Diddy Trial

50 Cent is still highly entertained by Diddy's trial and the magic of A.I., but he can't believe the details spilling from the case ... especially the deets involving Cassie's mother!!!

Following the revelation on Tuesday that Diddy once caused Cassie's parents to take out a $20K home equity loan for "her daughter's safety," 50 digitally donned an all-white "Free Diddy" -- a conversion from the all-black ensemble he rocked the previous day.

In court, Cassie's mother claimed Diddy threatened to release a sex tape after Kid Cudi popped into the dating picture -- and 50 questioned if the tactic was even legal to begin with.

Sharay Hayes, an exotic male dancer known as "The Punisher," is testifying for the prosecution in the Diddy trial ... telling the jury about the first encounter he had with Diddy and Cassie ... saying the couple hired him to create a sexy erotic scene for them.

Hayes says he was first hired in 2012, when a woman called and booked him for a midnight gig at the Trump International Hotel in New York City. He says he was hired to perform a striptease for a group of people but when he got to the room, he says it was just Cassie in a bathrobe and a wig.

He told the jury Cassie told him that she and Diddy -- neither of whom he recognized at the time -- didn't want him to dance and instead wanted him to create a sexual scene with baby oil.

Regina Ventura, Cassie's mother, appeared in a Manhattan courtroom Tuesday to testify in Diddy's federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in NYC ... and she revealed some shocking details about her daughter's relationship with the incarcerated defendant.

On the stand, Regina confirmed her daughter dated Sean "Diddy" Combs after the singer had signed with Bad Boy Records -- she recalls meeting Diddy in 2006, and says her daughter and Diddy started dating, then moved to Los Angeles.

Prosecution asked Regina to read a December 2011 message to her from her daughter. Regina related Cassie informed her Diddy had threatened to release a sex tape and intended to go after Cassie and Mr. Mescudi -- AKA Kid Cudi, who Cassie began seeing during a break in her relationship with Diddy.

Barack Obama's name is finding its way into the Diddy trial ... because Diddy's former personal assistant says his boss used to take ecstasy pills shaped like Obama's mug.

David James, who worked for Bad Boy from 2007 to 2009, testified for the prosecution Tuesday and told the jury he saw Diddy with a bunch of different pills, including one with a very specific feature.

James said one of the pills was ecstasy in the shape of a former president's face ... and when prosecutor Christy Slavik asked him straight up, "Which former president?," James responded, "Barack Obama."

David James, a former personal assistant to Diddy, says his boss once gave him some ironic advice ... warning him not to get violent with women.

During cross-examination from Diddy defense attorney Marc Agnifilo, James admitted he got into a physical altercation with one of Diddy's former chefs, a woman named Jourdan Atkinson.

James told the jury he got upset with Chef Jourdan at Diddy's home on Star Island in Miami after she tried to tell James how to do his job, offering a suggestion on where to take Diddy. He said he grabbed her by the wrists and told her to "stay in her f****** lane."

David James, a former personal assistant to Diddy, is continuing his testimony in the disgraced rap mogul's federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in NYC Tuesday, and he told the jury about a harrowing incident in L.A. involving another titan of the music industry.

James was asked about a 2008 incident at a Mel's Diner, a restaurant in L.A., involving former rap mogul Suge Knight (who's currently in prison for an unrelated crime). James described driving a Lincoln Navigator SUV to get cheeseburgers, accompanied by a man named D-Roc.

James testified D-Roc recognized Suge Knight at the location, and went over to talk ... but Knight apparently didn't recognize D-Roc, who said "I'm Biggie's boy," referring to slain rapper Notorious B.I.G. (who was murdered in the city in 1997).

The alleged sex worker known as Ash Armand, who was allegedly involved in Diddy's "freak-offs," looks a bit worse for wear in his latest prison mug shot after he was convicted of manslaughter in the murder of his girlfriend years ago.

TMZ exclusively obtained the booking photo in 2021 ... Armand -- who also starred in the reality show  "Gigolos" -- has packed on a few extra pounds behind bars and appears disheveled with messy hair.

His days being a hot gigolo seem to be behind him ... no longer will we see him walking red carpets for Showtime’s "Gigolos," which follows the day-to-day lives of five male escorts based in Las Vegas.

Cassie Ventura and husband Alex Fine were seen out Monday, for the first time since the singer testified in Diddy's federal sex trafficking trial in NYC last week.

The married couple was seen exiting their residence in the city looking casual ... Cassie's going incognito in oversized dark sunglasses and a driver's cap pulled low over her hair, which is drawn back in a claw clip.

