This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.

Deonte Nash, a friend and stylist of Cassie Ventura Fine, testified in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial that the former hip-hop mogul threatened to release recordings of Ventura Fine having sex and repeatedly beat her, including bashing her head on a bed frame.

Nash said Combs tried to control all aspects of Ventura Fine's life during their decade-long relationship, from her music to her social circle and more. "It drove her crazy. She would cry," Nash, who also worked as a stylist with Combs, told jurors May 28.

Earlier in the day, prosecutors questioned two emergency officials on allegations that Combs broke into fellow rapper Kid Cudi's home, as well as a separate incident that saw Kid Cudi's Porsche explode in his driveway.

Chris Ignacio, a Los Angeles police officer, told jurors he saw a vehicle registered to Combs' company rushing away from the home of Kid Cudi, born Scott Mescudi, the night of the alleged break-in. Several witnesses have claimed Combs wanted to confront Mescudi after finding out he was dating Ventura Fine.

Combs, 55, was arrested in September 2024 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.

Nash told jurors he frequently saw Diddy be violent with Cassie, hitting her face and giving her black eyes.

He also alleged Combs once beat Ventura Fine so badly in a hotel room that she had a bloody gash over her eye, requiring stitches. The stylist said he and a female staffer, whom prosecutors are identifying as "Mia," jumped on Diddy's back to get him to stop in the 2013 or 2014 incident, but he was in such a rage that he threw them both off.

Nash testified that Cassie was asleep on the couch and that an irate Combs was banging on the door until Nash opened it. Combs barged in and screamed at her for not answering her phone ahead of the OVO music festival in Toronto, which they were planning to attend together.

Combs then grabbed Ventura Fine by the hair, pulling her off the couch and hitting her "pretty hard," Nash testified. "He was in a rage."

At one point, as Combs was hitting her, Ventura Fine hit her head on the bed frame and blood began spurting out, Nash said. "When he noticed the blood, he just panicked," Nash said of Combs. Then, an angry Combs said to them, "Look at what y'all made me do."

Nash said he went to call 911, but Combs said Ventura Fine would go to a plastic surgeon with his security person, known as D-Roc. When Nash saw her the next day, "she had stitches on her forehead, a gash on her forehead."

Times Cassie Ventura hid from Sean Combs: 'Too many to count'

Nash described another violent incident in 2013 or 2014, when an angry Combs allegedly came to Ventura Fine's Los Angeles apartment, pleading with her to speak privately. After a few minutes, they emerged from her bedroom with Combs allegedly grabbing her by the hair and jacket and pushing her halfway out the door while yelling at her to get out of her own home.

Diddy trial recap: Stylist Deonte Nash says Diddy beat Cassie, smashed her head on bed frame

Patrick Ryan

Josh Meyer

Edward Segarra

Pamela Avila

Taijuan Moorman

Anna Kaufman

USA TODAY

This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.

Deonte Nash, a friend and stylist of Cassie Ventura Fine, testified in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial that the former hip-hop mogul threatened to release recordings of Ventura Fine having sex and repeatedly beat her, including bashing her head on a bed frame.

Nash said Combs tried to control all aspects of Ventura Fine's life during their decade-long relationship, from her music to her social circle and more. "It drove her crazy. She would cry," Nash, who also worked as a stylist with Combs, told jurors May 28.

Earlier in the day, prosecutors questioned two emergency officials on allegations that Combs broke into fellow rapper Kid Cudi's home, as well as a separate incident that saw Kid Cudi's Porsche explode in his driveway.

Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges

Chris Ignacio, a Los Angeles police officer, told jurors he saw a vehicle registered to Combs' company rushing away from the home of Kid Cudi, born Scott Mescudi, the night of the alleged break-in. Several witnesses have claimed Combs wanted to confront Mescudi after finding out he was dating Ventura Fine.

Combs, 55, was arrested in September 2024 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.

More: Diddy's ex-employee says music executive warned her 'to leave Puff alone'

Crosswords Promo January 2025

Deonte Nash says he saw Diddy beat Cassie

Nash told jurors he frequently saw Diddy be violent with Cassie, hitting her face and giving her black eyes.

He also alleged Combs once beat Ventura Fine so badly in a hotel room that she had a bloody gash over her eye, requiring stitches. The stylist said he and a female staffer, whom prosecutors are identifying as "Mia," jumped on Diddy's back to get him to stop in the 2013 or 2014 incident, but he was in such a rage that he threw them both off.

Nash testified that Cassie was asleep on the couch and that an irate Combs was banging on the door until Nash opened it. Combs barged in and screamed at her for not answering her phone ahead of the OVO music festival in Toronto, which they were planning to attend together.

Combs then grabbed Ventura Fine by the hair, pulling her off the couch and hitting her "pretty hard," Nash testified. "He was in a rage."

More: Suge Knight says Diddy should 'walk free' while other execs face charges

At one point, as Combs was hitting her, Ventura Fine hit her head on the bed frame and blood began spurting out, Nash said. "When he noticed the blood, he just panicked," Nash said of Combs. Then, an angry Combs said to them, "Look at what y'all made me do."

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Content warning: See photos prosecutors released of injuries to Diddy's ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura Fine

Nash said he went to call 911, but Combs said Ventura Fine would go to a plastic surgeon with his security person, known as D-Roc. When Nash saw her the next day, "she had stitches on her forehead, a gash on her forehead."

Times Cassie Ventura hid from Sean Combs: 'Too many to count'

Nash described another violent incident in 2013 or 2014, when an angry Combs allegedly came to Ventura Fine's Los Angeles apartment, pleading with her to speak privately. After a few minutes, they emerged from her bedroom with Combs allegedly grabbing her by the hair and jacket and pushing her halfway out the door while yelling at her to get out of her own home.

