A former pop star has told a court Sean “Diddy” Combs was “frequently” violent with his ex-partner Cassie Ventura, and that he threatened her life if she spoke out about it.
Dawn Richard told the jury in Manhattan federal court that Combs made the threat after she allegedly witnessed him trying to hit Cassie with an egg skillet.
She said the Bad Boy Records founder told her and another woman who saw the alleged attack that “we could go missing” if they revealed details of what they saw.
Image: Dawn Richard arriving at court on Monday. Pic: Reuters
Richard, who was a former member of girl group Danity Kane and electric soul trio Dirty Money, said Combs would “punch [Cassie], choke her, slap her in the mouth, kick her, and punch her in the stomach”.
She said of the beatings: “When [Cassie] had these moments of trying to stick up for herself, [Combs] would hurt her for it.”
Richard also said one alleged incident took place in a West Hollywood restaurant with celebrities including Usher, Big Daddy Kane, Jimmy Iovine and Ne-yo also present.
Combs, 55, faces five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He denies the allegations against him.
More on New York
Related Topics:
Beginning her evidence on Friday, Richard told the jury Combs would store his drugs in a Louis Vuitton pouch and said she often” saw him use “Ketamine, cocaine, molly [also known as Ecstasy]”.
Image: Combs with girl group Danity Kane in 2009. Pic: AP
During cross-examination it was suggested her story had changed over time, but Richard said she was doing her best to recall “traumatic” events from more than a decade ago.
She admitted she had contacted Diddy after parting ways with his management and agreed that, despite being “scared” of him, she asked to come back to work for him.
Defence lawyer Nicole Westmoreland suggested Richard was testifying because she was angry that Combs had ended Danity Kane and Diddy – Dirty Money.
Ms Westmoreland asked: “You felt that Mr Combs ruined your career not once but twice?”
“Yes,” Richard replied.
Following Richard’s stint in the stand, Cassie’s ex-best friend Kerry Morgan gave evidence.
Morgan and Cassie had been friends for more than 17 years after meeting as young models.
Image: Combs with Cassie in 2006. Pic: AP
‘I was dizzy, I vomited’
Morgan, who said Combs was prone to “mood swings” and could be “very aggressive”, described two occasions she allegedly saw Combs beat Cassie.
She told the court about hearing Cassie’s “guttural, terrifying” screams before allegedly seeing Combs dragging her by her hair from the master bedroom.
Morgan also described when Combs “choked her” leaving “finger marks” on her throat, and threw a wooden hanger at her head, leaving her with concussion.
She said: “I was dizzy, I vomited a few times. I went to an urgent care facility. I hired a lawyer about the assault. I was planning on filing a lawsuit, but I did not.”
She told the court she received a $30,000 settlement from Combs over the alleged assault, organised by Cassie.
Morgan said she and Cassie ceased to be friends after the incident, explaining: “The reason I stopped speaking to her was because she was not supportive of me after that incident. I draw my line at physical abuse.”
Morgan said Cassie told her she could not leave Combs because she was reliant on him for “her job, her car, her apartment”.
Image: Michael B Jordan, pictured earlier this week. Pic: Reuters
Combs ‘jealous’ of Michael B Jordan
During Cassie’s cross-examination by the defence, the court was told that Cassie was jealous of Combs’s ex, Kim Porter, while Combs was jealous of actor Michael B Jordan, whom Cassie had a brief relationship with in 2015.
While Morgan said she couldn’t confirm whether Cassie was in a relationship with the Creed star, she confirmed: “What I remember was that she was speaking to Michael B Jordan and they hung out together and [Combs] was jealous of it.”
Morgan confirmed she had not wanted to appear in court, having “moved on” with her life, and had been subpoenaed to give testimony.
Last on the stand was Combs’s former personal assistant, David James, who described working 20-hour days for Combs at Bad Boy Records, for six or seven days, for up to three weeks at a time.
James, who had also been subpoenaed, said Cassie told him she couldn’t leave Combs’s “crazy” world because “he controls my career, pays my allowance, and pays my rent”.
Combs, previously known as Puff Daddy and P Diddy, founded Bad Boy Records, and is credited with helping turn artists including Mary J Blige, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into household names in the 1990s and 2000s.
Combs has been jailed since September and faces at least 15 years or possibly life in prison if convicted.
The Edinburgh Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival, is getting under way, and the conflict in Gaza seems to be feeding into what’s happening.
From shows cancelled to artists divided, it’s no joke.
