Three witnesses are called by the prosecution, as week two of Diddy’s trial begins. A warning that this episode contains descriptions of violence. Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard finished her testimony and was questioned by Diddy’s defence lawyers. During a cross-examination, Richard admitted to giving different versions of events. Cassie Ventura's former best friend, Kerry Morgan, claimed she saw Diddy physically abuse Ventura several times. David James, a personal assistant who worked for Sean...
May 20, 2025•22 min
Lawyers for Sean 'Diddy' Combs have finished questioning Cassandra Ventura after asking her about text messages exchanged between the pair. The R&B singer says she would give back the $20m legal settlement she was paid the day after she accused Combs of rape and sex trafficking - if it meant never having done a "freak off". Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty speaks to the BBC’s Nada Tawfik about Cassie’s cross examination. A warning that this episode contains descriptions of violence, sexual violenc...
May 16, 2025•12 min
Diddy’s defence team has tried to establish that the so-called ‘freak-offs’ - sexual encounters in which Cassie Ventura would have sex with male escorts while Diddy watched - may have been consensual. It’s been the first day of Cassie’s cross-examination by one of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyers. Anna Estevao asked Ventura about the more loving side of the pair's time together, after she testified over the last two days about alleged violence and abuse. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty speaks to the BBC’s...
May 16, 2025•22 min
Cassie Ventura has claimed she was raped by Diddy at the end of her relationship with him. The singer also told a New York court that she endured abuse at the hands of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs during the ‘freak-off’ sessions, and that videos of the episodes were later used as blackmail. Jurors in the case have watched videos of the sexual encounters with male escorts, which Cassie says Diddy demanded, paid for and recorded. Cassie spoke about her relationship with musician Kid Cudi, saying that Diddy ...
May 15, 2025•22 min
The singer Cassie has been on the witness stand giving emotional and graphic testimony for most of the day. She is Diddy’s former partner and is testifying against him for the prosecution. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has denied all charges. If found guilty, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty speaks to the BBC’s Sakshi Venkatraman about the day in court. A warning that thi...
May 14, 2025•17 min
On the first day of Diddy’s trial, jurors have watched a video showing him assaulting his former long-time partner, the singer Cassie. The prosecution’s first witness, a former hotel security guard, says he was called on the night the CCTV video was filmed to help a "woman in distress", where he found Cassie sitting in the corner covering her face. Both the prosecution and defence gave their opening statements. The prosecution say Combs' behaviour was "coercive and criminal" and that he "had the...
May 13, 2025•20 min
The jury is finalised and opening statements are expected in day 1 of Diddy’s trial. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty is in New York as the trial gets underway. She sees Diddy in court and up close for the first time, and meets the crowds gathering outside. Sean 'Diddy' Combs is accused of sex trafficking, racketeering with conspiracy and transportation for prostitution. He denies the charges and allegations against him. The Diddy on Trial podcast is here to investigate the rumours, confront the theor...
May 12, 2025•13 min
The trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is set to begin on Monday. He denies the charges of sex trafficking, racketeering with conspiracy and transportation for prostitution. So what should we expect at the start? Criminal defence attorney Shaun Kent explains how lawyers for the prosecution and defence will be making their opening statements as persuasive as possible. Veteran sketch artist Jane Rosenberg shares her four decades of courtroom experience with presenter Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty. She will ...
May 08, 2025•25 min
Lawyers for Sean 'Diddy' Combs preview his legal defence in his sex trafficking case, arguing that the rapper led the 'lifestyle' of a 'swinger' and was not a criminal. Jury selection gets underway on 5 May, with potential jurors asked a range of questions, including whether they watch crime shows. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty goes through all the latest pre-trial news with criminal defence attorney Shaun Kent and Rolling Stone’s senior investigative reporter Cheyenne Roundtree. The Diddy on Trial...
May 01, 2025•19 min
Judge tells Diddy’s team his trial will go ahead as planned, with opening statements set for 12 May. That’s despite his lawyers asking for a delay. Judge Subramanian did agree to some of the requests from Diddy’s team, allowing access to outtakes from a documentary and old drafts of an alleged victim’s memoir. Meanwhile, Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing many alleged victims bringing civil claims against Diddy, is now also acting for an anonymous woman who claims to have been raped by forme...