Nash said there were at least four security guards with Combs that night who initially blocked him from leaving the building, but they eventually let him drive Cassie to safety. But while Nash and Ventura Fine were in the vehicle, Combs called them and ordered them to pull over.

When he caught up, Nash said the rapper came to the car window and again threatened to release footage of Ventura Fine having sex. He allegedly told his then-girlfriend that he "was the only one that protected her" as she wept.

Obama, Britney Spears, Michael B. Jordan : All the celebs mentioned during the Diddy trial

Nash told the court he helped Ventura Fine get into a cab to flee to a hotel. When he returned home, Nash said Combs and his bodyguards entered and searched for Cassie, even looking in the closet and oven.

Asked how many times he had helped Ventura Fine hide from Combs, Nash said, "Too many to count."

Deonte Nash said Diddy stifled Cassie's music career

Nash told the court he witnessed Combs threaten Ventura Fine multiple times, saying the rapper would talk about beating his then-girlfriend and refuse to release the music she was recording. He also said Combs threatened to send Ventura Fine's sex tapes to her parents' jobs and get them fired.

"It drove her crazy. She would cry," he explained, saying that she would stay inside for days over the threats and "go into a cocoon."

Those weren't the only controlling behaviors Nash mentioned in his testimony. He recalled another intense incident when he and Ventura Fine were at a club with singer Rita Ora. Combs called Ventura Fine and demanded that she immediately come to his home, in addition to telling Nash to stop spending time with Ventura Fine.

More: Cassie alleges horrific abuse by Diddy. Why survivors see themselves in her story

Nash also explained that, as Ventura Fine's stylist, he always had to get Combs' approval on her outfits. Recalling one incident at a 2014 Oscars afterparty, Nash said when he and Ventura Fine arrived and her hair was down, Combs approached and said, "I thought I told you that she needed to wear her hair up."

Angrily, Combs grabbed Nash and lifted him, he said, detailing his mad search around the party for hairpins to put Ventura Fine's hair up. When he found them and changed her look, Combs saw her and said, "Oh, she does look better with her hair down," Nash testified.  

He also alleged Combs tried to control Cassie's music, testifying that when her mixtape "RockaByeBaby" was released for free online in 2013 and "did really well," Combs still refused to put it on any streaming platforms. 

Deonte Nash, Cassie's stylist and friend, takes the stand

Before breaking for lunch, jurors heard testimony from Deonte Nash, who worked as a stylist for Combs and Ventura Fine between 2009 and 2018. Nash was cheeky on the stand and quickly told prosecutors he didn't want to be in the courtroom.

Diddy trial recap: Stylist Deonte Nash says Diddy beat Cassie, smashed her head on bed frame

Patrick Ryan

Josh Meyer

Edward Segarra

Pamela Avila

Taijuan Moorman

Anna Kaufman

USA TODAY

This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.

Deonte Nash, a friend and stylist of Cassie Ventura Fine, testified in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial that the former hip-hop mogul threatened to release recordings of Ventura Fine having sex and repeatedly beat her, including bashing her head on a bed frame.

Nash said Combs tried to control all aspects of Ventura Fine's life during their decade-long relationship, from her music to her social circle and more. "It drove her crazy. She would cry," Nash, who also worked as a stylist with Combs, told jurors May 28.

Earlier in the day, prosecutors questioned two emergency officials on allegations that Combs broke into fellow rapper Kid Cudi's home, as well as a separate incident that saw Kid Cudi's Porsche explode in his driveway.

Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges

Chris Ignacio, a Los Angeles police officer, told jurors he saw a vehicle registered to Combs' company rushing away from the home of Kid Cudi, born Scott Mescudi, the night of the alleged break-in. Several witnesses have claimed Combs wanted to confront Mescudi after finding out he was dating Ventura Fine.

Combs, 55, was arrested in September 2024 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.

More: Diddy's ex-employee says music executive warned her 'to leave Puff alone'

Crosswords Promo January 2025

Deonte Nash says he saw Diddy beat Cassie

Nash told jurors he frequently saw Diddy be violent with Cassie, hitting her face and giving her black eyes.

He also alleged Combs once beat Ventura Fine so badly in a hotel room that she had a bloody gash over her eye, requiring stitches. The stylist said he and a female staffer, whom prosecutors are identifying as "Mia," jumped on Diddy's back to get him to stop in the 2013 or 2014 incident, but he was in such a rage that he threw them both off.

Nash testified that Cassie was asleep on the couch and that an irate Combs was banging on the door until Nash opened it. Combs barged in and screamed at her for not answering her phone ahead of the OVO music festival in Toronto, which they were planning to attend together.

Combs then grabbed Ventura Fine by the hair, pulling her off the couch and hitting her "pretty hard," Nash testified. "He was in a rage."

More: Suge Knight says Diddy should 'walk free' while other execs face charges

At one point, as Combs was hitting her, Ventura Fine hit her head on the bed frame and blood began spurting out, Nash said. "When he noticed the blood, he just panicked," Nash said of Combs. Then, an angry Combs said to them, "Look at what y'all made me do."

Content warning: See photos prosecutors released of injuries to Diddy's ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura Fine

Nash said he went to call 911, but Combs said Ventura Fine would go to a plastic surgeon with his security person, known as D-Roc. When Nash saw her the next day, "she had stitches on her forehead, a gash on her forehead."

