Sean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-girlfriend “Jane” returned to the stand today for her third day 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 she fainted after reading Cassie Ventura’s 2023 civil lawsuit against Combs. Jane said it felt like reading her “own sexual trauma.”
Combs’s attorneys called for a mistrial again, claiming that Bryana Bongolan’s testimony last week was “demonstrably false.” Bongolan said Combs dangled her from a 17th-story balcony. Judge Arun Subramanian said he will address their filing on Tuesday morning after prosecutors have a chance to respond.
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
- Recap: Jane testifies about end of relationship with Sean Combs
- Jane testifies she fainted when she read Cassie Ventura's lawsuit
- Judge says he'll discuss mistrial motion on Tuesday
Jury dismissed
22:07 , Katie HawkinsonJudge Arun Subramanian has dismissed the jury for the day.
Court will resume Tuesday morning. The defense is expected to begin cross-examining Jane tomorrow.
Good morning
11:25 , 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 Monday.
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 resume testimony on Monday
11:45 , Joe SommerladSean Combs’s ex-girlfriend “Jane” is expected to return to the stand at the hip-hop mogul’s New York trial today after delivering teary testimony last week about being pressured into fulfilling his “freaky, wild desires.”
The witness, who is known under a pseudonym to shield her identity, will testify for a third day once proceedings resume at 9am inside Manhattan federal court.
Jane, who dated Combs from 2021 to 2024, told the court on Friday that he had made her feel “obligated” to join in his “hotel nights,” in which he directed her participation in sex acts with other men, because she “loved him very deeply.”
One such session had lasted for more than three days, Janes testified. She said that she used drugs during these encounters because she “didn’t want to feel like it was too real” and revealed that she suffered health problems, including recurring UTIs and yeast infections, which she attributed to the frequent sex marathons.
Here’s Kelly Rissman’s report on Friday’s testimony.

Diddy still paying ex-girlfriend’s $10,000 rent as part of ‘love contract’
Rapper’s attorneys again call for a mistrial
12:05 , Joe SommerladCombs’s defense attorneys have again called for a mistrial, claiming that the testimony of Bryana “Bana” Bongolan, who accused the rapper of dangling her from a 17th-storey balcony at star witness Cassie Ventura’s home in September 2016, was “demonstrably false in key respects.”
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.
Judge Arun Subramanian swiftly rejected their arguments and the trial continued.

Diddy dangled Cassie Ventura’s friend off 17th-floor apartment balcony, jury told
12:25 , Joe SommerladHere’s Kelly Rissman’s report on Bryana Bongolan’s testimony, which Combs’s defense team insist was “demonstrably false” in their call for a mistrial.

Diddy dangled Cassie Ventura’s friend off 17th-floor apartment balcony, jury told
Diddy’s ex-assistant reveals why she stayed silent on alleged assaults
12:45 , Joe SommerladAs we await the start of today’s proceedings, let’s recap another of the key moments of last week’s testimony.
Here’s Ariana Baio on “Mia,” Diddy’s former assistant, who 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.

Diddy’s ex-assistant explains why she stayed silent about alleged assault
Jamie Foxx says Black community has lost a ‘hero’ in Diddy
13:05 , 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
13:25 , 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
13:45 , 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
What can we expect to hear today?
13:55 , Joe SommerladThis week’s hearings are likely to begin with Judge Subramanian weighing the defense’s mistrial call and inviting both sides to respond.
Assuming he ultimately rejects it, we are then likely to hear more from Jane about her “three door night,” as prosecutors described it in their opening statement, when Diddy allegedly broke down three doors in her home, assaulted her (leaving her with a black eye) and then made her take part in a “freak-off.”
Judge says he'll discuss mistrial motion tomorrow
14:07 , Katie HawkinsonJudge Arun Subramanian said he will discuss the defense’s motion for a mistrial tomorrow, noting prosecutors are planning to file a response today.
The defense called for a mistrial following Bryana Bongolan’s testimony last week, which they argue is “demonstrably false.” Bongolan testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs dangled her from a 17th-floor balcony.
“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,” defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro wrote in the filing.
