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Sean 'Diddy' Combs' former assistant says the job gave her severe PTSD and she hasn't worked since

30 May 2025 at 17:30

A former personal assistant to Sean "Diddy" Combs said she has such severe PTSD from working for him for a year that a question as simple as "where are you?" was triggering to her.

She's testifying under the pseudonym "Mia" in Combs' ongoing federal criminal trial. He has been charged with sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering and has pleaded not guilty.

It's the second day Mia has been on the witness stand in Combs' trial, which is closing out its third week. For more of her 2-day testimony, Mia has kept her head down, making it also impossible to view her face.

During her testimony on Thursday, Mia detailed several times in which she alleged Combs sexually assaulted and physically attacked her. She also spoke about violence she witnessed firsthand from Combs towards his then-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura Fine, known as "Cassie."

Cassie testified about the alleged assaults she endured throughout their decade-long relationship during the first week of trial.

But Mia is painting a picture of the abuse she claims she experienced as one of Combs' employees, with the jury seeing a series of texts from Combs during her 8-year employment in which he threatened her. She said she hasn't been able to work since leaving her job with Combs because she suffers from severe PTSD.

Mia said her employment, which involved a "dream" role working for Combs' now-shuttered production company Revolt Films, was a roller coaster of feeling grateful for the opportunities to work with the prominent music mogul while having to "tiptoe" around his appetite for violence and control.

The woman said she grew close with Cassie, with whom she is still in contact, during her time working for Combs, but it ultimately became a catalyst in what she described as an abusive and hectic environment.

Mia said there were times when she was caught in the middle of their relationship, with Combs often threatening her when he couldn't get a hold of Cassie or the two women running and hiding from him during a period of rage.

Mia said she never reported the sexual assaults or other violent incidents to authorities because she feared for her career and her life. She also said she thought that Combs was more powerful than the police at the time.

Mia said, He would have destroyed my reputation. I was scared of him.

RELATED STORY | Who are all of the celebrities mentioned during Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial and why?

After she left the job in 2017, Mia hired employment attorneys to help her negotiate severance and said Combs' chief of staff at the time told her he felt like she had stabbed him in the back.

The next time Mia spoke with Combs after they reached a settlement was when she reached out after the mother of three of his children, Kim Porter, died suddenly in 2018.

However, Mia said Combs tried to get in touch with her on multiple occasions after Cassie filed a civil lawsuit against him in 2023.

She claimed Combs' longtime security guard, known as D-Roc, contacted her for the first after not speaking for two years and that he brought up the lawsuit, stating he thought it was "crazy" and that Combs and Cassie "would just fight like a normal couple."

Mia said that when Combs tried to call her, she threw her phone as far away as she could because it was so triggering.

D-Roc would repeatedly call her or text her over the next couple of months, saying Combs wanted to speak with her. Mia said she believed he was trying to make sure she wasn't a threat.

At one point, D-Roc asked for her address, which she said she declined to give him.

The jury was shown messages Combs sent to Mia last year, which she didn't respond to. In the messages, he said he "just needed to talk."

Defense attorneys question Mia's positivity on social media

Combs' defense attorneys began cross-examining Mia on Friday and pointed out multiple photos and comments she posted on her Instagram in which she praised Combs or seemed thankful for him.

Mia claimed Combs fans followed her on social media, and she didnt want her family to know what she was going through, referring to the alleged abuse.

In one post shown by the defense, Combs was wishing her a happy birthday and said "ps sorry I was acting crazy last night" in the caption. Mia said, "He had threatened my life on the phone the night before and I guess this was his apology."

Mia told the defense that there were times when things were going so good with Combs, she would almost forget the abuse.

The defense asked Mia why she didn't reach out to her friends outside of her job to seek help. She said the job was demanding that she didn't have time and even had to ask permission to attend her grandmother's funeral.

This is a developing story that will continue to be updated.

PREVIOUS TRIAL COVERAGE:

Sean 'Diddy' Combs' former assistant says fear of being killed kept her from reporting alleged rapes Former stylist says Cassie's outfits needed approval from Sean 'Diddy' Combs Ex-assistant tells of cleaning up booze, drugs and baby oil after Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex marathons Kid Cudi expected to testify in Sean 'Diddy' Combs federal criminal trial 'I can't get out:' Witnesses say Sean 'Diddy' Combs controlled every part of Cassie's life Cassie's husband Alex Fine releases statement as her testimony in Combs trial concludes Cassie's testimony against Sean 'Diddy' Combs ends after days of detailing abuse Diddy's lawyers paint his 'freak offs' as a swinger lifestyle fueled by mutual drug use with Cassie Cassie claims 'Diddy' told her he wanted to blow up Kid Cudi's car in second day of trial testimony Baby oil, Glade candles, prostitutes: Cassie details 'freak offs' in Diddy's sex trafficking trial Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial opens with graphic testimony

Kid Cudi expected to testify in Sean 'Diddy' Combs federal criminal trial

20 May 2025 at 15:43

The mother of Casandra Ventura Fine, known as "Cassie," said her daughter told her that Sean "Diddy" Combs was threatening to release sex tapes of Cassie on Christmas Day in 2011 after he found out she was dating rapper Kid Cudi.

Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, is expected to testify in the trial this week possibly as soon as Wednesday.

The accusation came during Regina Ventura's testimony in Combs's ongoing federal criminal trial on Tuesday.

The 55-year-old music mogul is on trial in New York for charges of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering. He has pleaded not guilty and is facing a life sentence behind bars.

