Editor’s Note: This story contains discussions of rape or sexual assault that may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can find help and discreet resources on the National Sexual Assault Hotline website or by calling 1-800-656-4673.
(NewsNation) — Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial is set to start May 5 with jury selection, but who is set to testify?
A court filing did show that three people would be testifying anonymously at his trial. It is also known that Cassie Ventura, his ex-girlfriend, will be testifying under her own name, PEOPLE first reported.
Combs is being charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
What celebrities could be called to testify at Diddy’s trial?
It is unclear what celebrities could be called to testify. However, there are many who have had previous connections with Combs.
Jay-Z, for example, had been named in a now-dismissed lawsuit that claimed he and Diddy had raped a 13-year-old girl while a female celebrity watched. Jay-Z had released a statement when the lawsuit was filed in October 2024, accusing the lawyer behind the suit of attempting to blackmail him.
“Hip-hop cop” Derrick Parker told NewsNation’s Paula Froelich that “Jay-Z and Diddy were pretty close.” He also said, “It’s not just Jay-Z… everybody’s very scared right now.”
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FILE – Sean “Diddy” Combs arrives at the BET Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, on June 26, 2022. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP File) -
Sean Combs arrives at the Pre-Grammy Gala and Salute to Industry Icons at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP, File) -
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 25: In an aerial view, the home of Sean “Diddy” Combs is seen during a raid by federal law enforcement agents on March 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images) -
Defense attorney and former prosecutor Mark Eiglarsh joins NewsNation to discuss the latest developments in the federal sex trafficking case against Sean “Diddy” Combs. Cassie Ventura, a longtime associate and former girlfriend of Combs, previously filed the civil suit that triggered the criminal investigation. She was also seen in leaked surveillance footage being physically assaulted by Combs, which he later apologized for. Prosecutors have now added two more charges: sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, bringing the total to five. In response, Combs’ legal team issued a statement calling the allegations old and characterizing the relationships as consensual and private. -
MIAMI – FEBRUARY 05: Sean “P Diddy” Combs, Justin Bieber and Sean Kingston perform at the BET SOS Saving Ourselves � Help for Haiti,� benefit concert and telethon at AmericanAirlines Arena on February 5, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Larry Marano/Getty Images) -
FILE – Rap moguls Sean “Diddy” Combs, left, and Jay-Z attend the NBA All-Star basketball game, Feb. 15, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File) -
Sean Combs is seen on October 30, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images) -
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 21: Joey Badass toasts to Sean “Diddy” Combs and the world premiere of Can’t Stop Won’t Stop at the official after party powered by CIROC Vodka and Deleon Vodka at a private residence on June 21, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) -
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 27: Cassie (L) and recording artist Sean “Diddy” Combs attend the Clive Davis and Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Jay-Z on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) -
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 17: (L-R) NBA players LeBron James, coach Erik Spoelstra, Dwyane Wade, Ray Allen, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and assistant coach David Fizdale pose backstage at The 2013 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 17, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for ESPY) -
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 21: Cassie and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs attend the Los Angeles Premiere Of “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” at Writers Guild of America, West on June 21, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images) -
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 07: Giggs and Diddy perform at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in a special one night only event at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on November 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images for Sean Diddy Combs)
Pop star Jennifer Lopez is Combs’ ex-girlfriend and was with the rapper in 1999 when he allegedly fired a gun in a club, causing the couple to be arrested.
According to reports at the time, they had been partying at Club New York in Midtown Manhattan when Combs accidentally spilled a drink onto Matthew “Scar” Allen.
After this, a fight ensued, and Combs was charged with gun possession. Lopez was also arrested after fleeing with Combs in a Lincoln Navigator, and police allegedly found a gun in the car. Lopez had to spend 14 hours in jail before her charges were dropped.
Back in 2024, Jennifer Lopez released a documentary that talked about “people in my life who said ‘I love you’ and then didn’t do things that were kind of in line with the word love…” Froelich said an insider told her that it was in regard to Lopez’s previous relationship with Diddy.
Parker also mentioned other names to Froelich, including Lebron James, Chris Brown and Kevin Hart. Hart had been seen interviewing a woman in a bathtub at a Diddy party in the past. After Diddy was arrested, a video resurfaced of James saying, “Ain’t no party like a Diddy party.”
However, none of these men have been charged with any wrongdoing or linked to any of Combs’ alleged crimes. According to Froelich, many former associates of Diddy are said to be nervous about whether they will be mentioned during the trial.
Cassie Ventura to testify at Diddy’s trial
It was reported in April that Ventura, 38, would be testifying under her name. Surveillance video from March 2024 that was obtained by CNN showed Ventura being chased and beaten by Combs in her hotel in March 2016.
The footage showed Combs allegedly chasing Ventura and grabbing her by the neck before throwing her to the ground. He is then shown kicking and shoving her and grabbing her stuff. It is said that the footage supports allegations she made in a now-settled lawsuit in November 2023.
Combs’ legal team claimed in a filing that CNN had altered the footage by buying the only copy, uploading it to free editing software and editing the original.
Who else could testify at Diddy’s trial?
Besides Ventura and the three who are testifying anonymously, it is unclear who will testify at Combs’ trial. Reuters did report that prosecutors are allegedly planning to call psychologist Dawn Hughes to the stand.
Hughes has reportedly testified in other cases, including R. Kelly’s trial in 2021. In Combs’ case, she is going to touch on how victims of sexual abuse might remain loyal to their perpetrator and stay in relationships due to fear of violence or emotional manipulation, according to Reuters.
Prosecutors said Hughes’ expertise could contextualize Combs’ argument that the victims participated in his parties (called “Freak Offs”) willingly.
In a court filing, prosecutors said, “The defense will then argue that these victim responses are incompatible with the victim being a victim of abuse. Dr. Hughes would testify that it is the dynamics of interpersonal violence that result in such behavior.”
One of Combs’ lawyers, Alexandra Shapiro, said, “They’re going to use this [Dr. Hughes’ testimony] to say that this expert told them that essentially they should believe these people.”
