The federal sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs resumed on Friday with testimony from a former girlfriend and alleged victim, identified as “Jane”.
On the stand, the woman, described by prosecutors as a single mother who met Combs in 2020, described the drug-fueled sexual encounters involving male escorts – referred to as “hotel nights” – she says she endured during her relationship with Combs, where she said Combs would watch and direct her and the escort to perform sex acts while he masturbated.
Jane testified on Friday that during the sexual encounters, which sometimes lasted more than 24 hours, Combs pressured her to have sex with male escorts without condoms. She told the court that during their relationship she told the music mogul multiple times that she did not want to have sex with other men but that he was “dismissive”.
Combs, 55, was arrested in September and faces federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Jane, who began testifying on Thursday, said she began dating Combs in 2021, and described the start of their relationship as loving and passionate.
However, she described a turning point in their relationship in May 2021, when Combs revealed his sexual fantasies involving other men and role-playing.
She said that, wanting to please him, she agreed to go along with the idea and that within hours she was in a Miami hotel room watching Combs’s assistants set up for a group sex encounter.
“That night really opened a Pandora’s box for our relationship,” Jane testified. “It set the tone for our relationship going forward … It was a door that I was unable to shut.”
Jane testified that after that point, 90% of her sexual encounters with Combs included other men while Combs watched, masturbated and directed the sex acts.
When the prosecutor asked if she wanted to have sex with the others, Jane replied: “No … just Sean.”
She said she repeatedly told Combs, in person and in writing, that she no longer wanted to participate in these sexual encounters, but said that he was dismissive and would pressure her, adding that she felt “obligated” to participate.
Jane told the court how she became financially dependent on Combs, who paid her rent and would send her money. She said that at times, when she voiced discomfort with the sexual encounters, he threatened to stop paying her rent.
On Friday, Jane testified that she feared losing her home if she refused to participate in the so-called hotel nights or freak-offs, and said that Combs was still paying her rent, despite their breakup and his arrest.
On the stand, she read aloud texts from 2023 in which she told Combs that it felt like the sexual encounters were “the only reason you have me around and pay for the house”, adding that she was “doing things that make me disgusted with myself”.
In other messages, Jane told Combs that she felt she had to perform for him and regretted ever participating in the encounters, writing: “Ever since I opened Pandora’s box, I haven’t been able to close it”.
“I don’t want to keep feeling like that,” she wrote, telling Combs that she wanted them to “talk like adults and figure out where we’re going from here”.
Combs replied: “Girl, stop.”
Jane recalled crying at least twice during the encounters with Combs and male escorts, and said that Combs appeared offended and “disgusted” by her display of emotion.
Jane testified on Friday that her longest so-called “hotel night” with Combs and a male sex worker stretched three and a half days. Most of the encounters, she said, lasted 24 to 30 hours.
Jane told the court she used drugs such as ecstasy during the encounters because she “didn’t want to feel like it was too real” and wanted to “make things easier”.
Throughout her testimony on Friday, Jane wiped away tears.
At one point, Jane read a note she had written on her phone in the Notes app in November 2021 but never sent to Combs.
“I don’t know what you’re calling me for, but I’m sorry I don’t want to do drugs for days and days and have you use me to fulfill your freaky, wild desires in hotel rooms,” Jane wrote in the unsent note.
Jane testified that the sexual encounters left her with constant back pain, frequent urinary tract infections and soreness in her genital and pelvic areas.
During opening statements last month, Combs’s lawyers described Jane as a willing participant in the sexual encounters.
While Combs’s lawyers have acknowledged his history of domestic violence, they argue that the women participated in the “freak-offs” or “hotel nights” did so consensually, and his lawyers maintain that Combs is not guilty of sex trafficking or racketeering, or of operating a criminal enterprise.
So far, Jane’s testimony has echoed that of Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who dated Combs on and off from 2007 to 2018 and testified last month.
Ventura told jurors that she was subjected to years of physical and emotional abuse during the relationship. She alleged she was coerced, through violence and blackmail, into taking part in the freak-offs, which she said were orchestrated and directed by Combs and involved drugs and male sex workers.
During cross-examination, Combs’s attorneys sought to portray Ventura as a willing participant in the freak-offs, framing the encounters as part of a “swingers lifestyle”.
If convicted on all counts, Combs could face life in prison.
Jane’s testimony is expected to last well into next week.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
