Warning: this article discusses sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.
The criminal trial against Sean 'Diddy' Combs has begun and the former rapper's alleged 'freak-off' parties are at the centre of it all.
As the jury selection process for the trial started yesterday (5 May), the 55-year-old said he was 'a little nervous' in court as proceedings were briefly paused in New York City.
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Judge Arun Subramanian questioned three dozen potential jurors, while opening statements and the start of testimony are scheduled for next week.
All jurors will remain anonymous in the case, with the trial expected to last up to eight to 10 weeks in total.
What are the allegations against Diddy?
Combs is facing five felony charges, which include:
- sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion
- transportation to engage in prostitution
- racketeering conspiracy
Prosecutors have alleged in a 14-page indictment that Combs engaged in a two-decade-long racketeering pattern and used his 'employees, resources and influence' to create 'a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in'.
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They claim that his team 'attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice'.
Diddy has pleaded not guilty to all five charges, and his legal team said in a statement last month that his accusers were 'former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships'.
Even though a number of men and women have made allegations, the trial will highlight the claims of only four women.
And three of the four women have requested for their identities to be hidden from the public.
What were Diddy's ‘freak-off’ parties?
Diddy's 'White Party' was one of the most sought-after invitations in the entertainment industry and involved some of the biggest celebrity names.
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"When Diddy winked at you and said come into the VIP section, you knew you were going to have a really good night,” Rob Shuter, who previously worked as a publicist for Combs from 2002 to 2004, told BBC News.
However, the so-called freak-offs were the 'after-party' equivalent and federal prosecutors claim they involved criminal activity.
They 'were not consensual parties' and 'were coercive, manipulative events designed to break down victims and keep them dependent', prosecutors claim.
Victims were said alleged to have included both male and female sex workers.
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Police raids found almost 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant in Diddy's Miami and Los Angeles mansions, with federal agents saying the findings were 'unprecedented in scale and disturbing in content'.
"Freak Offs were elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded," the indictment reads.
"Freak Offs occurred regularly, sometimes lasted multiple days, and often involved multiple commercial sex workers.
"During Freak Offs, Combs distributed a variety of controlled substances to victims, in part to keep the victims obedient and compliant. Sometimes unbeknownst to the victims, Combs kept videos he filmed of victims engaging in sex acts with commercial sex workers.
"After Freak Offs, Combs and the victims typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use."
Who is known to have attended Diddy's parties?
Over the years, Diddy has welcomed some of the most well-known faces to his white parties, such as Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, and Jennifer Lopez.
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Although it is believed that the 'freak-offs' were separate to the actual 'party'.
What have Diddy's lawyers said?
Diddy's lawyer Marc Anifilo said: “Mr Combs is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal.
“We look forward to clearing his name.”
Anthony Ricco, Combs' previous lawyer, announced he would no longer represent him three months before the trial date due to 'sufficient reasons'.
What could happen to Diddy if he's found guilty?
Diddy is set to be put on trial for eight to 10 weeks and court hearings will be held five days a week, from Monday to Friday.
Combs, who has been held without bail since his September arrest, is currently in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
If found guilty of all charges, Diddy could receive a maximum sentence of life in prison.
LADbible Group has contacted Diddy's representatives for comment.
Anish Vij