Showbiz

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Convicted On Prostitution Counts, But Cleared Of More Serious Charges

Published

3 months ago

July 2, 2025

Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty on Wednesday of prostitution-related offenses, but cleared of more serious charges after a criminal trial in which two of the music mogul’s former girlfriends testified that he physically and sexually abused them.

Combs was convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking, a partial win for the former billionaire known for elevating hip-hop in American culture.

After the jury read its verdict, defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo asked Subramanian to release Combs on bail.

“This is his first conviction and it’s a prostitution offense, and so he should be released on appropriate conditions,” Agnifilo said.

Combs faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence on each of the two prostitution counts. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian will determine Combs’ sentence at a later date.

The acquittals on the sex trafficking counts means he will avoid a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence. He could have faced life in prison if he were convicted on sex trafficking or racketeering conspiracy.

Prosecutors say Combs for two decades used his business empire to force two of his romantic partners to take part in drug-fueled, days-long sexual performances sometimes known as “Freak Offs” with male sex workers in hotel rooms while Combs watched, masturbated and occasionally filmed.

During raids of Combs’ homes, authorities found drugs and 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant that he would use in the performances, prosecutors said.

Combs, 55, had pleaded not guilty to all five counts. His lawyers acknowledged that the Bad Boy Records founder, once famed for hosting lavish parties for the cultural elite in luxurious locales like the Hamptons and Saint-Tropez, was at times violent in his domestic relationships. But they said the sexual activity described by prosecutors was consensual.

The seven-week trial in Manhattan federal court exposed the inner workings of Combs’ business empire and gave the 12-member jury an intimate look into his volatile romantic relationships with the rhythm and blues singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and a woman known in court by the pseudonym Jane.

Ventura sued Combs in November 2023 for sex trafficking, the first of dozens of civil lawsuits accusing him of abuse. Combs, also known throughout his career as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy and once feted for turning artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars, settled with Ventura for $20 million. He has denied all wrongdoing.

At the trial, jurors saw surveillance footage from 2016 showing Combs kicking and dragging Ventura in the hallway of an InterContinental hotel in Los Angeles, where she said she was trying to leave a “Freak Off.”

Jane later testified that Combs in June 2024 attacked her and directed her to perform oral sex on a male entertainer, even though she told him she did not want to. That alleged attack took place a month after Combs apologized on social media for his 2016 attack of Ventura, footage of which had been broadcast on CNN.

According to prosecutors, physical violence was just one way Combs compelled Ventura and Jane to take part in the performances – an act of coercion they say amounts to sex trafficking because the male escorts were paid.

Both women testified that he threatened to withhold financial support and to leak sexually explicit images of them if they refused to comply.

“The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted,” prosecutor Christy Slavik said in her closing argument on June 26. “He doesn’t take no for an answer.”

Combs’ defense lawyers argued that while Combs may have committed domestic violence in the context of volatile romantic partnerships, his conduct did not amount to sex trafficking.

They argued that Ventura and Jane were strong, independent women who voluntarily took part in the sexual performances because they wanted to please Combs.

Both women testified they spent time with Combs and took part in sexual performances after he beat them. Defense lawyers argued that Ventura and Jane were retrospectively accusing Combs of forcing their participation in the performances because they were jealous he was seeing other women.

“If he was charged with domestic violence, we wouldn’t all be here,” Combs’ defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo said in his closing argument on June 27. “He did not do the things he’s charged with.”

RACKETEERING CONSPIRACY

Besides Ventura and Jane, jurors also heard testimony from Combs’ former personal assistants who said their jobs included setting up hotel rooms for “Freak Offs” and buying their boss drugs.

An InterContinental security guard testified that Combs, in the presence of his chief of staff, paid him $100,000 to hand over what he thought was the only copy of the surveillance tape of his attack on Ventura.

And Scott Mescudi, the rapper known as Kid Cudi, told jurors Combs was likely involved in an arson on his car after Combs found out he was romantically involved with Ventura.

According to prosecutors, those were all acts Combs and his associates undertook in furtherance of a racketeering conspiracy whose aim was, in part, to facilitate his abuse and keep evidence of his wrongdoing under wraps.

The defense argued Combs was a successful entrepreneur who used drugs recreationally, but kept his professional and personal lives separate.

Combs has been held in federal lockup in Brooklyn since his September 2024 arrest.

reuters.com

Showbiz

Stonebwoy Ignites Afro-Dancehall With The Torcher

Published

2 weeks ago

September 20, 2025

AladdynKing

STONEBWOY is this year’s Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year. This makes it the 10th time the talented act is owning the bragging rights.

And it seems one time BET award winner is in no hurry to rest on his oars. He is sparking the Afro Dancehall scene with his new nine-rack, The Torcher album released on Tuesday, September 9.

Ogee The MC, Stonebwoy’s official hype man, kicks off the album with a bang on the Intro track, showcasing his smooth voice and creative flair

Other songs on the album are The Torcher, Send Dem A Prayer, GidiGidi (Fire), Samankudi, Outside Lifestyle, Susuka (feat. Beeztrap & Yaw Tog), Xosetor (feat. Agbeshie & Kenny Ice) and Deeper.

The title track, The Torcher, arrives with a commanding vocal delivery layered over heavy drum patterns, Dancehall riddims, and a pulsating bassline that instantly ignites energy.