Times Cassie Ventura hid from Sean Combs: 'Too many to count'

Nash described another violent incident in 2013 or 2014, when an angry Combs allegedly came to Ventura Fine's Los Angeles apartment, pleading with her to speak privately. After a few minutes, they emerged from her bedroom with Combs allegedly grabbing her by the hair and jacket and pushing her halfway out the door while yelling at her to get out of her own home.

Nash said there were at least four security guards with Combs that night who initially blocked him from leaving the building, but they eventually let him drive Cassie to safety. But while Nash and Ventura Fine were in the vehicle, Combs called them and ordered them to pull over.

When he caught up, Nash said the rapper came to the car window and again threatened to release footage of Ventura Fine having sex. He allegedly told his then-girlfriend that he "was the only one that protected her" as she wept.

Obama, Britney Spears, Michael B. Jordan : All the celebs mentioned during the Diddy trial

Nash told the court he helped Ventura Fine get into a cab to flee to a hotel. When he returned home, Nash said Combs and his bodyguards entered and searched for Cassie, even looking in the closet and oven.

Celebrity stylist Deonte Nash is questioned by prosecutor Maurene Comey at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, U.S., May 28, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

Asked how many times he had helped Ventura Fine hide from Combs, Nash said, "Too many to count."

Deonte Nash said Diddy stifled Cassie's music career

Nash told the court he witnessed Combs threaten Ventura Fine multiple times, saying the rapper would talk about beating his then-girlfriend and refuse to release the music she was recording. He also said Combs threatened to send Ventura Fine's sex tapes to her parents' jobs and get them fired.

"It drove her crazy. She would cry," he explained, saying that she would stay inside for days over the threats and "go into a cocoon."

Those weren't the only controlling behaviors Nash mentioned in his testimony. He recalled another intense incident when he and Ventura Fine were at a club with singer Rita Ora. Combs called Ventura Fine and demanded that she immediately come to his home, in addition to telling Nash to stop spending time with Ventura Fine.

More: Cassie alleges horrific abuse by Diddy. Why survivors see themselves in her story

Nash also explained that, as Ventura Fine's stylist, he always had to get Combs' approval on her outfits. Recalling one incident at a 2014 Oscars afterparty, Nash said when he and Ventura Fine arrived and her hair was down, Combs approached and said, "I thought I told you that she needed to wear her hair up."

Angrily, Combs grabbed Nash and lifted him, he said, detailing his mad search around the party for hairpins to put Ventura Fine's hair up. When he found them and changed her look, Combs saw her and said, "Oh, she does look better with her hair down," Nash testified.  

He also alleged Combs tried to control Cassie's music, testifying that when her mixtape "RockaByeBaby" was released for free online in 2013 and "did really well," Combs still refused to put it on any streaming platforms. 

Deonte Nash, Cassie's stylist and friend, takes the stand

Before breaking for lunch, jurors heard testimony from Deonte Nash, who worked as a stylist for Combs and Ventura Fine between 2009 and 2018. Nash was cheeky on the stand and quickly told prosecutors he didn't want to be in the courtroom.

Nash said he became particularly close to Ventura Fine during his employment, and he heard Combs call her demeaning, sexist names multiple times. Combs was usually irate when he said these kinds of things, the stylist noted, and in response, "she would be sad, sometimes cry, sometimes go into a depression."

Judge denies Diddy's bid for a mistrial

Midway during court proceedings on May 28, Combs' lawyers moved for a mistrial, arguing that prosecutors were improperly trying to suggest that the hip-hop mogul had evidence tied to an alleged arson incident destroyed.

Defense lawyer Alexandra Shapiro contended, without the jury present, that the line of questioning by prosecutors was designed to infer that "Mr. Combs could buy his way out of this (investigation into the break-in and firebombing at Mescudi's home). We believe the questions were designed to play right into that."

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian swiftly denied the request. "There was absolutely no testimony from the witness that was prejudicial in any way, shape or form," Subramanian said.

LAPD officer: Vehicle registered to Diddy's business parked outside Kid Cudi's house

Los Angeles Police Department officer Chris Ignacio testified about Combs' alleged break-in at Mescudi's home. When Ignacio arrived at the house in Los Angeles on Dec. 22, 2011, he said he noticed a black Cadillac Escalade that "took off up the hill" when law enforcement arrived.

Diddy trial recap: Stylist Deonte Nash says Diddy beat Cassie, smashed her head on bed frame

Patrick Ryan

Josh Meyer

Edward Segarra

Pamela Avila

Taijuan Moorman

Anna Kaufman

USA TODAY

This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.

Deonte Nash, a friend and stylist of Cassie Ventura Fine, testified in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial that the former hip-hop mogul threatened to release recordings of Ventura Fine having sex and repeatedly beat her, including bashing her head on a bed frame.

Nash said Combs tried to control all aspects of Ventura Fine's life during their decade-long relationship, from her music to her social circle and more. "It drove her crazy. She would cry," Nash, who also worked as a stylist with Combs, told jurors May 28.

Earlier in the day, prosecutors questioned two emergency officials on allegations that Combs broke into fellow rapper Kid Cudi's home, as well as a separate incident that saw Kid Cudi's Porsche explode in his driveway.

Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges

Chris Ignacio, a Los Angeles police officer, told jurors he saw a vehicle registered to Combs' company rushing away from the home of Kid Cudi, born Scott Mescudi, the night of the alleged break-in. Several witnesses have claimed Combs wanted to confront Mescudi after finding out he was dating Ventura Fine.

Combs, 55, was arrested in September 2024 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.

More: Diddy's ex-employee says music executive warned her 'to leave Puff alone'

Crosswords Promo January 2025

Deonte Nash says he saw Diddy beat Cassie

Nash told jurors he frequently saw Diddy be violent with Cassie, hitting her face and giving her black eyes.

