Sean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-girlfriend “Jane” returned to the witness stand this morning for cross-examination after three days of testimony.
Jane, who dated Combs from 2021 to 2024 and is testifying under a pseudonym, has testified that she often did “hotel nights” or “freak offs” with the music mogul, which involved her having sex with other men while he watched. Defense attorney Teny Geragos showed the jury explicit texts Jane sent to Combs as they planned a “hotel night” in 2021.
Jane testified she once saw a post from one of Combs’s other girlfriends, who was wearing a Chanel bag. Jane explained that she was upset because Combs was spending quality time with other women while her relationship with him was a “chaotic whirlwind of a dark life that I wasn’t proud of.
Defense attorney Teny Geragos then asked Jane: “You didn’t get a Chanel bag?”
“I only got trauma,” Jane replied.
Combs is facing sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy charges. He was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged he threatened, abused and coerced victims “to fulfill his sexual desires” between 2004 and 2024.
The rapper has denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
Key Points
- Diddy's ex-girlfriend Jane takes the stand
- Jane endured 'hotel nights' because she wanted 'love and affection'
- Judge denies defense's motion for a mistrial
- Kevin Hart hits out at Sean 'Diddy' Combs
Court ends
20:10 , Katie HawkinsonJudge Arun Subramanian has dismissed the jury for the day.
Court will resume at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
Good morning
09:45 , Joe SommerladHello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the sex trafficking trial of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs as it resumes in New York on Tuesday.
Combs is facing sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy charges.
He was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged he threatened, abused and coerced victims “to fulfill his sexual desires” between 2004 and 2024.
Combs has denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
Diddy’s ex-girlfriend ‘Jane’ to be cross-examined on Tuesday
10:05 , Joe SommerladSean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-girlfriend “Jane” will return to the witness stand on Tuesday for cross-examination after three days of testimony.
Jane, who dated Combs from 2021 to 2024 and is testifying under a pseudonym, said she felt Combs was paying her rent as “leverage” to control her during their relationship. Jane also accused Combs of treating her “like an animal” after years of “hotel nights,” according to texts shown in court from October 2023.
Jane previously testified that “hotel nights” involved her having sex with other men at Combs’s direction. These could last several hours, with one lasting more than three days, she previously testified.
Jane also testified that she fainted after reading Cassie Ventura’s 2023 civil lawsuit against Combs. Jane said it felt like reading her “own sexual trauma.”
Here’s Kelly Rissman’s report on Monday’s distressing testimony.
Diddy’s ex-girlfriend describes brutal attack before forcing her into a ‘freak off’
Judge to address defense's call for mistrial over 'prosecutorial misconduct'
10:30 , Joe SommerladJudge Arun Subramanian has also said he will address the defense’s latest mistrial filing on Tuesday morning, alleging prosecutorial misconduct over witness Bryana Bongolan’s testimony claiming that Combs dangled her from a 17th-story balcony, which Combs’s attorneys say was “demonstrably false.”
The judge will rule once prosecutors have had an opportunity to respond.
Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro accused Bongolan, a long-term friend of Ventura’s, of perjury, pointing to hotel receipts indicating that Combs was actually in New York, not Los Angeles, on the dates the witness cited.
“The government knew or should have known this testimony was perjured, and that Ms Bongolan could not possibly have been injured by Mr Combs on a Los Angeles balcony in the early morning hours of September 26, or even the day before that,” Shapiro wrote in a complaint over the weekend alleging prosecutorial misconduct.
Defense lawyers also pushed for a mistrial last month, without success, after prosecutors tried to ask about the destruction of fingerprint evidence related to an arson investigation into a torched sports car owned by the rapper Kid Cudi.
Prosecutors allege that Combs coordinated the firebombing of the car after Cudi began dating Ventura.
Here’s Kelly Rissman’s report on Bongolan’s testimony.
