Why Kid Cudi and Michael B. Jordan were mentioned in Diddy's sex trafficking trial
Kid Cudi and Michael B. Jordan are some of the first celebrities to be named in Diddy's trial.
The disgraced music star's trial started on Monday (May 5) in New York — the same day that some of the world's most famous faces flocked to NYC for this year's Met Gala.
Diddy, real name Sean Combs, was arrested in September and has remained in custody ever since after his many bail attempts were rejected.
The first part of the rapper's trial is jury selection. The court must seat a panel of 18 New Yorkers (12 jurors and six alternates) before opening statements begin next Monday. Dozens of prospective jurors have been questioned to see if they could judge the music mogul fairly.
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On Monday and Tuesday, the judge assembled a pool of 35 potential jurors, 10 short of the group of 45 who are one step from sitting on the jury for a trial projected to last up to two months.
One man was reportedly disqualified after candidly admitting that he may struggle to abstain from smoking weed for the duration of the trial; which is expected to last eight to 10 weeks.
To ensure that potential jurors bare no bias, they had to review a series of famous faces — Michael B. Jordan and Kid Cudi included.
As to why Sinners star Jordan was named, it's reportedly because he was referenced in Cassie Ventura's 2023 complaint against Diddy that she filed in 2023, says CNN.
In her filing, she said she had 'a flirtatious relationship with an actor' (believed to the be Creed star) in 2015 during a break in her relationship with Diddy.
When the Bad Boy Records founder learned of this, he allegedly called and 'threatened' Jordan.
Kid Cudi, real name Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, is also believed to have been mentioned in Cassie's complaint.
The pair had a brief relationship in 2011 when Ventura was going through a 'rough patch' with Diddy.
Diddy allegedly became 'enraged' when he learnt of their romance and said he was going to blow up Cudi's car.
"Around that time, Kid Cudi’s car exploded in his driveway," the filing further claimed.
At the time of the 2023 lawsuit, a rep for Cudi backed what Ventura had said and said it was 'all true'.
Diddy denied all of Ventura's allegations but proceeded to settle with her anyway. He has also denied the federal charges that he's currently on trial for.
UNILAD has approached Jordan and Cudi's reps from comment.
A timeline of events leading to Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial
November 2023: Cassie Ventura files a Civil lawsuit against Sean 'Diddy' Combs
Musician and Diddy's ex-partner, Cassie Ventura, filed a lawsuit accusing him of rape and years of abuse. She said he used his power to 'set the groundwork' for a 'manipulative and coercive romantic and sexual relationship.' The lawsuit was settled out of court the day after for an undisclosed amount.
February 2024: Another lawsuit filed
Music producer Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones filed a lawsuit alleging Combs 'sexually harassed, drugged and threatened him', as reported by NBC. Combs' lawyer Erica Wolff quickly fired back at Jones' claims saying: "Mr. Jones’s lawsuit is pure fiction — a shameless attempt to create media hype and extract a quick settlement."
March 25, 2024: Federal raids
Diddy's properties in LA, Miami and New York were raided by Homeland Security after they served search warrants in the early hours of the morning. The raid was in connection with a sex trafficking investigation - which is one of the charges Diddy is facing.
May 17, 2024: Assault video released
CNN released a video which showed Diddy attacking ex-partner Cassie Ventura in the hallway of a hotel. The video is said to be from 2016. The video mirrors the assault allegations Cassie made in her lawsuit against the disgraced music mogul.
May 19, 2024: Public apology
Diddy posted a video to his Instagram and Facebook accounts, apologising for the assault on Cassie. He said in part: "So difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, sometimes you got to do that. I was f**ked up.
"I mean I hit rock bottom, but I make no excuses, my behaviour in that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video, I'm disgusted."
September 16, 2024: Federal arrest
Combs was arrested in Manhattan after a grand jury indicted him on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Diddy is charged with racketeering conspiracy, two charges of sex trafficking and two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution, as reported by the BBC. These also include accusations of kidnapping and drugging his victims.
October 10, 2024: Trial date set
A federal judge set May 5, 2025, as the start date for Diddy's trial.
February 21, 2025: Diddy's defense attorney quits
Anthony Ricco, one of Diddy's defense attorneys withdrew from the high profile case citing an inability to continue effectively representing him. He said at the time: "Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs, consistent with the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice.
"While I am aware that the Local Rule requires that an application for withdrawal of counsel is supported and granted 'only upon a showing by affidavit or otherwise of satisfactory reasons for withdrawal', there are sufficient reasons (related to the protections afforded by the attorney/client privilege) for brevity in my application for withdrawal as counsel in this case."
May 5, 2025: Trial begins
Jury selection commenced in Manhattan federal court, marking the official start of Diddy's trial.
Topics: Diddy, Michael B. Jordan, Cassie Ventura, Court, News, Celebrity
Niamh Shackleton