Diddy Trial: Day One Happenings

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex-trafficking trial opening arguments and witness testimonies begin Monday in New York City.

Here are five takeaways from the opening day of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial:

1. Disturbing 2016 Hotel Assault Video Presented
Jurors viewed a 2016 surveillance video from a Los Angeles hotel showing Combs violently attacking his then-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, an aspiring hip-hop artist. The footage captures Combs, clad only in a towel, throwing Ventura to the ground, kicking her as she attempts to reach an elevator, and dragging her back into the hallway. He is also seen hurling a vase in her direction, shattering it. Combs publicly apologized after CNN aired the video in 2024. Ventura is slated to testify on May 13.

2. Prosecutors Detail Coercive “Freak Off” Parties
In their opening statement, prosecutor Emily A. Johnson described Combs as orchestrating drug-fueled “freak off” sex parties, where he allegedly lured women with promises of romance or career opportunities, then coerced them into prolonged sexual performances with male escorts. Johnson said Combs used drugs like ketamine and ecstasy to ensure compliance and recorded the events to blackmail victims. “Witnesses will share some of the most painful experiences of their lives, days spent in hotel rooms, high on drugs, dressed in costumes to fulfill the defendant’s fantasies,” she told jurors.

3. Defense Claims Consensual Relationships and Financial Motives
Defense attorney Teny Geragos argued that the sexual encounters were consensual, involving “capable adults” in a “swingers lifestyle” within long-term relationships. She framed the case as domestic disputes, not trafficking, and accused the prosecution’s witnesses of seeking financial gain. Geragos noted that Combs faces over 50 civil lawsuits, including one from Ventura settled for undisclosed terms, suggesting accusers are motivated by potential payouts.

4. Male Escort’s Testimony Alleges Violent Incident
Daniel Phillip, a professional stripper and escort, testified about his encounters with Combs and Ventura in 2012 and 2013, claiming he was paid to have sex with Ventura while Combs watched. Phillip recounted a disturbing incident where Combs allegedly threw a liquor bottle toward Ventura, grabbed her by the hair, and dragged her screaming into another room. He heard shouting and slapping, and afterward, Ventura was visibly shaken. “She jumped into my lap, her whole body trembling. She was terrified,” Phillip said.

5. Combs’ Upbeat Demeanor Amid Serious Charges
Combs, detained in Brooklyn since September 2024, appeared in court wearing a beige sweater, white collared shirt, and khakis. He smiled broadly, blew kisses to his mother and six children in the front row, and pumped his fist during a lunch break. One child responded with a heart-shaped hand gesture. Outside, supporters and onlookers crowded the courthouse, filming and vying for glimpses of Combs’ family, underscoring the trial’s public spectacle.

The music mogul, who has pleaded not guilty to five felony counts, faces a potential life sentence if convicted.