He also alleged Combs once beat Ventura Fine so badly in a hotel room that she had a bloody gash over her eye, requiring stitches. The stylist said he and a female staffer, whom prosecutors are identifying as "Mia," jumped on Diddy's back to get him to stop in the 2013 or 2014 incident, but he was in such a rage that he threw them both off.

Nash testified that Cassie was asleep on the couch and that an irate Combs was banging on the door until Nash opened it. Combs barged in and screamed at her for not answering her phone ahead of the OVO music festival in Toronto, which they were planning to attend together.

Combs then grabbed Ventura Fine by the hair, pulling her off the couch and hitting her "pretty hard," Nash testified. "He was in a rage."

More: Suge Knight says Diddy should 'walk free' while other execs face charges

At one point, as Combs was hitting her, Ventura Fine hit her head on the bed frame and blood began spurting out, Nash said. "When he noticed the blood, he just panicked," Nash said of Combs. Then, an angry Combs said to them, "Look at what y'all made me do."

Content warning: See photos prosecutors released of injuries to Diddy's ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura Fine

Nash said he went to call 911, but Combs said Ventura Fine would go to a plastic surgeon with his security person, known as D-Roc. When Nash saw her the next day, "she had stitches on her forehead, a gash on her forehead."

Times Cassie Ventura hid from Sean Combs: 'Too many to count'

Nash described another violent incident in 2013 or 2014, when an angry Combs allegedly came to Ventura Fine's Los Angeles apartment, pleading with her to speak privately. After a few minutes, they emerged from her bedroom with Combs allegedly grabbing her by the hair and jacket and pushing her halfway out the door while yelling at her to get out of her own home.

Nash said there were at least four security guards with Combs that night who initially blocked him from leaving the building, but they eventually let him drive Cassie to safety. But while Nash and Ventura Fine were in the vehicle, Combs called them and ordered them to pull over.

When he caught up, Nash said the rapper came to the car window and again threatened to release footage of Ventura Fine having sex. He allegedly told his then-girlfriend that he "was the only one that protected her" as she wept.

Obama, Britney Spears, Michael B. Jordan : All the celebs mentioned during the Diddy trial

Nash told the court he helped Ventura Fine get into a cab to flee to a hotel. When he returned home, Nash said Combs and his bodyguards entered and searched for Cassie, even looking in the closet and oven.

Celebrity stylist Deonte Nash is questioned by prosecutor Maurene Comey at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, U.S., May 28, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

Asked how many times he had helped Ventura Fine hide from Combs, Nash said, "Too many to count."

Deonte Nash said Diddy stifled Cassie's music career

Nash told the court he witnessed Combs threaten Ventura Fine multiple times, saying the rapper would talk about beating his then-girlfriend and refuse to release the music she was recording. He also said Combs threatened to send Ventura Fine's sex tapes to her parents' jobs and get them fired.

"It drove her crazy. She would cry," he explained, saying that she would stay inside for days over the threats and "go into a cocoon."

Those weren't the only controlling behaviors Nash mentioned in his testimony. He recalled another intense incident when he and Ventura Fine were at a club with singer Rita Ora. Combs called Ventura Fine and demanded that she immediately come to his home, in addition to telling Nash to stop spending time with Ventura Fine.

More: Cassie alleges horrific abuse by Diddy. Why survivors see themselves in her story

Nash also explained that, as Ventura Fine's stylist, he always had to get Combs' approval on her outfits. Recalling one incident at a 2014 Oscars afterparty, Nash said when he and Ventura Fine arrived and her hair was down, Combs approached and said, "I thought I told you that she needed to wear her hair up."

Angrily, Combs grabbed Nash and lifted him, he said, detailing his mad search around the party for hairpins to put Ventura Fine's hair up. When he found them and changed her look, Combs saw her and said, "Oh, she does look better with her hair down," Nash testified.  

He also alleged Combs tried to control Cassie's music, testifying that when her mixtape "RockaByeBaby" was released for free online in 2013 and "did really well," Combs still refused to put it on any streaming platforms. 

Deonte Nash, Cassie's stylist and friend, takes the stand

Before breaking for lunch, jurors heard testimony from Deonte Nash, who worked as a stylist for Combs and Ventura Fine between 2009 and 2018. Nash was cheeky on the stand and quickly told prosecutors he didn't want to be in the courtroom.

Nash said he became particularly close to Ventura Fine during his employment, and he heard Combs call her demeaning, sexist names multiple times. Combs was usually irate when he said these kinds of things, the stylist noted, and in response, "she would be sad, sometimes cry, sometimes go into a depression."

Judge denies Diddy's bid for a mistrial

Midway during court proceedings on May 28, Combs' lawyers moved for a mistrial, arguing that prosecutors were improperly trying to suggest that the hip-hop mogul had evidence tied to an alleged arson incident destroyed.

Defense lawyer Alexandra Shapiro contended, without the jury present, that the line of questioning by prosecutors was designed to infer that "Mr. Combs could buy his way out of this (investigation into the break-in and firebombing at Mescudi's home). We believe the questions were designed to play right into that."

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian swiftly denied the request. "There was absolutely no testimony from the witness that was prejudicial in any way, shape or form," Subramanian said.

Sean "Diddy" Combs watches as prosecutor Christy Slavik questions Los Angeles fire arson investigator Lance Jiminez near a photograph of the interior of a car that had caught fire, at Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, U.S., May 28, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

LAPD officer: Vehicle registered to Diddy's business parked outside Kid Cudi's house

Los Angeles Police Department officer Chris Ignacio testified about Combs' alleged break-in at Mescudi's home. When Ignacio arrived at the house in Los Angeles on Dec. 22, 2011, he said he noticed a black Cadillac Escalade that "took off up the hill" when law enforcement arrived.

