After almost eight months, the Diddy trial kicks off this week. The hip-hop mogul was arrested September 16 2024, and since then, many details and sources have come to light that are helping shape our view of what he allegedly has done and facilitated. The indictment against the 55-year-old, which was unsealed on September 17, revealed that Combs was charged with sex trafficking and racketeering.
Sexual assault and abuse allegations against Sean Combs, known to most fans as Diddy, first came to light when his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit against him in November 2023. The allegations became front-page news in March 2024, when two of his homes were raided as part of an ongoing human trafficking investigation, according to CNN.
Here is a timeline of everything we know so far about the Diddy assault allegations and related stories.
May 5: The Diddy trial officially begins today with day one of jury selection. According to reports, up to 150 potential jurors will be brought into a Manhattan courtroom one by one and questioned by Judge Arun Subramanian. Then, the prosecution and defense teams will determine whether each person qualified to serve on Combs’ jury. According to USA Today, the goal is to get through all potential jurors in three days.
October 21: A new wave of lawsuits brings more damning allegations. On October 14 and 21, attorney Tony Buzbee filed more than a dozen suits, including on behalf of one plaintiff who alleges that she attended a VMAs after-party in 2000 at the age of 13.
Per Deadline and the suit, the girl alleges she was raped by Diddy and a male celebrity while a female celebrity looked on. Per Reuters, another accuser, a 17-year-old male, alleges that the rapper drugged and assaulted him in a Manhattan penthouse in 2022.
October 18: Rob Shuter, who worked as the rapperâs publicist between 2002 and 2004, tells the BBC that Diddy was âobsessedâ with Prince William and Prince Harry, repeatedly inviting them to his parties, which they always declined.
âHe thought of himself as a king so it makes perfect sense that he would like to have two princes in his entourage,â Shuter told the outlet, adding that the rapper kept framed pictures of William and Harry in his apartment.
October 10: The Diddy trial has been scheduled for May 5, 2025. The date was announced on October 10 at a hearing in Manhattan federal court, the rapperâs third court appearance since his September 16 arrest. Per Reuters, Diddy blew kisses at family members in the courtroom, including his mother and children.
October 1: Diddy is facing a wave of new sexual assault allegations. During a press conference on October 1, Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee said that he is representing more than 120 accusers and will be filing a series of civil lawsuits against Diddy in various states over the next 30 days.