Rachel Creeger has had a distressing start to her stand-up run.
Two weeks ago, out of the blue, she says the venue Whistle Binkies rang her and fellow Jewish comedian Philip Simon to cancel their slots.
Image: Rachel Creeger says her Edinburgh shows have been cancelled by the venue
She told Sky News it’s come down to “what we bring to that venue by being ourselves”.
The pair were allegedly given three reasons for the cancellation.
One was linked to a “vigil for IDF soldiers” that she says the venue initially claimed had been held during her performance last year but, according to Creeger, later had to admit hadn’t taken place.
More on Edinburgh
Related Topics:
“That never happened,” she insists.
Rachel says she was told her previous performances there had resulted in the venue having to pay for graffiti to be removed from toilet doors every three days.
“Again, we didn’t see evidence of that at all,” she says.
“We’re not the ones writing it… but if it was bothering them and they worried it was bothering us, then maybe we’d have volunteered to help them – or to help clean it.”
She claims she was also told the venue was responding to staff concerns about their own safety should Creeger’s show go ahead.
“It’s a pub in Edinburgh, it’s a music venue, they themselves have bouncers most evenings… And perhaps they might say if there’s a concern about extra risk, we should do all we can to make our performers safe.”
‘More unites us than divides us’
Creeger says her show is in no way political.
“It’s based around the idea that a Jewish mother can answer any question, solve any problem… I will make it better for you, the audience gets to write a question and put it into a chicken soup pot… The reason I kind of love it is because by the end of it people leave feeling actually more unites us than divides us.
“We’re not the people making the trouble,” she adds.
“I’ve certainly never started a protest, I’ve never done graffiti, I’ve never caused harm anywhere; my show doesn’t do that, my show is lovely.”
As Britain’s only touring comedian who is also a practising Orthodox Jew, she says since the 7 October attack she and other Jewish comedians are experiencing a significant increase in antisemitism while performing.
“We’re not Israeli, we’re British Jews,” says Creeger.
“The situation there is horrendous and distressing and painful for people of any number of religions and races… To be kind of scapegoated with dog whistles around that is clearly very, very unpleasant.”
The Fringe Society has said its role is to provide support and advice to all participants at the festival “with a vision to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat”.
A spokesperson explained they don’t manage or programme venues and “we understand that the show cancellations have been a choice made by the venue”.
Whistle Binkies hasn’t responded to multiple requests for comment.
Police Scotlandtold Sky News it hasn’t “received any reports of concern” about Creeger’s show.
There are, of course, huge sensitivities when it comes to discussing what’s going on in the world right now.
American stand-up Zainab Johnson is making her Fringe debut this year.
While her show Toxically Optimistic is all about putting a positive spin on life’s challenges, she doesn’t shy away from tackling the serious stuff if it comes up.
Image: Zainab Johnson says her show doesn’t shy away from tackling serious issues
‘Shows becoming serious is a part of life’
“If I’m doing a show and somebody wants to yell out Free Palestine, well let’s talk about it,” she tells Sky News.
“I am the comedian where, if the show has to become serious, it becomes serious. That’s a part of life, you know?”
Johnson adds: “I’m from the United States and they talk about free speech all the time, but then you find out free speech ain’t really free because the moment you say something that is contrary to what the majority feels or wants to be heard, then you can be penalised…
“But isn’t that the beauty of this festival? So many people just telling their story, whatever their story is.”
Comedian Andy Parsons has had a long-standing career in satire, appearing regularly on shows like BBC2’s Mock the Week.
While he has the likes of Elon Musk and Nigel Farage in his sights for his stand-up show, Please #@!$ Off to Mars, they’re not his only focus.
Image: Andy Parsons says comedians ‘should be able to talk about anything’
He says stand-ups “should be able to talk about anything and find a way to get that to work, including Israel and Gaza”.
He explains jokingly: “I’ve got some stuff about Israel in the show and obviously it can work both ways. It can give you some publicity and obviously it can get you cancelled.”
Irish-Palestinian comedian Sami Abu Wardeh – a clown comic – is the only Palestinian doing a full run of a comedy show at this year’s Fringe.
“My show is clowning, it’s storytelling, it’s even got a bit of stand-up and it’s heavily inspired by the comedian Dave Allen, who is one of my comedy heroes,” says Wardeh.
“It felt really important that I come and just exist in this space, as a Palestinian, and speak my words and have my voice heard.
“I’ve used all of these skills to make a show that is about really what’s going on in this country and in the world at the moment.