When police searched Mescudi's home, the front door was unlocked, and they noted a table had some "high-value watches and purses." However, the furniture and other belongings didn't appear disturbed. As officers left, they said they saw the same Escalade coming down the hill. When they looked up the license plates on the vehicle, the registered owner was allegedly Bad Boy Productions, Combs' longtime business.

Combs' lawyer Brian Steel pressed the police officer about the incident during his cross-examination.

Diddy trial recap: Stylist Deonte Nash says Diddy beat Cassie, smashed her head on bed frame

Patrick Ryan

Josh Meyer

Edward Segarra

Pamela Avila

Taijuan Moorman

Anna Kaufman

USA TODAY

This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.

Deonte Nash, a friend and stylist of Cassie Ventura Fine, testified in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial that the former hip-hop mogul threatened to release recordings of Ventura Fine having sex and repeatedly beat her, including bashing her head on a bed frame.

Nash said Combs tried to control all aspects of Ventura Fine's life during their decade-long relationship, from her music to her social circle and more. "It drove her crazy. She would cry," Nash, who also worked as a stylist with Combs, told jurors May 28.

Earlier in the day, prosecutors questioned two emergency officials on allegations that Combs broke into fellow rapper Kid Cudi's home, as well as a separate incident that saw Kid Cudi's Porsche explode in his driveway.

Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges

Chris Ignacio, a Los Angeles police officer, told jurors he saw a vehicle registered to Combs' company rushing away from the home of Kid Cudi, born Scott Mescudi, the night of the alleged break-in. Several witnesses have claimed Combs wanted to confront Mescudi after finding out he was dating Ventura Fine.

Combs, 55, was arrested in September 2024 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.

More: Diddy's ex-employee says music executive warned her 'to leave Puff alone'

Crosswords Promo January 2025

Deonte Nash says he saw Diddy beat Cassie

Nash told jurors he frequently saw Diddy be violent with Cassie, hitting her face and giving her black eyes.

He also alleged Combs once beat Ventura Fine so badly in a hotel room that she had a bloody gash over her eye, requiring stitches. The stylist said he and a female staffer, whom prosecutors are identifying as "Mia," jumped on Diddy's back to get him to stop in the 2013 or 2014 incident, but he was in such a rage that he threw them both off.

Nash testified that Cassie was asleep on the couch and that an irate Combs was banging on the door until Nash opened it. Combs barged in and screamed at her for not answering her phone ahead of the OVO music festival in Toronto, which they were planning to attend together.

Combs then grabbed Ventura Fine by the hair, pulling her off the couch and hitting her "pretty hard," Nash testified. "He was in a rage."

More: Suge Knight says Diddy should 'walk free' while other execs face charges

At one point, as Combs was hitting her, Ventura Fine hit her head on the bed frame and blood began spurting out, Nash said. "When he noticed the blood, he just panicked," Nash said of Combs. Then, an angry Combs said to them, "Look at what y'all made me do."

Content warning: See photos prosecutors released of injuries to Diddy's ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura Fine

Nash said he went to call 911, but Combs said Ventura Fine would go to a plastic surgeon with his security person, known as D-Roc. When Nash saw her the next day, "she had stitches on her forehead, a gash on her forehead."

Times Cassie Ventura hid from Sean Combs: 'Too many to count'

Nash described another violent incident in 2013 or 2014, when an angry Combs allegedly came to Ventura Fine's Los Angeles apartment, pleading with her to speak privately. After a few minutes, they emerged from her bedroom with Combs allegedly grabbing her by the hair and jacket and pushing her halfway out the door while yelling at her to get out of her own home.

Nash said there were at least four security guards with Combs that night who initially blocked him from leaving the building, but they eventually let him drive Cassie to safety. But while Nash and Ventura Fine were in the vehicle, Combs called them and ordered them to pull over.

When he caught up, Nash said the rapper came to the car window and again threatened to release footage of Ventura Fine having sex. He allegedly told his then-girlfriend that he "was the only one that protected her" as she wept.

Obama, Britney Spears, Michael B. Jordan : All the celebs mentioned during the Diddy trial

Nash told the court he helped Ventura Fine get into a cab to flee to a hotel. When he returned home, Nash said Combs and his bodyguards entered and searched for Cassie, even looking in the closet and oven.

Celebrity stylist Deonte Nash is questioned by prosecutor Maurene Comey at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, U.S., May 28, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

Asked how many times he had helped Ventura Fine hide from Combs, Nash said, "Too many to count."

Deonte Nash said Diddy stifled Cassie's music career

Nash told the court he witnessed Combs threaten Ventura Fine multiple times, saying the rapper would talk about beating his then-girlfriend and refuse to release the music she was recording. He also said Combs threatened to send Ventura Fine's sex tapes to her parents' jobs and get them fired.

"It drove her crazy. She would cry," he explained, saying that she would stay inside for days over the threats and "go into a cocoon."

Those weren't the only controlling behaviors Nash mentioned in his testimony. He recalled another intense incident when he and Ventura Fine were at a club with singer Rita Ora. Combs called Ventura Fine and demanded that she immediately come to his home, in addition to telling Nash to stop spending time with Ventura Fine.

More: Cassie alleges horrific abuse by Diddy. Why survivors see themselves in her story

Nash also explained that, as Ventura Fine's stylist, he always had to get Combs' approval on her outfits. Recalling one incident at a 2014 Oscars afterparty, Nash said when he and Ventura Fine arrived and her hair was down, Combs approached and said, "I thought I told you that she needed to wear her hair up."