Deeper is a song that explores deeper emotions. With soulful music and heartfelt melodies, it highlights Stonebwoy’s impressive vocal range. He seamlessly switches between his signature Dancehall style and a more melodic, spiritual tone.

Since its release, Xosetor featuring Agbeshie & Kenny Ice seems to be catching on well with its Ewe flavour and chants.

“Beyond the sound, The Torcher carries a deeper narrative. It is a call for empowerment, urging fans to carry their flame” and never allow life’s challenges to dim their light,” Stonebwoy said.

The Torcher is the third album released in three years by the 2023 TGMA Artiste of the Year after 5th Dimension and Up and Runnin in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

Since he rose to prominence in 2012, Stonebwoy, real name, Livingstone Etse Satekla, has distinguished himself in his field of music.

Over the years, he has strengthened his brand with international tours and standout collaborations with international artistes including Keri Hilson, Sean Paul, Trey Songz, Burna Boy, Alpha Blondie, and many more.

Stonebwoy has rocked some very notable stages across the world from 2019’s Rotom Sunsplash Festival (Spain) to 2020’s Afro Nation (Puerto Rico), 2021’s Yam Carnival (UK), and recently at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Fan Festival in Qatar last year.

His numerous awards include Best International Act: Africa at BET Awards (2016), Artiste of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards (2015 and 2023), and two Billboard plaques.

graphic.com.gh

Showbiz

Judge Dismisses Civil Sex Assault Suit Against Diddy, Citing Statute Of Limitations

Published

1 month ago

August 27, 2025

AladdynKing

A New York judge has thrown out a civil lawsuit filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs that accused the music mogul of drugging and sexually assaulting a then 23-year-old artist at a Los Angeles nightclub.

The ruling is the latest legal victory for Diddy as he continues to face separate criminal proceedings.

The plaintiff filed the complaint in February, alleging that an encounter in 2015 ended with him passed out after drinking a beverage and waking to unwanted sexual contact with Combs.

The suit, brought by attorney Tony Buzbee, also claimed that Combs threatened the young artist’s career if he resisted.

*Pictured: Tony Buzbee (L), Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs (R)*

The complaint named Diddy as well as his companies, Bad Boy Entertainment and Combs Enterprises.

In her decision, the judge said the claims were time barred under New York law.

The court noted that the statute of limitations in effect when the alleged incident occurred allowed five years to bring such claims.

A 2019 change in state law that extended the window for certain sex abuse claims to 20 years does not apply retroactively, the judge wrote, and therefore could not revive the plaintiff’s case.

The order dismissed the lawsuit in full. The decision follows a string of recent civil rulings in Combs’s favour.

Several other lawsuits alleging similar misconduct have been dismissed or otherwise stalled on procedural grounds, even as a number of matters remain active in various jurisdictions.

Combs is currently in custody and awaiting sentencing in a separate federal criminal case. Court filings show his sentencing is scheduled for October 3.

His legal team has vigorously denied wrongdoing in the civil matter and in other complaints.

The dismissed suit carried serious allegations that mirrored other claims the entertainer has faced in recent years.

Still, by focusing the ruling on the statute of limitations the judge avoided reaching the factual merits of the allegations.

That procedural outcome leaves open the broader public debate on accountability and the challenges of pursuing historic claims many years after they allegedly occurred.

As the calendar advances toward October and other civil suits proceed, the legal and reputational stakes for Combs remain high.

For now, the New York court’s ruling removes one potential civil liability from his immediate docket, but it does not end the series of legal battles that continue to shape the public record around one of the music industry’s most prominent figures.

myjoyonline.com

Showbiz

Jay-Z Tops Forbes List As World’s Richest Musician

Published

1 month ago

August 24, 2025

AladdynKing

American rapper, businessman, and Roc Nation founder Shawn Corey Carter, better known as Jay-Z, has been named the world’s richest musician by Forbes.

With a net worth of $2.5 billion (approximately Sh323 billion), Jay-Z has doubled his fortune since becoming a billionaire in 2019.

His wealth goes beyond music, spanning diverse investments and businesses. Assets such as a fine art collection, music catalog, and shares in companies including Uber have propelled him to the top of the global rankings.

The 55-year-old became the first hip-hop billionaire in 2019, largely through his business ventures. With over 140 million records sold, Jay-Z is also among the world’s best-selling music artists.

Forbes notes that he is followed by American pop star Taylor Swift, whose fortune is estimated at $1.6 billion. Rihanna, the first female artist to reach billionaire status, ranks third with a $1 billion net worth, driven by the global success of her Fenty Beauty brand.

Jay-Z, who is married to singer-songwriter Beyoncé, forms one of entertainment’s most powerful couples. Together, the pair boast an estimated combined net worth of $3.5 billion. They also share a record 88 Grammy nominations each the most in history.

Across his career spanning more than 35 years, Jay-Z has become one of the most decorated artistes of all time. He has won 25 Grammy Awards, the eighth-most ever, along with three Emmy Awards. In 2023, Vibe and Billboard ranked him the greatest rapper of all time.

Beyond entertainment, Jay-Z’s impact has been recognized in civil rights advocacy. He received the prestigious President’s Award from the NAACP, underscoring his influence both on and off stage.

With music, business, and influence intertwined, Jay-Z’s $2.5 billion empire cements his legacy as a global icon.

msn.com