The very pregnant soon-to-be mama-of-three's wearing a romper with a blazer over it, which has denim jeans attached to it in a dash of extra styling, and she's got a couple bags in hand.

The sixth day of witness testimony in the Diddy trial is in the books and while there was some more interesting tidbits from celebs, friends and staffers ... it feels like prosecutors are all over the map.

Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard was first on the stand Monday and her testimony seemed to be geared toward one of the main charges against Diddy ... racketeering.

Dawn testified Diddy made threats about having people killed if they didn't listen to him ... and she also told the jury she saw Diddy with guns and drugs, though the defense got her to admit she never saw Diddy use a gun or pay for the substances.

Federal agents testified they found drugs, baby oil, lubricant and cash stashed in Diddy's New York City hotel room after his September 2024 arrest ... they took photos as evidence, and now we're seeing what they say they found.

Dozens of photos from inside Diddy's hotel room at the Park Hyatt Hotel in NYC have now been entered as exhibits in the case ... and we've compiled some of the most interesting images for you to peruse.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the feds say they recovered two clear plastic Ziploc bags in an orange prescription bottle ... and inside the baggies were pink solid material. The feds say one bag tested positive for ketamine and the other tested positive for MDMA and ketamine.

Diddy's federal sex trafficking trial is chugging along and Cassie took the stand last week for four days of intense testimony ... where she told the jury Diddy physically abused her during their relationship.

Photos of the injuries Cassie says she sustained at Diddy's hand have now been entered as exhibits in the case ... and we've collected some of the most compelling photos for you to see.

In one image, it looks like Cassie snapped a selfie of her swollen and busted lip ... and she's wearing a hoodie and hiding her eyes behind a big pair of sunglasses.

Another photo shows a deep gash over Cassie's left eyebrow ... there's a good amount of blood and open flesh ... and it appears there's some swelling and bruising too.

Diddy's federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial is undeniably weighing heavily on his family ... but his children's caretaker is assuring everyone the entire Combs clan are nothing but troopers!!!

Lawanda 'Lala' Lane joined "TMZ Live" on Monday to discuss the day-to-day operations since Diddy was hauled off to jail last year to wait for his trial, which got started two weeks ago.

The embattled music mogul's twins, Jessie and D'Lila, just stepped out for their senior prom,  and Lala says they're straight-A students and says faith in God is the dominant theme in the household.

Lisa Bloom says testimony from Cassie Ventura and Dawn Richard is essential to the prosecution's criminal case against Diddy ... but she says the feds are far from finished, and they've got plenty of time to close any loops the defense finds.

The famed attorney, who is also representing Dawn in a civil suit against Diddy, joined us on "TMZ Live" Monday and explained how Dawn's testimony is geared towards the RICO charges against Diddy.

Lisa says the fact Dawn told the jury she saw Diddy with guns and drugs is super important ... even though Diddy defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland got Dawn to admit she never saw Diddy use a gun or pay for drugs.

Cassie's former friend Kerry Morgan says Diddy came looking for Cassie after he beat her in a Los Angeles hotel ... showing up to Cassie's apartment armed with a hammer.

Kerry recalled her involvement in the infamous InterContinental hotel assault of Cassie ... telling the jury she was staying at Cassie's apartment in March 2016 ahead of a movie premiere, when Cassie came home with a black eye.

Morgan said about 30 minutes after Cassie came home, Diddy showed up at the front door... banging on the door with a hammer.

Kerry Morgan, a former friend of Cassie Ventura's, just testified for the prosecution in the Diddy trial ... and she says she saw Diddy assault Cassie twice ... and claims both times he was sober.

Kerry took the stand Monday in Diddy's federal sex trafficking trial in NYC, and she told the jury one of the occasions she saw Diddy assault Cassie was at Diddy's house in Los Angeles. She said Diddy kicked Cassie, and when she told one of Diddy's security guards to do something about it, he refused. She says she left the house with Cassie and they hid outside a neighbor's house.

Morgan testified another time she saw Diddy assault Cassie was on a trip to Jamaica in 2013 ... when she says she saw Diddy drag Cassie by her hair. She also said she saw Diddy push Cassie to the ground. She said Cassie hit her head on a brick and she thought Cassie was KO'd.

Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard testified for the prosecution in the Diddy trial, if he didn't get his way, "People could go missing."

Prosecutors were clearly homing in on the racketeering charge against Diddy, as Richard was asked what she thought Diddy meant by that. Richard's reply ... "That people could die."

Richard was also called to buttress Cassie's testimony last week. Richard testified how she personally observed Diddy "drag her, and kick her, and punch her in the mouth."