Diddy dangled Cassie Ventura’s friend off 17th-floor apartment balcony, jury told
Diddy still paying ex-girlfriend’s $10,000 rent as part of ‘love contract’
11:00 , Joe SommerladAs we await the start of today’s proceedings, let’s recap another of the key moments of last week’s testimony pertaining to “Jane.”
She revealed on Friday that Diddy bought her “new teeth” and is still paying rent for her home as part of a “love contract” she made with the music mogul.
Here’s more from Kelly Rissman.
Diddy still paying ex-girlfriend’s $10,000 rent as part of ‘love contract’
Diddy’s ex-assistant reveals why she stayed silent on alleged assaults
11:30 , Joe SommerladAlso last week, “Mia,” Diddy’s former assistant, tearfully explained, with her head hung low, that sharing the alleged sexual abuse she says she endured from her former boss had been “the worst thing” she has ever had to discuss.
“I can’t look my nieces or my goddaughter in the eyes and ever advise them if they were in this situation,” she said.
Here’s Ariana Baio’s report.
Diddy’s ex-assistant explains why she stayed silent about alleged assault
Jamie Foxx says Black community has lost a ‘hero’ in Diddy
12:00 , Joe SommerladThe comedian and actor was appearing at a Netflix event at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood to discuss his recent special What Had Happened Was... ahead of Emmy voting season when he made the comment.
“That Diddy s*** crazy, huh?” Foxx said.
“I don’t know if he’s going to jail but he’s a nasty motherf***er! Am I right? Especially for our community. White people, it’s cool, but for Black people, like, that was our hero! All that goddamn baby oil, boy.”
Kevin EG Perry has more.
50 Cent claims he will intervene to stop Trump from pardoning Diddy
12:30 , Joe SommerladThe rapper has vowed to make Donald Trump “aware” of his thoughts about Combs after the president was asked about the possibility of his granting clemency and he answered: “Nobody’s asked, but I know people are thinking about it. First of all, I’d look at what’s happening, and I haven’t been watching it too closely… I haven’t seen him. I haven’t spoken to him in years.”
Incensed, 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III, voiced his opinion on the matter on Instagram on Friday, saying: “He said some really bad things about Trump. it’s not ok. Im gonna reach out so he knows how I feel about this guy.”
Kelly Rissman has more.
50 Cent claims he will personally intervene with Trump to stop any pardon of Diddy
Celebrities ‘hiring lawyers’ to avoid testifying at Diddy trial
13:00 , Joe SommerladCombs’s sex trafficking trial reportedly has some celebrities so nervous about the prospect of being called to testify that they’ve hired lawyers to try to prevent it.
Ariana Baio has the story.
Celebrities are reportedly hiring lawyers to avoid testifying at Diddy’s trial
Bill Maher sparks backlash over Cassie and Diddy comments as trial continues
13:30 , Joe SommerladThe Real Time With Bill Maher sparked an outcry recently after joking about the trial, saying of the defendant: “Diddy is a bad dude, really bad. And we should lock him up and throw away the baby oil.”
But it was his comments on the post-MeToo landscape that really raised eyebrows.
Caitlin Hornik reports.
Bill Maher sparks backlash over Cassie and Diddy comments as trial continues
What can we expect to hear today?
13:55 , Joe SommerladTuesday’s hearing is likely to begin with Judge Subramanian inviting the prosecution to respond to the defense’s mistrial motion.
Once that is done, and assuming the justice ultimately rejects it, “Jane” is then expected to be called back to the witness stand to face cross-examination from the prosecution, who will attempt to pick holes in her three days of emotional testimony.
Judge denies defense's motion for a mistrial
14:10 , Katie HawkinsonJudge Arun Subramanian has denied the defense’s motion for a mistrial.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s attorneys argued over the weekend that previous testimony by Bryana Bongolan was “demonstrably false.” Bongolan testified last week that Combs dangled her from a 17th-floor balcony.
Jane takes the stand
14:24 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-girlfriend Jane, who is testifying under a pseudonym, has returned to the stand for a fourth day.