Jane takes the stand
14:21 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-girlfriend Jane, who is testifying under a pseudonym, has taken the stand for her third day of testimony.
Prosecutors will now continue their direct questioning of Jane.
Jane recalls Diddy bragging about sex on podcast
14:43 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutors kicked off their questioning by showing Jane texts she sent to Sean “Diddy” Combs during their relationship.
In one message, Jane wrote to Combs that she didn’t want to come to New York because he just wanted to do a “hotel night.”
Jane testified that she texted him after listening to him brag about having sex for 48 hours on a podcast.
Jane told Combs she didn't want to be 'locked in a room to perform'
14:54 , Katie HawkinsonJane told Sean “Diddy” Combs that she didn’t want to do “hotel nights,” which involved her having sex with other men at his direction, according to text messages read in court.
“I don’t want to be used and locked in a room to perform and fulfill your fantasies,” Jane texted Combs.
“I’m tired of your false accusations,” Combs wrote back.
Jane also testified that she was concerned about Combs using his devices to record “hotel nights” because some of his staff knew the passwords.
Diddy set up hotel night after he promised not to, Jane testifies
15:22 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that her then-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs arranged a “hotel night” for them during a trip to New York despite promising not to.
“Hotel nights” involved her having sex with other men at Combs’s direction, she previously testified. These could last for several hours, with one session lasting more than three days, she said last week.
“I just remember just taking a deep breath and just feeling upset and a little disappointed, a little defeated,” she told the jury.
Jane told Diddy she's 'not a porn star' in request to end 'hotel nights'
15:39 , Katie HawkinsonJane asked for a break from “hotel nights” in a text to Sean “Diddy” Combs around October 2023.
“Our experiences are desensitizing sex for me,” Jane wrote to Combs.
“I’m not a porn star,” she added. “I’m not an animal. I need a break I don’t want to do anything I’ve hit a wall.”
Combs responded: “So we’re breaking up.”
Jane testified she didn’t want to break up and only wanted to stop doing “hotel nights.”
Jane gives emotional testimony about New York City 'hotel night'
15:49 , Katie Hawkinson, Kelly RissmanJane began tearing up as she described one particular “hotel night” in New York City.
Jane said Sean “Diddy” Combs was planning on introducing her to someone new on her trip to visit him in New York City. The encounter “didn’t go well,” she testified. Afterward, she invited Cabral Williams, an entertainer who went by “Sly.”
Jane said she booked Williams’s flight from Atlanta, and Combs reimbursed her. Combs later paid Williams after he and Jane had sex, she testified.
Jane told Combs he was treating her 'like an animal'
16:13 , Katie HawkinsonJane told Sean “Diddy” Combs that he treated her “like an animal” after years of “hotel nights,” which involved her having sex with other men at his direction.
Jane said she took a break from Combs after sending that text in October 2023.
Jane describes throwing up during one 'hotel night'
16:37 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that she vomited while having sex with three men while Sean “Diddy” Combs watched during a “hotel night.”
The incident happened during an October 2023 “sobriety party,” Jane testified. She had not taken drugs before the encounter. Last week, Jane testified that she often took drugs during “hotel nights” because she “didn’t want to feel like it was too real.”
Jane has previously testified that “hotel nights” caused health issues, including frequent UTIs and yeast infections. Cassie Ventura, who also dated Combs, similarly testified that Combs’s sex marathons caused her to get an antibiotic-resistant UTI.
Jane testifies she told Combs that 'sobriety party' was 'traumatic'
16:49Jane testified that she told Sean “Diddy” Combs that having sex with three men and throwing up at the October 2023 “sobriety party” was “traumatic.”
Jane also texted Combs that he “paid all of these harmful men on me and risked my health,” according to messages shown in court.
“This was never love I regret everything and all this dark toxic s*** that entered my life,” she added.
Combs responded by sending her a voice message via text, telling her he’s single and doesn’t have to listen to her, Jane testified.
Once they got on the phone, Combs offered to pay three more months of her rent, she said.
Jane says Diddy paid her rent in order to control her
17:14 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs paid her $10,000 rent, but used it as “leverage” to control her.
“The home was being used as leverage," Jane said.
Jane previously testified that Combs is still paying her rent.
