Music

Diddy Spotted Reading From Bible During Opening Statements of Sex Trafficking Case

Before opening statements, the music mogul silently read the Bible in court.

US producer-musician Sean "Diddy" Combs gestures in the press room during the MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on September 12, 2023.
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Diddy is turning to the Bible during the jury selection for his sexual assault trial.

According to TMZ, Diddy reportedly read from the Bible ahead of opening statements. The outlet writes that Diddy, 55, "hardly moved as the prosecution addressed the jury" and had a "blank stare." Diddy is charged on five counts of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Providing the opening statement in Diddy's legal team was Teny Geragos, who claimed that the artist's sex life should not be misjudged throughout court proceedings. During the trial, Diddy's alleged "freak-off" parties will be examined, as it's alleged that the Bad Boy Entertainment founder solicited sex workers to participate in intense and days-long sex acts. According to Geragos, per TMZ, the events were simply "swinger parties" among willing participants.

Also addressed in opening statements was the infamous 2016 surveillance video of Diddy assaulting his then-girlfriend, Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, in a hotel hallway. Diddy's defense maintains that domestic violence was mutual between the former partners, and that, rather than the incident being evidence of sex trafficking, the exes were arguing over a phone and "the secrets of infidelity."

If convicted, Diddy faces up to life in prison.

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