Bizarre laughter at baby oil as Diddy’s sex trial turns into circus

Inside the court, the alleged victims are reliving the darkest moments of their lives. Outside, influencers and fans are making the Diddy trial a bizarre spectacle.

From the 26th floor of the federal court building in downtown Manhattan, Sean Combs can see the skyline of the city he was once the king of.

Nestled between his high powered lawyers in the third row of courtroom 26A, the man better known as Puff Daddy or P Diddy can see the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building amid the horizon of skyscrapers that stretch toward Harlem where he grew up with nothing.

From those humble beginnings, he created a music empire with his Bad Boy Records label before expanding into the fashion, alcohol and fragrance businesses.

Chance Combs and D’Lila Star Combs, the daughters of Sean Combs, leave court. Picture: Getty Images

People wait in line outside federal court before the sex trafficking trial of Sean Combs. Picture: AFP

Back then, everyone wanted a piece of him and celebrities including Beyonce, Jay Z and Leonardo DiCaprio lined up to attend his legendary parties.

People are once again lining up for Combs, but now it’s for a front row seat to his downfall.

Professional line sitters begin setting up their tents outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan US Courthouse each day at 2pm - 17 hours before the doors open.

The scene outside court. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

These people sleep overnight in the rain on the footpath to hold places for the spectators and media willing to fork out the price of admission.

By 6.30am each day, the line of people waiting to get into the court stretches for hundreds of metres up Pearl Street.

People wait in line outside federal court. Picture: AFP

On the day opening statements began, one man was offering his 16th position in the line for US$300 — about A$500.

Once inside, there is a complete electronics blackout. Phones, laptops and microphones must be left with security and reporters filing on the blockbuster trial must leave the court, collect their devices, and go outside to file from their written notes before running the lengthy gauntlet of clearing security again to get back inside.

The United States of America versus Sean Combs is a disturbing spectacle to witness up close.

Cassie Ventura takes an oath before testifying in Manhattan federal court. Picture: Elizabeth Williams via AP

Internet influencers and celebrity watchers pack the overflow court rooms where the trial is being live streamed, some dismissing the decorum expected of a federal court, openly laughing at references to Combs’ now infamous love of baby oil.

But this is no laughing matter.

Combs faces life in prison if convicted of the crimes he is charged with including racketeering and sex trafficking.

And for his alleged victims, it is an unimaginable feat of bravery to sit before the world and recount their darkest moments and the most intimate and private moments of their lives.

For witnesses like Cassie Ventura, when she looks out the window of court room 26A, she sees the Gramercy Park Hotel, the InterContinental Hotel and the Trump International Hotel - just a few of the dozens of locations she alleges she was forced into non consensual sex with male escorts while high on drugs at the direction of Combs.

This may be a celebrity trial but the justice system does not discriminate.

The heavily pregnant Ms Ventura and another victim identified as Jane will spend days recounting the horrors they say they endured at the hands of the man they loved.

And Combs, whether he’s guilty or not, will be forced to sit silent for eight weeks as the most intimate details of his sex life are laid bare.

Originally published as Bizarre laughter at baby oil as Diddy’s sex trial turns into circus