Jane testifies Diddy sent her doctors notes to elicit sympathy
17:17 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs had his doctor send her a note about his knee surgery to elicit sympathy when she wasn’t answering his calls.
Jane also accused Combs of “love bombing” her when they had disagreements.
Jane describes reading Cassie Ventura's 2023 lawsuit
17:24 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that she fainted when she read Cassie Ventura’s 2023 civil lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
"I almost fainted," Jane told the jury. "In fact I think I did."
Jane testified that it felt like reading her “own sexual trauma.”
Ventura sued Combs for abuse. She revealed in court last month that he settled the lawsuit for $20 million. Ventura told the jury she would give up the settlement if it meant she never had to go through with “freak offs,” which involved her having sex with other men at Combs’s direction.
Lunch break
17:37The jury is on break until 1:15 p.m.
Jane will continue testifying when court resumes.
Court resumes
18:32 , Katie HawkinsonThe jury is back in court and Jane is resuming her testimony after a brief lunch break.
Jane says she didn't see Diddy for months after Cassie's lawsuit
18:45 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that she didn’t see Sean “Diddy” Combs for three months after Cassie Ventura’s civil lawsuit against the music mogul went public in November 2023.
Jane didn’t see Combs from November until February 2024, though they kept in touch occasionally.
In December 2023, Jane texted Combs, “Please stop using women for your fetish.”
“Leave women alone who don’t want to do those nights with you,” she added. “Hire prostitutes and stop emotionally harming women that love you.”
Combs then asked if Jane was trying to set him up and if she was recording their phone calls.
Jane tells Combs she became the 'side chick' and 'sex worker' in their relationship
18:56 , Katie HawkinsonJane texted Sean “Diddy” Combs that she had become “the side chick and sex worker in my own relationship” in December 2023.
Jane asked for space from Combs during their break, which began after she read Cassie Ventura’s lawsuit against him.
"I wrote that because he was trying to work my reality again," Jane said. "Every time I would speak the truth or tell him how I was feeling, he would move on from whatever I was talking about."
Jane told Diddy's chief of staff he threatened to release her sex tapes
19:21 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that she told Sean “Diddy” Combs’s chief of staff Kristina Khorram that he threatened to release her sex tapes.
“He said that he would expose me and send them to my child’s father. He has been bothering me for two months,” she told Khorram.
Khorram assured her nothing bad would happen, Jane testified.
Jane and Diddy got back together in February 2024, she says
19:29 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that she got back together with Sean “Diddy” Combs in February 2024, after the pair took a break following Cassie Ventura’s 2023 civil lawsuit.
Combs asked if she was free on her birthday, Jane said. She responded that she was “a little traumatized” from spending her past birthdays with him.
Jane previously testified that Combs had her do “hotel nights” on her birthday.
Jane testified she felt a sense of calm when they were separated. Jane joined OnlyFans during their separation to “reclaim having my independence,” she testified.
Diddy hired Jane a lawyer after his homes were raided
19:55 , Katie HawkinsonSean “Diddy” Combs hired Jane a lawyer after Homeland Security Investigations raided his homes in 2024, she testified.
Agents left their business card at Jane’s door the day they raided his homes, she said.
Jane said she and Combs split “peacefully” in March 2024.
“I would appreciate it if you could sign something for me so I could have closure comfortably,” Combs told Jane in March.
“No problem,” Jane said.
Jane says entertainer threatened to release her sex tapes
20:02 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that an entertainer named “Sly” participated in one of her “hotel nights” with Sean “Diddy” Combs threatened to release her sex tapes.
Sly told her he wanted $10,000 for the tapes, she said. Jane testified that Combs’s attorneys got involved.
“My heart was beating out of my chest and I couldn’t believe what he was saying to me,” Jane testified.
The tapes ultimately weren’t released, she added.
Jane testified Diddy is still paying her legal fees
20:19 , Kelly Rissman, Katie HawkinsonJane testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs is still paying her legal fees.
This comes after Jane revealed Combs is still paying her rent after the two signed a “love contract” in 2023.
