The controversial star Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial started with potential jurors being asked about several famous names on Monday, May 5 via PEOPLE.
Combs will go on trial after being charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution following his arrest in September last year.
During jury selection, potential jurors were asked about their knowledge of celebrities like Kanye West, Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers and Kid Cudi.
Actress Lauren London, songwriter/producer Dallas Austin, producer Harve Pierre, choreographer/director Laurieann Gibson and singers Dawn Richard and Michelle Williams were also mentioned, along with Combs’ former girlfriend and singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura.
Richard is a former member of Danity Kane, a group featured in MTV’s Making the Band and signed to Combs’ Bad Boy Records. Williams was a member of Destiny’s Child.
Prior to the potential jurors entering the courtroom, Judge Arun Subramanian quipped that the list of names on this case, which is expected to last eight weeks, was particularly long. “I felt like I was reading an appendix from The Lord of the Rings,” he said.
Including these names does not guarantee they will be called as witnesses or named again throughout the proceedings.
Cassie also accused Combs of sexual and physical assault in a November 2023 lawsuit, which opened the floodgates of assault allegations against Combs.
In her lawsuit, Cassie alleged that Combs physically attacked her after finding out about her brief relationship with Kid Cudi. He allegedly threatened to blow up the “Day ‘n’ Nite” rapper’s vehicle — and the star’s car exploded in his driveway around the same time.
