Judge Threatens To Remove Diddy From Courtroom For Making Faces At Jury

The judge overseeing Sean “Diddy” Combs’ criminal trial has warned the music mogul about potential removal from the courtroom after he was observed nodding and making facial expressions toward jury members.

Judge Arun Subramanian described Combs’ behavior as “absolutely unacceptable.” The defendant’s legal team assured the court such conduct would not reoccur.

The judge noted that Combs was “vigorously nodding” during cross-examination of Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Combs’ former girlfriend Cassie Ventura who has accused the rapper of threatening her by holding her over a balcony. Combs has entered not guilty pleas to all charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

New Witness Testimony

The court heard testimony from a woman identified as “Jane,” who maintained a relationship with Combs from 2021 until his arrest in 2024.

Jane described her relationship’s early stages as exciting, recounting trips to Miami, Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas, along with visits to upscale restaurants. She said she was “head over heels” for Combs.

However, Jane testified that Combs soon requested her participation in what prosecutors termed “hotel nights,” where Combs would hire an escort to watch Jane engage in sexual activity with another man. The first encounter occurred in Miami in May 2021, which she initially believed would be a single occurrence.

“That night opened a Pandora’s box in our relationship,” Jane testified. “It was a door I was unable to shut for the rest of the relationship. There was so much of it after, and it was too much.”

Jane stated she participated in additional encounters because “I just really loved him at that point and wanted to make him happy,” while acknowledging she had told Combs “many times” that she did not want to engage in these activities. She described feeling “frustrated” and “obligated” to comply with his requests.

Beginning around April 2023, Combs began paying $10,000 monthly for Jane’s housing, she testified. Jane said this arrangement created a sense of obligation, as Combs had implied he did not want to pay rent for someone he was not seeing.

Jane also testified that Combs provided her with drugs including ecstasy, cocaine, and ketamine throughout their relationship, which she used during encounters with Combs and during the “hotel nights.” Her testimony will continue Friday, followed by cross-examination from the defense team.

Balcony Incident Under Question

The court continued intense questioning of Ms. Bongolan, whom defense attorneys claim has provided inconsistent accounts of alleged abuse by Combs.

Bongolan has accused Combs of lifting her onto a balcony rail in a threatening manner and throwing her into furniture, resulting in bruises and injuries.

Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland questioned Bongolan about allegations made in both a lawyer’s letter, which Westmoreland said included a monetary demand, and a lawsuit against Combs, where she claimed Combs sexually assaulted her during the balcony incident.

In court, Bongolan testified that Combs ran his hands over her chest area while allegedly lifting her onto the balcony. Westmoreland repeatedly highlighted discrepancies between the sexual assault allegation and Bongolan’s courtroom description of the rapper’s alleged actions.

The defense also challenged Bongolan’s account by presenting evidence showing Combs performing at a New Jersey concert and attending New York events on September 25 and 26, 2016.

Prosecutors had previously shown a photograph of a bruise on Bongolan’s leg with metadata timestamped September 26, 2016. Bongolan testified she photographed the bruise the day after Combs allegedly threw her into balcony furniture.

“You came in here and lied to the ladies and gentlemen of this jury,” Westmoreland stated.

“I can’t agree with you,” Bongolan responded.

Later, prosecutors presented a text message from Ventura’s phone dated September 30, 2016, stating that Combs had come to her apartment during the night, choked Bongolan, and held her off the balcony.