Apr 24, 2025•25 min
This is your quick round-up so you’re ready for the start of Diddy’s trial, which is set to start on 12 May. Since we launched this podcast in November 2024, we have had five criminal counts against Diddy, he’s been denied bail three times, faced accusations of witness tampering, lost a lawyer, featured in a Kanye - or Ye - track from behind bars, gone grey, demanded a gag order, launched an Instagram campaign and accused the government of racism. And that’s just on the federal side of things. O...
Apr 17, 2025•7 min
It’s the month before Diddy stands trial and the news keeps coming. Mr Combs is now facing new criminal charges of sex trafficking and prostitution, relating to a second victim between 2021 and 2024. Diddy denies all allegations and his team say the prosecution is making it ‘impossible for Mr Combs to receive a fair trial’ by adding new evidence. Meanwhile the woman referred to as ‘Victim 1’ says she is prepared for her identity to be made public, when she takes the stand and gives evidence agai...
Apr 10, 2025•24 min
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s trial begins in May. What’s happening right now as the prosecution and defence prepare? Criminal defence attorney Shaun Kent joins Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty to talk about pseudonyms, choosing juries, and picking the right expert. They’ll consider what cases like that of Michael Jackson’s doctor or OJ Simpson tell us about how US trials work. Meanwhile - Texan lawyer Tony Buzbee says he’s representing Andrew Tate’s ex girlfriend. The Diddy on Trial podcast is here to investi...
Apr 03, 2025•26 min
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s former chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, has made her first public statement since Diddy was arrested and charged. Meanwhile Texan lawyer Tony Buzbee pulls out of 15 cases. Criminal defence attorney Shaun Kent and Rolling Stone’s senior investigative reporter Cheyenne Roundtree join Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty. The Diddy on Trial podcast is here to investigate the rumours, confront the theories, and give you the answers that you need. We also want YOU to be part of the conver...
Mar 27, 2025•22 min
There is a lot going on in the ‘Diddyverse’ this week, from the ongoing row between Jay-Z and Tony Buzbee through to Kanye, or Ye, releasing a song which appears to feature Diddy in prison. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering with conspiracy and transportation for prostitution. He denies them all. Criminal defence attorney Shaun Kent and Rolling Stone’s senior investigative reporter Cheyenne Roundtree join Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty. The Diddy on Tria...
Mar 20, 2025•23 min
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs appears in court for a pre-trial hearing. He pleads not guilty to forced labour charges which are part of an updated indictment. Lawyers also argue over the inclusion of the CNN leaked footage which shows Combs kicking his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura in the hallway of a hotel in 2016. It was agreed that jury selection will begin on 5 May, with opening trial statements on 12 May. The BBC’s New York correspondent Nada Tawfik was in the courtroom and speaks to Anoushka Mutan...
Mar 14, 2025•14 min
Celeb names have been added to one of the Diddy civil lawsuits in explicit allegations over 87 pages. It names celebrity co-defendants, new complainants, alleged trafficking over state lines, has a separate Michael Jackson element, and accuses Diddy of racketeering with conspiracy. Diddy denies all allegations against him. His team says no sane person reading this complaint could credit this story and they're already suing the lawyer who filed this for $50m over comments she made to the media on...
Mar 13, 2025•32 min
Breaking news, as an updated superceding indictment is issued. An indictment is a formal document filed by the US government detailing all the crimes that P Diddy has been charged with. This updated indictment accuses Diddy of threatening staff members and forcing one into a sex act. He denies the accusations, and says many employees stand by his side. Rolling Stone’s Investigative Reporter Cheyenne Roundtree updates Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty with all the latest detail. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs - who...
Mar 07, 2025•6 min
Jay-Z files a lawsuit against the woman who accused him of rape and her lawyer Tony Buzbee, who said: "This case is baloney and has no legal merit". Plus the new civil cases against Diddy and his mum Janice Combs. Diddy’s team has told us the case against his mum ‘is another frivolous attempt to relitigate claims that have been repeatedly thrown out of court over the past 30 years’ and a civil suit from Sara Rivers is ‘another example of false claims filed against Mr Combs’. Rolling Stone's Inve...
Mar 06, 2025•28 min
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s legal team say he’s been ‘singled out because of his race’ and ask for a charge to be dropped. Meanwhile one of his attorneys, Anthony Ricco, asks to leave the case. Plus how unsubstantiated necromancy conspiracy theories about Diddy have gone wild on social media. Diddy remains in jail, awaiting trial on three federal charges of transportation for prostitution, sex trafficking and racketeering with conspiracy. He denies all charges. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty is joined by C...