Angrily, Combs grabbed Nash and lifted him, he said, detailing his mad search around the party for hairpins to put Ventura Fine's hair up. When he found them and changed her look, Combs saw her and said, "Oh, she does look better with her hair down," Nash testified.  

He also alleged Combs tried to control Cassie's music, testifying that when her mixtape "RockaByeBaby" was released for free online in 2013 and "did really well," Combs still refused to put it on any streaming platforms. 

Deonte Nash, Cassie's stylist and friend, takes the stand

Before breaking for lunch, jurors heard testimony from Deonte Nash, who worked as a stylist for Combs and Ventura Fine between 2009 and 2018. Nash was cheeky on the stand and quickly told prosecutors he didn't want to be in the courtroom.

Nash said he became particularly close to Ventura Fine during his employment, and he heard Combs call her demeaning, sexist names multiple times. Combs was usually irate when he said these kinds of things, the stylist noted, and in response, "she would be sad, sometimes cry, sometimes go into a depression."

Judge denies Diddy's bid for a mistrial

Midway during court proceedings on May 28, Combs' lawyers moved for a mistrial, arguing that prosecutors were improperly trying to suggest that the hip-hop mogul had evidence tied to an alleged arson incident destroyed.

Defense lawyer Alexandra Shapiro contended, without the jury present, that the line of questioning by prosecutors was designed to infer that "Mr. Combs could buy his way out of this (investigation into the break-in and firebombing at Mescudi's home). We believe the questions were designed to play right into that."

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian swiftly denied the request. "There was absolutely no testimony from the witness that was prejudicial in any way, shape or form," Subramanian said.

Sean "Diddy" Combs watches as prosecutor Christy Slavik questions Los Angeles fire arson investigator Lance Jiminez near a photograph of the interior of a car that had caught fire, at Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, U.S., May 28, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

LAPD officer: Vehicle registered to Diddy's business parked outside Kid Cudi's house

Los Angeles Police Department officer Chris Ignacio testified about Combs' alleged break-in at Mescudi's home. When Ignacio arrived at the house in Los Angeles on Dec. 22, 2011, he said he noticed a black Cadillac Escalade that "took off up the hill" when law enforcement arrived.

When police searched Mescudi's home, the front door was unlocked, and they noted a table had some "high-value watches and purses." However, the furniture and other belongings didn't appear disturbed. As officers left, they said they saw the same Escalade coming down the hill. When they looked up the license plates on the vehicle, the registered owner was allegedly Bad Boy Productions, Combs' longtime business.

Combs' lawyer Brian Steel pressed the police officer about the incident during his cross-examination.

Ignacio clarified that he hadn't seen a car chase – only the black vehicle pulling away from the house. He also told the court Mescudi hadn't mentioned any guns in the home, though previous witnesses, including Clark and Ventura Fine, said Combs brought a weapon with him during the alleged break-in.

LA Fire Department investigator describes Kid Cudi car bombing

Lance Jimenez, an arson investigator for the Los Angeles Fire Department, took the stand to describe the explosion that wrecked Kid Cudi’s Porsche. Jimenez confirmed a Molotov cocktail was responsible for the explosion, calling it a "makeshift firebomb."

Jimenez said it appeared the canvas roof of the vehicle was cut before a glass bottle containing gasoline was dropped inside. Normally, the bottle used in a Molotov cocktail breaks and causes a larger explosion, Jimenez testified, but in this case, the bottle remained intact.

The witness said the flames easily could have spread to Mescudi's home had the bottle exploded from inside the vehicle. The makeshift bomb was made with an Old English malt liquor bottle and a "designer handkerchief," Jimenez said, describing the garment as having "fancy lines" and "silky material."

"In my opinion, it was targeted," Jimenez said of the fire, noting that the car wasn’t easily visible from the street. Another vehicle was also parked behind the Porsche, which wasn't damaged at all in the flames.

Jimenez said LAFD sent out a few of the items found on the scene for DNA testing. There was no DNA present on a disposable lighter or handkerchief, but on the glass bottle, there was a "partial profile" of a "female contributor." However, officials haven't matched the DNA to a specific perpetrator.

Diddy's lawyers question Capricorn Clark's involvement in Kid Cudi car blast

In the weeks after the arson incident, Jimenez said he reached out to former Combs assistant Capricorn Clark and other potential witnesses several times. At one point, the LAPD arson investigator said Clark's brother answered her phone and told him to leave her alone.

Jimenez said he also tried to reach out to Ventura Fine, but he was never able to get in touch.

In cross-examination, Combs' lawyers returned to the potential hit for female DNA on the Molotov cocktail bottle used in the car explosion. They asked the investigator if the sample came back around the "same time you reached out to Capricorn Clark," and if this "would have been after you got this report," repeatedly implying it was Clark's DNA on the bottle.

Jimenez said he didn't remember the exact timeline of when he received the DNA report, and that it could have been within six months to a year after the incident. Prosecutor Christy Slavik later confirmed with Jimenez that he reached out to Clark within weeks of the incident, but it was not because of the DNA report.

Who has testified so far in the Diddy trial?

Clark alleged, through tears on May 27, that Combs kidnapped her and threatened to kill her multiple times while she worked for him. Clark testified that she was once held against her will for five days after several pieces of jewelry went missing at the rapper's home.

Clark's testimony came after a slew of witnesses, including Ventura Fine's mother Regina Ventura, Danity Kane alum Dawn Richard and Mescudi, appeared in court last week to share harrowing accounts of Combs' alleged abuse.

What charges is Diddy facing?

Combs is facing federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling lawsuit that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry.

He was arrested in September 2024 and has been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all five counts.

