Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: Rapper Kid Cudi, Cassie Ventura’s ex, set to testify

Well-known rapper Kid Cudi is expected to take the stand today as part of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial in New York City.

Celebrity rapper Kid Cudi is expected to take the stand today in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ criminal trial in New York City, after it was postponed from earlier this week.

The Day N Nite performer – real name Scott Mescudi – is expected to testify about his relationship with Cassie Ventura over a decade ago, which reportedly enraged the music mogul.

In Ventura’s 2023 lawsuit against Combs, she alleged that he told her in 2012 that he was going to blow up Cudi’s car after learning about their romance. The lawsuit further alleges that Cudi’s car exploded in his driveway around that time.

Combs, 55, is on trial in Manhattan on federal charges which include sex trafficking and racketeering. He has denied all the charges.

Ventura and Combs in 2017. Picture: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File

Cudi dated Ventura more than a decade ago. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

His former assistant, George Kaplan, briefly testified on Wednesday and will also return to the witness stand today.

Kaplan told the court in his earlier testimony that while 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 lovemaking and drug taking – before hotel staff had a chance to even touch them.

He testified that he tidied the rooms because of fears hotel staff would sell images of the mess to “embarrass” Combs.

Combs, centre, motions a heart sign to his family in court. Picture: Elizabeth Williams via AP

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.

Originally published as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: Rapper Kid Cudi, Cassie Ventura’s ex, set to testify