Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sex trafficking trial: Reason hotels barely cleaned up after Diddy
A New York court has heard Sean “Diddy” Combs’ “freak off” parties could leave hotel rooms trashed – but the hotel would rarely even realise.
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A New York court has heard that while Sean “Diddy” Combs’ alleged “freak off” sex parties created a huge mess of baby oil, lubricant and all manner of bodily fluids, hotels rarely had to do a thorough clean after they occurred.
That’s because the music star’s staff swept through the rooms – which allegedly could have been used for days of love making and drug taking – before hotel staff had a chance to even touch them.
A former staff member testified that he tidied the rooms because of fears hotel staff would sell images of the mess to “embarrass” Combs.
Combs, 55, is on trial in Manhattan on federal charges which include sex trafficking and racketeering. He has denied all the charges.
On Wednesday, US time, the jury was also shown the bizarre messages scrawled across a bathroom mirror in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ mansion, which were found during a raid by federal agents.
Authorities also found a wealth of drugs stashed around the music star’s home, firearm parts, high-heeled shoes, a box of nangs and even an erectile dysfunction product which US authorities have advised people to steer clear of.
One closet alone contained more than 50 bottles of baby oil and lube.
MORE: Big reason giving Diddy $99m headache
Staff sweep hotel rooms after freak offs
Combs’ executive assistant from 2013 to 2015, George Kaplan, took to the stand on Wednesday.
He explained how one of his roles was to set out hotel rooms just to Combs’ liking before the star arrived. These hotels included the Trump International overlooking New York’s Central Park and The Bel-Air Hotel in Los Angeles.
He said he had a “hotel bag” which included clothes for Combs, speakers, candles, baby oil and AstroGlide lubricant.
Combs often used hotel rooms for his freak offs. Mr Kaplan said Combs’ hotel stays would last 12 hours to two days.
When Combs and any guests were done with the hotel room Mr Kaplan would then “somewhat” clean them up which included tidying away “empty bottles of Gatorade, liquor and baby oil”.
He added there was “baby oil on the bed, tables, all around the room”.
At one point, Mr Kaplan said he found a “brown crystallised powder” on a surface.
“I didn’t know what it was and I got rid of it,” he said.
Last week on the stand, Ms Ventura detailed how messy the rooms could get.
“Oil on sheets and walls and handles … candle wax all over the place … sometimes blood and urine would get on the linens”.
Asked why he didn’t simply let housekeeping clean the room, Mr Kaplan said “I think it was implied my role in protecting Combs’ public image was important”.
“Often hotels would sell images to try and “embarrass celebrities”.
MORE:‘Freak off’: Diddy cops $50m insult in major blow
Mr Kaplan also said that Combs “threatened my job on occasion,” clarifying that it happened “monthly”.
He stated that Combs said he “only wanted to be surrounded by the best and those around him were not performing to that level”.
But Combs’ demands could be almost impossible, Mr Kaplan said.
He once told him to go to US supermarket Whole Foods Market and buy a gallon sized BPA-free plastic bottle. None were in store so faced with being late, Mr Kaplan instead bought two BPA-free half gallon bottles which equalled the same size as the original request.
Combs was furious, Mr Kaplan testified, that he had not fulfilled his order precisely despite the product not being available.
“He was very angry, very close to my face”.
Nangs and erectile dysfunction snake oil
Also Wednesday, Special Agent Gerard Gannon testified about a March 2024 raid that took place at Combs mansion on Star Island, a Miami Beach enclave popular with celebs.
The government lawyers prosecuting Combs detailed the drugs found on the property – including in one box which had the word “Puffy” embossed upon it.
Those drugs include ecstasy tablets, pills containing MDMA, tablets with a substance similar to Xanax as well as ketamine and cocaine.
The disassembled parts of various guns were also found.
Mr Gannon said one closet contained 56 bottles of lubricant and baby oil.
He was asked if they were the only bottles of lube and baby oil found in the building.
“No they were not,” he said to laughs from the courtroom.
The image presented into evidence of the baby oil also showed a nitrous oxide product called Eurogas. This appeared to be whipped cream chargers, known as nangs in Australia, the contents of which can be inhaled for a temporary high.
In much of the US, nitrous oxide possession is legal for its proper purpose but can lead to a fine or jail if used for inhalation. There was no mention in court of Combs using the product.
MORE: Jailed Diddy’s wild $98m move exposed
Dodgy erectile dysfunction product
Another picture shown to the jury from the Combs raid was for a product called Vital Honey.
The honey-based supplement is claimed to help with erectile dysfunction and sexual enhancement. Ms Ventura testified her ex’s sex parties could last for up to four days.
In 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert that Vital Honey contained a “hidden ingredient”. This was tadalfil, the active ingredient in prescription drug Cialis which is used to treat erectile dysfunction.
The FDA said Cialis should only be used after seeing a doctor and could be “dangerous” to some users.
Bizarre scrawlings on mirror
At one point, a picture was shown of a bathroom in the Comb’s mansion.
The mirror was full of messages possibly scrawled in red lipstick and black marker.
“What do you want?” said one message on the mirror.
“You a legend”, said another. “You’re an icon Puff Daddy” was also seen.
It’s unclear who wrote the messages.
MORE:‘Freak off’: Diddy cops $50m insult in major blow
On Wednesday, the court also heard from clinical and forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes.
She has appeared for Amber Heard in her defamation trial against Johnny Depp and she is due to give testimony in the upcoming trial of Harvey Weinstein.
Ms Hughes said people often remained in abusive relationships due to “trauma bonds”. Abusers could “love bomb” partners after they victimise them. And financially they can control their victim’s live making it harder for them to leave.
Rapper and actor Kid Cudi is expected to testify at the trial on Thursday, US time, to tell the jury about his brief relationship 14 years ago with Combs’ ex-girlfriend Ms Ventura.
She testified last week that Combs was enraged when she left him for a period of time in 2011 and began dating Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi.
She said Combs left a large bruise on her back where he kicked her as she left his Los Angeles home for the last time that year.
Prosecutors have contended in court filings that Combs was so upset that he arranged to have Cudi’s convertible firebombed.
Originally published as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sex trafficking trial: Reason hotels barely cleaned up after Diddy
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