What does racketeering mean?

Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations that contribute to criminal activity.

Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in "freak offs" — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors allege they have video of.

Diddy trial recap: Stylist Deonte Nash says Diddy beat Cassie, smashed her head on bed frame

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This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.

Deonte Nash, a friend and stylist of Cassie Ventura Fine, testified in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial that the former hip-hop mogul threatened to release recordings of Ventura Fine having sex and repeatedly beat her, including bashing her head on a bed frame.

Nash said Combs tried to control all aspects of Ventura Fine's life during their decade-long relationship, from her music to her social circle and more. "It drove her crazy. She would cry," Nash, who also worked as a stylist with Combs, told jurors May 28.

Earlier in the day, prosecutors questioned two emergency officials on allegations that Combs broke into fellow rapper Kid Cudi's home, as well as a separate incident that saw Kid Cudi's Porsche explode in his driveway.

Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges

Chris Ignacio, a Los Angeles police officer, told jurors he saw a vehicle registered to Combs' company rushing away from the home of Kid Cudi, born Scott Mescudi, the night of the alleged break-in. Several witnesses have claimed Combs wanted to confront Mescudi after finding out he was dating Ventura Fine.

Combs, 55, was arrested in September 2024 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.

More: Diddy's ex-employee says music executive warned her 'to leave Puff alone'

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Deonte Nash says he saw Diddy beat Cassie

Nash told jurors he frequently saw Diddy be violent with Cassie, hitting her face and giving her black eyes.

He also alleged Combs once beat Ventura Fine so badly in a hotel room that she had a bloody gash over her eye, requiring stitches. The stylist said he and a female staffer, whom prosecutors are identifying as "Mia," jumped on Diddy's back to get him to stop in the 2013 or 2014 incident, but he was in such a rage that he threw them both off.

Nash testified that Cassie was asleep on the couch and that an irate Combs was banging on the door until Nash opened it. Combs barged in and screamed at her for not answering her phone ahead of the OVO music festival in Toronto, which they were planning to attend together.

Combs then grabbed Ventura Fine by the hair, pulling her off the couch and hitting her "pretty hard," Nash testified. "He was in a rage."

More: Suge Knight says Diddy should 'walk free' while other execs face charges

At one point, as Combs was hitting her, Ventura Fine hit her head on the bed frame and blood began spurting out, Nash said. "When he noticed the blood, he just panicked," Nash said of Combs. Then, an angry Combs said to them, "Look at what y'all made me do."

Content warning: See photos prosecutors released of injuries to Diddy's ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura Fine

Nash said he went to call 911, but Combs said Ventura Fine would go to a plastic surgeon with his security person, known as D-Roc. When Nash saw her the next day, "she had stitches on her forehead, a gash on her forehead."

Times Cassie Ventura hid from Sean Combs: 'Too many to count'

Nash described another violent incident in 2013 or 2014, when an angry Combs allegedly came to Ventura Fine's Los Angeles apartment, pleading with her to speak privately. After a few minutes, they emerged from her bedroom with Combs allegedly grabbing her by the hair and jacket and pushing her halfway out the door while yelling at her to get out of her own home.

Nash said there were at least four security guards with Combs that night who initially blocked him from leaving the building, but they eventually let him drive Cassie to safety. But while Nash and Ventura Fine were in the vehicle, Combs called them and ordered them to pull over.

When he caught up, Nash said the rapper came to the car window and again threatened to release footage of Ventura Fine having sex. He allegedly told his then-girlfriend that he "was the only one that protected her" as she wept.

Obama, Britney Spears, Michael B. Jordan : All the celebs mentioned during the Diddy trial

Nash told the court he helped Ventura Fine get into a cab to flee to a hotel. When he returned home, Nash said Combs and his bodyguards entered and searched for Cassie, even looking in the closet and oven.

Celebrity stylist Deonte Nash is questioned by prosecutor Maurene Comey at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, U.S., May 28, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

Asked how many times he had helped Ventura Fine hide from Combs, Nash said, "Too many to count."

Deonte Nash said Diddy stifled Cassie's music career

Nash told the court he witnessed Combs threaten Ventura Fine multiple times, saying the rapper would talk about beating his then-girlfriend and refuse to release the music she was recording. He also said Combs threatened to send Ventura Fine's sex tapes to her parents' jobs and get them fired.

"It drove her crazy. She would cry," he explained, saying that she would stay inside for days over the threats and "go into a cocoon."

Those weren't the only controlling behaviors Nash mentioned in his testimony. He recalled another intense incident when he and Ventura Fine were at a club with singer Rita Ora. Combs called Ventura Fine and demanded that she immediately come to his home, in addition to telling Nash to stop spending time with Ventura Fine.

More: Cassie alleges horrific abuse by Diddy. Why survivors see themselves in her story

Nash also explained that, as Ventura Fine's stylist, he always had to get Combs' approval on her outfits. Recalling one incident at a 2014 Oscars afterparty, Nash said when he and Ventura Fine arrived and her hair was down, Combs approached and said, "I thought I told you that she needed to wear her hair up."

Angrily, Combs grabbed Nash and lifted him, he said, detailing his mad search around the party for hairpins to put Ventura Fine's hair up. When he found them and changed her look, Combs saw her and said, "Oh, she does look better with her hair down," Nash testified.  

He also alleged Combs tried to control Cassie's music, testifying that when her mixtape "RockaByeBaby" was released for free online in 2013 and "did really well," Combs still refused to put it on any streaming platforms. 

Deonte Nash, Cassie's stylist and friend, takes the stand

Before breaking for lunch, jurors heard testimony from Deonte Nash, who worked as a stylist for Combs and Ventura Fine between 2009 and 2018. Nash was cheeky on the stand and quickly told prosecutors he didn't want to be in the courtroom.