Jane recounts day InterContinental Hotel assault video came out
20:26 , Katie HawkinsonJane said she was at Sean “Diddy” Combs’s home when CNN released the 2016 video of him assaulting Cassie Ventura inside a Los Angeles InterContinental Hotel.
Jane recalled Combs’s son coming into the room to tell his father “something happened.”
Jane said she gave Combs and his family space to deal with the video.
The pair didn’t talk about the video for several weeks after its public release in Spring 2024, she said.
“He said that that was the only time they had physical violence like that,” Jane said of Combs.
Ventura previously testified that Combs assaulted her several times throughout their relationship, which spanned from 2007 to 2018.
Jane recalls explosive date with Diddy
20:51Jane testified about an explosive date she had with Sean “Diddy” Combs in June 2024.
Combs came to her Los Angeles home after a family trip in Utah, she testified.
“I started confronting Sean about who he was with on his family trip,” she told the jury. “I was making an assumption that he was with another woman.”
Jane said she called him a “pedophile” because the woman she believed he was with was 25 years younger than him. Combs was 54 at the time.
Combs bent down at one point, and Jane said she pushed his head into a countertop. Jane said she then threw candles and got candle wax on his clothing.
“I think he was probably cursing and calling me crazy,” she testified.
Jane says Combs assaulted her during 2024 fight
21:21 , Katie HawkinsonJane said Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulted her during their June 2024 fight.
Jane testified she slammed his head into a marble countertop. Afterward, she sensed things were escalating and locked herself in her bedroom.
Jane said Combs kicked in the door to the bedroom, and then the door to the closet where she was hiding.
Jane said she went to the closet because she wanted to wear clothes she could escape in.
She made a run for the front door, but Combs caught her and kicked her, she testified.
“Sean kicked me in the back of my thigh, and I fell,” Jane said. “Then he picked me up in a chokehold and choked me.”
Jane said she tried to hide outside, but Combs found her. She punched him and then he punched her, Jane testified.
“He started punching my head. He started kicking me. He started saying all kinds of things and just kept punching me,” Jane said.
Jane says Diddy asked her to cover the injuries he gave her
21:35 , Katie HawkinsonJane testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs forced her to take ecstasy and have sex with another man after the alleged June 2024 assault.
Jane also testified that Combs told her to put on makeup and wear her hair on the side of her face to cover up the injuries he gave her.
Jury sees photos of doors Combs allegedly destroyed
21:45 , Katie HawkinsonProsecutors showed the jury photos of doors inside Jane’s home that Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly kicked in during the June 2024 assault.
Jane testified that Combs kicked down her four doors in her house while she hid from him.
Jane says she last saw Diddy in August
22:13 , Katie HawkinsonBefore court adjourned, Jane testified that she last saw Sean “Diddy” Combs in Miami around August 2024.
“When we were together, we were just in our same routine, having sex and everything, then he says we should invite Don,” Jane said.
Don, who is a sex worker, then had sex with Jane while Combs watched, she testified.
Recap: Jane testifies about end of relationship with Sean Combs
22:42 , Katie Hawkinson, Kelly RissmanSean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-girlfriend Jane, who is testifying under a pseudonym, spent much of her testimony today describing the second half of their relationship.
Jane recalled telling Combs she no longer wanted to do “hotel nights,” which involved her having sex with other men while he watched. These could last hours or even days, she previously testified.
Last week, Jane confirmed that Combs is still paying her rent. Today, she testified that she felt Combs was using rent as “leverage” to control her.
Jane also recalled reading Cassie Ventura’s 2023 civil lawsuit against Combs, which he settled for $20 million. Jane said she fainted and that reviewing the case felt like reading her “own sexual trauma.”
Just before the lawsuit went public, Jane texted Combs, accusing him of treating her “like an animal.”
Jane and Combs took a break from November 2023 to February 2024, she testified.
Then, in June 2024, Jane testified that Combs assaulted her at her Los Angeles home during a fight. The assault left her with golf ball-sized welts, she testified. The jury saw photos of four doors that Combs allegedly damaged during the assault.
Jane last saw Combs in August 2024, she testified. She confirmed he still pays her rent and legal fees.
Combs’s defense attorneys are expected to begin cross-examining Jane when court resumes Tuesday morning.