Image: Irish-Palestinian comedian Sami Abu Wardeh is the only Palestinian doing a full run at this year’s Fringe
“I think most people in this country are going to recognise that Britain is in a very dark place… and I’m hoping to reach those people and to give a voice to the dissatisfaction.”
‘Plans in place’ for disruption
He’s had to consider the possibility of protests and take steps to “make sure that the audience and myself are safe and secure”.
“We have plans in place to know how to deal with people who are disruptive,” he says. “And particularly anybody who wants to bring any kind of bigoted views into the room.”
As one of the very few Palestinians at the festival, Wardeh says it is “not only my duty” but “an honour to be here and to represent my people”.
He also feels it’s wrong that Rachel Creeger has had her venue cancelled.
“I sincerely support free speech and I think everyone should be able to get on the stage and say what they want, within reason obviously,” says Wardeh.
Rachel says she hopes to confirm a new venue for her show on social media in the coming days.
“We’ve thankfully had a number of venues approach us to say that they have space available, so I’m hopeful that I’ll get – if not a full – then at least part of the run for the show.”
Since arriving in Edinburgh she’s been overwhelmed by how many hugs of support she’s received.
“To have super high-profile comedians put their heads above the parapet to say ‘this is wrong’, it means so much…In a way the story is that someone’s done something very hurtful… But look at all the love, that’s amazing.”
Sami Abu Wardeh’s Palestine: Peace de Resistance is at the Pleasance Dome in Edinburgh until 24 August Andy Parsons’ Please #@!$ Off to Mars is at Pleasance Courtyard’s Cabaret Bar until 10 August Zainab Johnson: Toxically Optimistic is at Pleasance Courtyard until 24 August
Flintoff previously described how he thought he had died in the accident – which saw him “pulled face-down on the runway” for about 50m under a three-wheel car.
The incident led to the BBC pulling the plug on Top Gear and it remains unclear if it will ever return.
Hollywood actor Brian Cox has told Sky News that Donald Trump is talking “bollocks” after suggesting there should be 50 or 75 years between Scottish independence referendums.
The US president said a country “can’t go through that too much” when questioned by reporters during his visit to Scotland this week.
The Emmy-winning star, who is an independence supporter, has hit back, branding him “that idiot in America”.
The 79-year-old told Sky News: “He’s talking bollocks. I’m sorry, but he does. It’s rubbish. Let’s get on with it and let’s get it [independence] done. We can do it.
“It’s been tough as there’s a great deal of undermining that has gone on.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
2:13
Trump responds to Sky question on Israel
SNP fraud probe causing ‘harm’
Mr Cox said the police fraud investigation examining the SNP’s finances has done “enormous harm” to the party and wider independence movement.
More from Ents & Arts
Nicola Sturgeon was arrested as part of the long-running police probe but cleared of any wrongdoing earlier this year.
The former first minister’s estranged husband Peter Murrell, who was SNP chief executive for two decades, appeared in court in April to face a charge of alleged embezzlement. He has entered no plea.
Brian Cox is preparing to return to the Scottish stage for the first time in a decade in a play about the Royal Bank of Scotland’s role in the 2008 financial crash.
Ahead of the Edinburgh festival performances, the veteran actor told Sky News: “I think it’s a masterpiece. It’s certainly one of the best pieces of work I’ve been involved in.
Image: Brian Cox speaking to Sky’s Connor Gillies
‘My friend Spacey should be forgiven’
The Succession star was also asked about his “old friend” Kevin Spacey.
The former House of Cards actor, 65, was exiled from the showbiz world in 2017 after allegations of sexual misconduct.
Spacey has admitted to “being too handsy” in the past and “touching someone sexually” when he didn’t know they “didn’t want him to”.
Spacey stood trial in the UK for multiple sexual offences against four men in July 2023 but was acquitted on all counts.
Image: Kevin Spacey
Mr Cox told Sky News: “I am so against cancel culture. Kevin has made a lot of mistakes, but there is a sort of viciousness about it which is unwarranted.
“Everybody is stupid as everybody else. Everybody is capable of the same mistakes and the same sins as everybody else.”
Asked if he could see a return to showbiz for Spacey, Cox replied: “I would think so eventually, but it’s very tough for him.
“He was tricky, but he has learnt a big lesson. He should be allowed to go on because he is a very fine actor. I just think we should be forgiving.”
He concluded: “What is the joy you get out of kicking somebody in the balls when they are down? That is what I cannot stand.”