Feb 27, 2025•23 min
Does hip hop have a problem? Diddy denies the federal offences he’s accused of, but has previously apologised for physically assaulting Cassie Ventura, seen in a video widely shared online. That moment of violence and other incidents involving high-profile stars mean there’s a spotlight on the wider genre. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty speaks to Mark Anthony Neal, professor of African-American studies who runs courses on the history of hip-hop at Duke University, North Carolina; along with Dr Jason...
Feb 20, 2025•27 min
What is sex trafficking? The rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is currently in a New York prison awaiting trial in May on charges of sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution and racketeering with conspiracy. He denies all the allegations. We’re going to be examining what each of these federal charges mean over the coming weeks, hearing from experts and people affected in other cases involving these charges. We’re starting with sex trafficking. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty speaks to Elizabeth Gedde...
Feb 13, 2025•24 min
As Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs awaits trial on charges of kidnapping, drugging and sex trafficking women, industry insiders who knew him during his meteoric rise in the 1990s speak exclusively to the BBC about their experiences. Daniel Evans, who worked at Bad Boy Records between 1994 and 1997, has told the BBC’s Investigations team that women were flown in for sex. He and other employees also recall a culture of big money, threats of violence and sex in the studios of Diddy’s Bad Boy record label. Diddy...
Feb 05, 2025•32 min
Emergency episode alert! Prosecutors in New York have expanded their case against Diddy, adding more women to the indictment against him. The BBC’s Music Correspondent Mark Savage assesses what it all means. Combs has been in jail since September after an initial indictment charged him with racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He denies all the accusations. We want YOU to be part of the conversation. Have you any burning questions about the allega...
Jan 31, 2025•7 min
Diddy fights back with a $50m lawsuit against accusers. Meanwhile new investigations by other media outlets publish more allegations, including from Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, former assistant and yacht staff. He denies all allegations against him. Criminal Defence Attorney Shaun Kent and Rolling Stone’s Senior Investigative Reporter Cheyenne Roundtree explain all to Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty. The Diddy on Trial podcast is here to investigate the rumours, confront the theories, and give you the ans...
Jan 30, 2025•35 min
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyers say video evidence from the prosecution shows he is innocent. They have been allowed to watch sex videos said to be from the so-called ‘freak-off’ parties ahead of the trial scheduled for May. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty hears from Criminal Defence Attorney Shaun Kent about the latest on the build-up to the trial. The Diddy on Trial podcast is here to investigate the rumours, confront the theories, and give you the answers that you need. We also want YOU to be part of ...
Jan 23, 2025•21 min
Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty examines the claims made in the latest documentary about Sean 'Diddy' Combs, called ‘Making of a Bad Boy’ by Peacock. Rolling Stone’s Senior Investigative Reporter Cheyenne Roundtree helps Anoushka analyse the documentary’s interviews from a former Bad Boy Records employee, a childhood friend and an alleged victim of sexual assault. Diddy’s team has told us, “this documentary recycles and perpetuates the same lies and conspiracy theories that have been slung against Mr...
Jan 16, 2025•20 min
What’s life like for Diddy in the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in New York? He’s awaiting trial for federal charges of sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution and racketeering with conspiracy. Diddy denies them all. Catana Yehudah served a sentence in the MDC for fraud and federal public defender Andrew Dalack has represented people who have been detained there. They tell Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty about life inside. The Diddy on Trial podcast is here to investigate the...
Jan 09, 2025•24 min
You asked for a special episode with all the background to the Sean “Diddy” Combs story, and here it is. From starting Bad Boy Records in 1993 and signing the Notorious BIG, to becoming a billionaire business mogul, through to the recent federal charges. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty traces Diddy’s history with Rolling Stone Senior Investigative Reporter Cheyenne Roundtree and Criminal Defence Attorney Shaun Kent. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is currently behind bars in a notorious New York jail, awaiting tr...
Jan 02, 2025•27 min
Broadcaster Precious Muir used to be a model and worked for the Playboy Bunny brand. Parties were a big part of the job, and she tells Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty about her experiences in early 2000s New York. Precious says she experienced a terrifying moment at one event, but didn’t feel able to speak out. Plus she takes Anoushka into the world of a Diddy Hamptons party, where there was glamour and opportunity, laced with sex, drugs and alcohol. Sean P Diddy Combs is currently behind bars in a n...
Dec 19, 2024•28 min
