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Kanye West attends the sex trafficking trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Kanye West has sensationally turned up to watch fellow rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs face sex trafficking charges creating chaos outside a New York City court.

Kanye West made a shocking appearance at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial Friday morning, entering the lower Manhattan courthouse through the front doors.

The rapper — who now goes by the name “Ye Ye” — didn’t respond to reporters’ questions about whether he was the “iconic” rapper described in shocking testimony a day earlier.

On Thursday, one of Diddy’s alleged victims, former gal pal “Jane,” described an unnamed, world-famous rap “icon” whom she said was into a “similar” sex-crazed, “freak-off” lifestyle as the Bad Boy Records founder.

Ye Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, leaves federal court during the trial of Sean
Ye Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, leaves federal court during the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs in New York. Picture: AP

When West – who now goes by Ye Ye – came to the courthouse around 11.10am New York time, screams could be heard from bystanders, who shouted questions at him and recorded with their cellphones.

The rapper was met by Combs’ son Christian “King” Combs, who walked with the rapper inside.

West – wearing all white denim pants and jacket and black sunglasses – was asked, “Are you here to support Combs?”

“Yes,” the fellow rapper responded.

He did not respond to questions about whether he’s been following the trial or whether he would testify on Combs’ behalf.

West watched the trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs from an overflow room in the courthouse, and not in the main courtroom where the Bad Boy Records founder has been on trial for the last five weeks.

Once West was cleared through the courthouse security, he got in an elevator and went to the 23rd floor to watch the trial on a television screen inside a lesser used secondary overflow room.

Two overflow courtrooms have been available throughout trial so the public can still view the trial in case the main courtroom reaches capacity.

The main courtroom, however, was not full Friday.

Kanye’s presence caught everyone by surprise. Picture: AP
Kanye’s presence caught everyone by surprise. Picture: AP

West briefly observed inside the room, before other reporters caught wind of his surprise visit, apparently prompting him to leave.

West spent about 40 minutes total inside the courthouse before leaving with Combs’ son and someone who appeared to be security.

West’s wife, Australian Bianca Censori, was not in attendance or seen at the courthouse.

Kanye West and Diddy perform together in 2007. Picture: Getty Images
Kanye West and Diddy perform together in 2007. Picture: Getty Images
Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, leaves federal court on Friday. Picture: Michael R Sisak
Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, leaves federal court on Friday. Picture: Michael R Sisak

Diddy, 55, is accused of using his fame, fortune and many businesses to run a decade-long scheme in which he controlled and manipulated his longtime girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura, 38, and others including “Jane” using violence and threats, forcing them into “freak-off” sex marathons that went on for days.

Inside, a Homeland Security special agent told the jury that Diddy had sixteen boxes of Astroglide lube stacked in the garage of his Los Angeles home when feds raided it in March 2024.

Agents found vast quantities of baby oil and lube. Picture: US Department of Justice
Agents found vast quantities of baby oil and lube. Picture: US Department of Justice

Special Agent Andre LaMon displayed a rifle that was seized from Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Los Angeles home before the jury — as photos of guns and ammo discovered from the search were shown to the court.

LaMon said that when he arrived at Combs’ home, agents had already laid out the firearms and removed their magazines, which he explained was standard protocol.

The jury saw photos of six guns and multiple magazines full of ammo, including “green-tip ammunition” that were recovered in the March 2024 search, LaMon said.

When the witness displayed the black weapon to the jury, he testified that the serial number of the gun was sanded off.

Four rifles were recovered at the home — in addition to a pistol and a shotgun, according to LaMon.

A number of firearms were found, the court was told. Picture: US Department of Justice
A number of firearms were found, the court was told. Picture: US Department of Justice

The jury was also shown a firearm safe inside Combs’ security room where the guns were found.

The black safe had shotgun ammunition scattered on top of it along with a book, a cable and a canister of lip balm, according to the witness.

Nine hundred bottles of Astroglide and 200 bottles of baby oil were seized from Combs’ Los Angeles home when federal investigators raided the property in March 2024 LaMon said.

At least 16 large brown boxes of lube that were stacked on top of each other in a wall of the garage were recovered, according to images shown to the jury.

Special Agent LaMon talked the jury through the photos. Picture: US Department of Justice
Special Agent LaMon talked the jury through the photos. Picture: US Department of Justice

LaMon said investigators also found a black zippered bag of Johnson & Johnson baby oil and Astroglide.

The Special Agent said investigators found six manila envelopes marked with a “K” inside a nightstand in the master bedroom of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Los Angeles home during the raid in March 2024.

A white powder in the bags tested positive for ketamine, according to a stipulation read by prosecutors.

The jury was also shown a safe located inside one of the master closets, which stored Combs’ passport, cash and a plastic bag with a brown substance, LaMon testified.

The brown substance later tested positive for MDMA.

The rapper has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He faces life in prison if convicted.

Originally published as Kanye West attends the sex trafficking trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/world/north-america/kanye-west-attends-the-sex-trafficking-trial-of-sean-diddy-combs/news-story/10c269ed8b247b00891890697463b617