RELATED STORY | Cassie claims 'Diddy' told her he wanted to blow up Kid Cudi's car in second day of trial testimony

Most of the first week of Combs' trial centered around Cassie's testimony, in which she accused him of being sexually, physically and psychologically abusive to her over their decade-long relationship. Her allegations included that he controlled every aspect of her life so that she couldn't leave him, that she felt like a sex worker and that when she tried to break it off, he raped her.

Ventura said on Tuesday that Combs was angry about Cassie and Mescudi's relationship and that he told her he needed $20,000 as a reimbursement for what he had spent on Cassie.

Ventura said she was worried for her daughter's safety and that she and her husband took out a home equity loan and wired the money to him. Days later, the money was wired back without an explanation.

Combs' attorneys did not ask Ventura any questions.

RELATED STORY | 'I can't get out:' Witnesses say Sean 'Diddy' Combs controlled every part of Cassie's life

Sex toys, platform heels and AR-15 parts found in Combs's closets

Gerard Gannon, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, was the tenth witness called by the prosecution in the trial. He said the search of Combs's Miami Beach home on March 25, 2024 was assigned to his unit because of its ties to a human-trafficking investigation.

Nearly 100 law enforcement agents were part of the search because of the size of the property, Gannon said. The team waited for Combs to leave before executing the search warrant.

Agents used a vehicle to break through the property's front gate around 3 p.m. ET and then searched the home.

Gannon testified that agents found platform high heels, sex toys, baby oil, personal lubricant and lingerie in one of the closets in the primary bedroom of the home. The agents also found parts of AR-15s with their serial numbers scratched off in one of the closets, including two loaded magazines and receivers.

The jury was shown photos of the items found inside the home.

Male escort, "The Punisher," claims he never saw filming or violence

Sharay Hayes, a male escort and exotic dancer who said he was hired by Combs and Cassie in 2012, claimed he never saw any filming of his sexual acts with Cassie and that he never witnessed Combs get violent with her.

Hayes said he would always meet the couple at a hotel in New York City, and he would be contacted by Cassie who used a different name hours beforehand to discuss the plans for the encounters.

During his testimony, he said he did not know the man in the room with him and Cassie during their encounters was Combs and that Combs would give subtle directions to them while watching.

Hayes claimed Combs and Cassie did not appear to be under the influence of drugs during the eight to 12 times he met with the couple to perform sex acts with Cassie.

Former assistant to Sean 'Diddy' Combs testifies about demanding work conditions

David James worked as one of Combs's assistants from 2007 to 2009. He testified that his job included everything from making sure Combs's breakfast was up to his standards to procuring illicit drugs for him and his friends.

He described how he would set up hotel rooms before Combs's arrival. James claimed this would include organizing Combs's clothing, his toiletry bag that contained about 40 products, a medicine bag that contained 25 to 30 bottles of drugs like ecstasy and Percocet and personal items such as lube, baby oil and condoms.

James claimed Combs' security would reimburse him for the items with cash. He also noted that Combs' favorite hotel to stay in in New York City was the Trump International.

The former assistant said it was a demanding job that often included him going weeks without a day off. He testified that one of Combs' other assistants had to be hospitalized for dehydration after working with Combs for 24 hours straight.

He claimed there was a phrase used to describe the work life under Combs: "If you're tired, you'll get fired."

James testified that he resigned from the position after a situation that made him feel unsafe. That incident included him having to hold handguns while Combs and his security allegedly tried to confront his career rival Marion "Suge" Knight Jr. at a diner in Los Angeles.

RELATED STORY |ย Who are all of the celebrities mentioned during Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial and why?

During his testimony on Monday, James said he didn't have a lot of interactions with Cassie, but he recalled speaking with her in Miami within the first year of working for Combs, in which he alleged Cassie said, "I can't get out" when she was asked about leaving the lifestyle.

James testified that he was with Combs when a business associate asked Combs about Cassie and his late ex-partner and mother to some of his children, Kim Porter. James said Combs described Porter as his "queen" but referred to Cassie as "young" and "moldable."

This is a developing story that will be updated.

Trial resumes for Sean 'Diddy' Combs with former Danity Kane member's testimony

19 May 2025 at 14:24

The federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial for Sean "Diddy" Combs entered its second week on Monday with more witness testimony.

Dawn Richard, a singer and former member of the musical group Danity Kane, formed by Combs, was back on the stand after briefly testifying on Friday.

Combs, 55, faces a life sentence for charges of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering. He has pleaded not guilty.

Richard testified that she saw Combs frequently get violent with his ex-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura Fine, who goes by "Cassie." Cassie was a key witness who testified during the first week of the trial.

RELATED STORY | Cassie's testimony against Sean 'Diddy' Combs ends after days of detailing abuse

According to CNN, Richard claimed she saw Combs punch, choke and kick Cassie on several occasions.

Cassie and Combs dated for a little over a decade from the early 2000s to 2018. She said the relationship was psychologically and physically abusive, but that she was young and in love and feared leaving him because he allegedly threatened to release videos of her performing sexual acts in what they called "freak offs."

Prosecutors allege Combs used his money, power and fame to orchestrate an empire of exploitation and coerced women into abusive sex parties. The music mogul's lawyers said he may have been violent at times, but maintain that all sexual acts were consensual.

RELATED STORY |ย Who are all of the celebrities mentioned during Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial and why?

This is a developing story that will be updated.
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