Nash said he became particularly close to Ventura Fine during his employment, and he heard Combs call her demeaning, sexist names multiple times. Combs was usually irate when he said these kinds of things, the stylist noted, and in response, "she would be sad, sometimes cry, sometimes go into a depression."

Judge denies Diddy's bid for a mistrial

Midway during court proceedings on May 28, Combs' lawyers moved for a mistrial, arguing that prosecutors were improperly trying to suggest that the hip-hop mogul had evidence tied to an alleged arson incident destroyed.

Defense lawyer Alexandra Shapiro contended, without the jury present, that the line of questioning by prosecutors was designed to infer that "Mr. Combs could buy his way out of this (investigation into the break-in and firebombing at Mescudi's home). We believe the questions were designed to play right into that."

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian swiftly denied the request. "There was absolutely no testimony from the witness that was prejudicial in any way, shape or form," Subramanian said.

Sean "Diddy" Combs watches as prosecutor Christy Slavik questions Los Angeles fire arson investigator Lance Jiminez near a photograph of the interior of a car that had caught fire, at Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, U.S., May 28, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

LAPD officer: Vehicle registered to Diddy's business parked outside Kid Cudi's house

Los Angeles Police Department officer Chris Ignacio testified about Combs' alleged break-in at Mescudi's home. When Ignacio arrived at the house in Los Angeles on Dec. 22, 2011, he said he noticed a black Cadillac Escalade that "took off up the hill" when law enforcement arrived.

When police searched Mescudi's home, the front door was unlocked, and they noted a table had some "high-value watches and purses." However, the furniture and other belongings didn't appear disturbed. As officers left, they said they saw the same Escalade coming down the hill. When they looked up the license plates on the vehicle, the registered owner was allegedly Bad Boy Productions, Combs' longtime business.

Combs' lawyer Brian Steel pressed the police officer about the incident during his cross-examination.

Ignacio clarified that he hadn't seen a car chase – only the black vehicle pulling away from the house. He also told the court Mescudi hadn't mentioned any guns in the home, though previous witnesses, including Clark and Ventura Fine, said Combs brought a weapon with him during the alleged break-in.

LA Fire Department investigator describes Kid Cudi car bombing

Lance Jimenez, an arson investigator for the Los Angeles Fire Department, took the stand to describe the explosion that wrecked Kid Cudi’s Porsche. Jimenez confirmed a Molotov cocktail was responsible for the explosion, calling it a "makeshift firebomb."

Jimenez said it appeared the canvas roof of the vehicle was cut before a glass bottle containing gasoline was dropped inside. Normally, the bottle used in a Molotov cocktail breaks and causes a larger explosion, Jimenez testified, but in this case, the bottle remained intact.

The witness said the flames easily could have spread to Mescudi's home had the bottle exploded from inside the vehicle. The makeshift bomb was made with an Old English malt liquor bottle and a "designer handkerchief," Jimenez said, describing the garment as having "fancy lines" and "silky material."

"In my opinion, it was targeted," Jimenez said of the fire, noting that the car wasn’t easily visible from the street. Another vehicle was also parked behind the Porsche, which wasn't damaged at all in the flames.

Jimenez said LAFD sent out a few of the items found on the scene for DNA testing. There was no DNA present on a disposable lighter or handkerchief, but on the glass bottle, there was a "partial profile" of a "female contributor." However, officials haven't matched the DNA to a specific perpetrator.

Diddy's lawyers question Capricorn Clark's involvement in Kid Cudi car blast

In the weeks after the arson incident, Jimenez said he reached out to former Combs assistant Capricorn Clark and other potential witnesses several times. At one point, the LAPD arson investigator said Clark's brother answered her phone and told him to leave her alone.

Jimenez said he also tried to reach out to Ventura Fine, but he was never able to get in touch.

In cross-examination, Combs' lawyers returned to the potential hit for female DNA on the Molotov cocktail bottle used in the car explosion. They asked the investigator if the sample came back around the "same time you reached out to Capricorn Clark," and if this "would have been after you got this report," repeatedly implying it was Clark's DNA on the bottle.

Capricorn Clark, Sean 'Diddy' Combs' former personal assistant exits the federal court for Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial at U.S. court in Manhattan, in New York City, U.S., May 27, 2025. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

Jimenez said he didn't remember the exact timeline of when he received the DNA report, and that it could have been within six months to a year after the incident. Prosecutor Christy Slavik later confirmed with Jimenez that he reached out to Clark within weeks of the incident, but it was not because of the DNA report.

Who has testified so far in the Diddy trial?

Clark alleged, through tears on May 27, that Combs kidnapped her and threatened to kill her multiple times while she worked for him. Clark testified that she was once held against her will for five days after several pieces of jewelry went missing at the rapper's home.

Clark's testimony came after a slew of witnesses, including Ventura Fine's mother Regina Ventura, Danity Kane alum Dawn Richard and Mescudi, appeared in court last week to share harrowing accounts of Combs' alleged abuse.

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Who is Diddy? Everything to know about hip-hop mogul facing federal sex crimes trial

What charges is Diddy facing?

Combs is facing federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling lawsuit that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry.

He was arrested in September 2024 and has been charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all five counts.

What does racketeering mean?

Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations that contribute to criminal activity.

Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in "freak offs" — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors allege they have video of.

Where can I watch the Diddy trial?

The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings.

USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom.

Contributing: USA TODAY staff; Reuters

If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673)Diddy trial recap: Stylist Deonte Nash says Diddy beat Cassie, smashed her head on bed frame