretended to be asleep.
She initially reported the abuse to her mother, Kelly's ex-wife Andrea, in 2009, and they filed a complaint as "Jane Doe" -- but the statute of limitations had run out.
Kelly's attorney Jennifer Bonjean tells TMZ Hip Hop, "Mr. Kelly vehemently denies these allegations. His ex wife made the same allegation years ago, and it was investigated by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services and was unfounded ... and the 'filmmakers' whoever they are did not reach out to Mr. Kelly or his team to even allow him to deny these hurtful claims."
The Weeknd Breaks Own Record For Most Monthly Listeners on Spotify
The Weeknd's Spotify numbers have reached blinding heights ... 'cause the star shattered his own record for monthly listeners on the platform.
The singer-songwriter now boasts close to 120.5 million monthly listeners ... ahead of fellow popstar Taylor Swift who is reportedly the only other artist with more than 100 million monthly listeners.
The Weeknd held the record ever since first breaking 100 million back in February 2023 ... holding the title in nearly every month since reaching the total.
It's been a big few weeks for The Weeknd on the streamer ... 'cause his song "After Hours" became the newest member of Spotify's Billions Club -- songs which have been streamed more than 1 billion times.
T.I. Turning Movie & Comedy Career Up After Retiring From Performing, $71 Million Richer
T.I. has said his days of sweating on stage performing are OVER ... a conclusion that just so "happens" to coincide with winning a $71 million judgment!!!
T.I.P. chatted it up on Friday as he, Young Dro and Hustle Gang marauded through NYC, and he insists his career switch-up is more motivated by his comedy career ... he's worked the circuit for years to shake the novelty act title -- and he's gonna cash in!!!
The hip hop megastar is still riding high off his family's lawsuit win -- dollmaker MGA Entertainment was found guilty of infringing on his teen pop group OMG Girlz brand -- but he's not disappearing from the limelight.
GloRilla's Quick Album Turnaround After Rihanna Request Is Studded With Star Features
The newly crowned “Queen Of Memphis” has delivered her debut album "Glorious" is here!!! The album arrived on Friday and the CMG rapper is standing on biz with her fellow top female artists -- Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, Muni Long ... and an Auto-Tune assist from T-Pain!!!
Glo has been putting up Billboard hits and rubbing elbows with celebs such as Beyoncé all year after helping Megan turn up the temperature on her 'Hot Girl Summer' tour ... and it looks like it's Glo's time to shine. She's being predicted to win Best New Artist at next year's Grammys
GloRilla - WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME ft. Sexyy Red (Official Music Video)
2,604,550 views 3 days ago
Angel Reese Stuns In Booty Shorts At 'Wild 'N Out' Taping
"Wild 'n Out" had no shortage of star power at Wednesday's taping -- Rick Ross, Waka Flocka, and G Herbo were all on the show -- but the MVP of the night was Angel Reese ... who got everyone's blood pumping with her stunning fit!
Nick Cannon's "Wild 'n Out" tour pulled up in Chicago this week ... where the rap stars and the Chi-town hooper joined the cast for a taping.
Fans cheered when the Chicago Sky forward -- aka "Chi Barbie" -- walked on stage ... especially after the packed crowd got a glimpse of her itty-bitty outfit!
Black folks tried to tell Piers Morgan and other white people who suddenly believed they discovered Jaguar Wright to tread lightly.
Conscious Content
Diddy In Court, Feds Say They're Not Racist for Prosecuting Him Or are They?
Agnifilo had said the feds couldn't nail Diddy for anything related to taxes or his business empire ... so they started poking around in his bedroom. In a grand jury indictment, the feds charged Diddy with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. In Manhattan federal court Thursday, federal prosecutors labeled Agnifilo’s claims as “baseless” when he accused the government of engaging in a racist prosecution.
Diddy launches Our Black Party, a political party aimed at Black voters
The music mogul said he's creating the Black political party with a mission that includes advancing "a political agenda that addresses the needs of Black people" ahead of the 2020 presidential election.
"I'm launching one of the boldest things I've ever launched. I'm launching a Black political party with some young Black elected officials and activists," he tweeted. "It's called @OurBlackParty, it doesn't matter if you are Republican or Democrat..."
The rapper and producer's "NUMBER ONE priority is to get (Donald) Trump out of office. HE HAS TO GO," he tweeted. "We can't allow this man to continue to try and DIVIDE US. The people that have the most responsibility and should be SCARED TO DEATH of this man are white people. WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF A RACE WAR."
Yes, Sean "Diddy" Combs settled a lawsuit against Diageo in January 2024, ending a dispute over the ownership of Ciroc vodka and DeLeón tequila:
Settlement
Ownership
Diageo is the sole owner of Ciroc vodka and DeLeón tequila
Business relationship
Diageo and Combs have no business relationship going forward
Financial terms
No financial terms were announced
Combs' lawsuit alleged that Diageo:
Treated his brands as inferior "Black brands" or "ethnic brands"
Limited distribution to “urban” neighborhoods
Resented Combs for making too much money
Marginalized his brands
Starved his brands of resources
Better marketed other brands such as Don Julio and Casamigos
Diageo denied Combs' claims and accused him of showing little interest in diversity and equity initiatives.
Black Mesiah COINTELPRO
The name COINTELPRO simply stands for Counterintelligence Program and was conducted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 1956 to 1971. The program was a covert operation to derail organizations that were deemed to be “radical” and could potentially pose a threat to the US government.
The FBI had a goal of preventing the rise of a "messiah" who could unify Black nationalists, and Malcolm X was considered a potential candidate for this role. The FBI's counterintelligence program (COINTELPRO) targeted Malcolm X and other civil rights leaders as part of an effort to "disrupt, discredit, misdirect, or otherwise neutralize" the Black power movement.
The FBI's goals for COINTELPRO included:
Preventing the coalition of Black nationalist groups
Preventing the rise of a "messiah" who could unify Black nationalists
Preventing violence by Black nationalist groups
Preventing Black nationalist leaders from gaining respectability
Preventing the long-term growth of Black nationalist organizations
The FBI also worked to widen the rift between Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam. The FBI used tactics such as infiltration, rumor-mongering, and creating acrimonious debates within the organization.