Defense attorney Teny Geragos is now cross-examining Jane.
Jane has not seen or spoken to Diddy since his arrest
14:37 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified she has not seen or spoken to Sean “Diddy” Combs since his arrest on September 16, 2024.
He is still paying her legal fees, however. Jane also testified that she met with his defense attorneys but stopped speaking with them in April.
Jane says she still loves Diddy
14:48 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified she still loves Sean “Diddy” Combs under cross-examination.
However, Jane said she resents the way he “went about introducing me to this lifestyle that was built under a lot of emotional manipulation and pressure.”
Jane also told the jury she enjoyed taking care of Combs after their “hotel nights.”
Jane says 'hotel nights' were 'vulnerable' for Diddy
14:58 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that she felt “hotel nights” were vulnerable moments for Sean “Diddy” Combs.
“I felt that my partner was trusting me in a very vulnerable moment,” she testified. “He made me believe that this was something really special. This was something only he and I did, and I really took that on very strongly.”
Jane previously testified that “hotel nights” involved her having sex with other men while Combs watched. She said these could last hours, with one even lasting more than three days.
Jane told prosecutors last week she had health issues from lengthy “hotel nights,” including recurrent UTIs and yeast infections.
Kevin Hart hits out at Sean 'Diddy' Combs
15:10 , Katie HawkinsonKevin Hart made a dig at Sean “Diddy” Combs last night while hosting the 2025 BET Awards.
Hart quipped that he was “shutting down afterparties” following the award show, according to People.
"That's where s*** gets slippery, at the goddamn afterparties,” Hart said, alluding to Combs’s infamous parties that allegedly involved large amounts of baby oil. “We're learning a lot about people, ain't we?"
Jane says Diddy expected her to take ecstasy, but didn't force her
15:14 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs expected her to take ecstasy during their “hotel nights,” but it was ultimately her choice to take it.
“My choice to take the ecstasy. I would say Mr. Combs would offer me the ecstasy and expect me to take it,” Jane testified.
Jane previously testified that she used drugs during “hotel nights” to make them feel less real.
Jane says Diddy often put on sermons and talked to her about them
15:26 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs often put on his favorite sermons on TV, which they would watch together and discuss when they weren’t having a “hotel night.”
Jane said he brought a "really good perspective on a lot of things.”
Jane says 'hotel nights' involved role-play
15:41 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs would often orchestrate role-play scenarios during “hotel nights.”
These scenarios often included pretending like Jane was cheating on him with a sex worker, she said.
Jane describes Combs's financial support
15:45 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs wired her around $150,000 throughout their three-year relationship. Combs also paid her rent and legal fees, which he still does to this day, she previously testified.
Jane said Combs would use paying her rent as a “tool.”
“He used it kind of as a little tool,” she testified. “The rent was always just like a little reminder.”
Diddy was 'polyamorous,' Jane testifies
16:07 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs was “polyamorous” when they dated from 2021 to 2024.
Jane said she was initially okay with it but grew to resent it. Jane said their relationship also looked monogamous, even though it wasn’t.
“I was feeling my man and wanted him to be mine,” she testified.
Jane endured 'hotel nights' because she wanted 'love and affection'
16:25Jane testified that she endured “hotel nights” to get affection from Sean “Diddy” Combs.
“That was truly the only reason I endured these nights, so I could get that love and affection from my partner,” she testified.
Jane says she asked Diddy to go to rehab
16:46 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified she asked Sean “Diddy” Combs to go to rehab in Thailand after their trip to Turks and Caicos.
Jane said she was concerned he was “overdoing the partying.” She described Combs as jaundiced, with shaking hands and gray gums.
Jane said she was okay with Diddy recording 'hotel nights'
17:07 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that she was fine with Sean “Diddy” Combs recording their “hotel nights,” and that he assured her the videos were just for them.
Defense attorney Teny Geragos asked Jane if she would “put on a good show for him in these videos” because she “knew he would watch them back.” Jane responded that she did.
