Rapper Kid Cudi is set to testify at Sean “Diddy” Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York after one of the music mogul's former assistants finished telling jurors about the threatening world he recalled encountering while working for Combs.
Kadi's turn to testify will come immediately after George Kaplan, Combs' former personal assistant, finishes testifying.
The prosecutor said Kadi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, would not testify at length.
R&B singer Cassie, testifying last week, said Combs threatened to blow up Mr. Cudi's car and harm him after he learned she was dating the rapper and actor.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges brought against him after his September arrest at a Manhattan hotel.
The federal criminal investigation into Combs began in November 2023, the day after Cassie filed a criminal complaint against him in Manhattan federal court, alleging years of sexual and physical abuse.
The next day, Combs settled the case for $20 million.
During four days of testimony last week, Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, alleged that Combs abused her over the nearly 11 years she spent with him from 2007 to 2018.
She said she began a relationship with Cudi in late 2011, which she ended weeks later after Combs found out when he looked through her phone during a “crazy” drug-fueled sex act, one of hundreds she says she's had over the years.
Cassie's mother, Regina Ventura, testified Tuesday that she received an email from her daughter shortly before the 2011 holidays that said Combs was planning to release her sex tapes and physically abuse Cassie and Cudi.
She said Combs contacted her directly and demanded $20,000 for the money he spent on Cassie.
Regina Ventura said she withdrew funds from her mortgage account to send the money, but Combs returned them a few days later.
Kadi will follow Kaplan to the witness stand after Combs' personal assistant from 2013 to 2015 finishes testifying about what he endured during 80- to 100-hour work weeks.
Testifying Wednesday, he said he got a taste of what the job would be like during his first week, when Combs sent him to the grocery store for a gallon of water and scolded him when he returned with two half-gallon jugs instead.
“He told me I didn't bring him what he asked for. He was angry. He was very close to my face,” Kaplan said.
He said Combs threatened to fire him from his job every month.
When Cassie testified, she was asked if any of Combs' employees had ever quit after witnessing abuse from Combs.
She said Kaplan did it.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