Jane previously testified that one of the sex workers who did a “hotel night” demanded $10,000 from her, or else he’d release one of the videos Combs took. Jane also recalled she was worried Combs would release the videos at one point, and told his chief of staff about her concerns.
Jane says Diddy's chief of staff didn't like her
17:43 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs’s chief of staff Kristina Khorram didn’t like her.
Jane said this put a strain on their relationship because Khorram was always around Combs.
“I believe that she had very strong opinions about me, which influenced a great deal of how Sean also treated me,” Jane said.
Jane previously testified she told Khorram she was afraid Combs would release videos he took during “hotel nights,” and Khorram assured her nothing would happen.
Khorram may take the stand later in the trial, according to The Washington Post.
Court on lunch
17:45The jury has been dismissed for a lunch break.
Defense attorney Teny Geragos will continue cross-examining Jane when the jury returns.
Jury sees texts from Jane to Combs in 2021
18:55 , Katie HawkinsonJane and Sean “Diddy” Combs texted about a potential “hotel night” around Halloween 2021, according to messages read in court today.
Combs told Jane he wanted her to “take the lead” and that he didn’t want to be around people.
Jane then testified they had a “hotel night” with a sex worker who went by “Sly.”
The next day, Jane texted Sly asking for videos from the night before, which she said Combs directed her to do.
Yesterday, Jane testified that Sly demanded $20,000 from her or else he’d release videos from the “hotel nights” they had with Combs.
Jury hears voice messages and reads texts about 'hotel nights'
19:33 , Kelly Rissman, Katie HawkinsonThe jury heard voice notes between Jane and Sean “Diddy” Combs discussing future fantasies involving sex workers who went by Don and Sly.
At one point, Jane saw a post by one of Combs’s other girlfriends. The woman had a Chanel bag in the photo. Jane explained that she was upset because Combs was spending quality time with other women while her relationship with him was a “chaotic whirlwind of a dark life that I wasn’t proud of.
Defense attorney Teny Geragos then asked Jane: “You didn’t get a Chanel bag?”
“I only got trauma,” Jane replied.
Geragos asked what a Bottega bag was, and Jane said, “I’m sure you have one.” Geragos then asked how much the bag costs, to which Jane replied: “How much does my body cost?”
After giving the real price, Jane asked for a break.
Jane profited from business Combs invested in
20:05 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified she profited “a little bit” from her business after Sean “Diddy” Combs invested $20,000.
But Jane says she may have been “a bit more successful” if she hadn’t “dove” into her relationship with Combs.
Recap: Defense begins cross-examining Jane
20:40 , Katie HawkinsonThe defense began their cross-examination of Sean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-girlfriend “Jane” today.
Jane is testifying under a pseudonym. She dated Combs from 2021 to 2024.
Jane revealed that she last saw Combs in September 2024. However, he is still paying her legal fees and rent, she said.
Defense attorney Teny Geragos focused her questions on Jane’s “hotel nights” with Combs. Jane testified that she would often take care of Combs after “hotel nights,” which involved her having sex with other men at his direction.
Jane said she went through with “hotel nights” to get Combs’s “love and affection.”
“That was truly the only reason I endured these nights, so I could get that love and affection from my partner,” she testified.
Jane also testified that Combs wired her around $150,000 throughout their three-year relationship. Jane said Combs would use paying her rent as a “tool.”
“He used it kind of as a little tool,” she testified. “The rent was always just like a little reminder.”
At one point, Geragos showed the jury explicit texts Jane sent to Combs as they planned a “hotel night” in 2021.
Jane testified she once saw a post from one of Combs’s other girlfriends, who was wearing a Chanel bag. Jane explained that she was upset because Combs was spending quality time with other women while her relationship with him was a “chaotic whirlwind of a dark life that I wasn’t proud of.”
Defense attorney Teny Geragos then asked Jane: “You didn’t get a Chanel bag?”
“I only got trauma,” Jane replied.
Court will resume on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
