Day 24 in Diddy sex-trafficking trial: Ex-girlfriend says he compared orgies to NBA stardom

In a packed Manhattan federal courtroom on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, testimony continued in the racketeering and sex-trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, with dramatic cross-examination of the prosecution’s key witness. The woman, testifying under the pseudonym “Jane” for privacy, told jurors that the disgraced music mogul compared his orchestrated sex parties to NBA greatness—likening himself to Michael Jordan, a male escort to Shaquille O’Neal, and her to Kobe Bryant.

This latest testimony marks the 24th day of a high-profile federal trial that has gripped the entertainment and legal communities since Combs’ arrest in September 2024. Prosecutors allege that the hip-hop executive used his influence, wealth, and drugs to coerce women into sex acts, then paid for silence. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Why are these comparisons significant to the prosecution?

According to Jane’s testimony, Combs created a system of ritualized, drug-fueled sex acts he called “hotel nights.” She said these encounters often involved male escorts and took place under his direction. The courtroom was told that Combs described himself as “Jordan” to denote dominance and leadership during these orchestrated events. The escort, dubbed “Shaquille O’Neal,” and Jane, called “Kobe Bryant,” completed what Jane said was a perverse form of team-building in Combs’ sexual universe.

Prosecutors have used this framing to argue that Combs’ behavior was part of an intentional, manipulative, and exploitative pattern, forming the foundation for racketeering and trafficking charges under federal RICO statutes. Jane testified that these events occurred frequently over the course of several years, supported by his financial control and carefully maintained secrecy.

What was revealed during the defense’s cross-examination?

Led by defense attorney Teny Geragos, cross-examination focused on undermining Jane’s credibility by highlighting her past expressions of love and consent in the relationship. The defense presented text messages where Jane appeared enthusiastic about sexual encounters, including one that read, “I never came so hard like that in my life.” Another message referenced watching their intimate videos together.

The defense also emphasized the lavish lifestyle Jane was afforded. She acknowledged receiving designer handbags such as Chanel and Bottega Veneta, though she pushed back fiercely against the implication that gifts negated her trauma. “I only got trauma,” Jane replied when Geragos brought up the presents. When asked about the price of the Bottega handbag, Jane responded, “How much does my body cost?”

The exchange underscored the trial’s emotional weight, pitting material exchanges against Jane’s claims of emotional and physical harm.

What does Jane say about the nature of their sexual relationship?

Jane stated that while she occasionally enjoyed certain moments, the overall experience was coercive and emotionally devastating. She explained that she tried to rationalize Combs’ voyeuristic preferences by researching terms like “cuck” and “cuckold,” describing them as a “man who is aroused by watching a woman have sex with another man.” She testified that she believed this dynamic matched Combs’ behavior.

While acknowledging some consensual acts, Jane emphasized that much of her participation was under psychological and emotional pressure. She testified that the imbalance in their relationship—marked by Combs’ simultaneous public relationships with other women—left her emotionally unstable and often resentful. “I didn’t sign up to date a man who was in a public relationship,” she said, adding that she felt used and confused by the duality of Combs’ affectionate words and the orchestrated sex parties.

Did Combs’ employees know about the alleged trafficking?

A central component of the racketeering charge is whether Combs used his staff to enable or cover up illegal activity. During testimony, Jane said that Combs made efforts to hide the use of male escorts from his staff, eventually shifting “hotel nights” from public venues to private residences for added secrecy.

Defense attorneys focused on this secrecy to argue that key figures in Combs’ business empire, such as chief of staff Kristina Khorram, were unaware of the events. Jane acknowledged that while Khorram was often involved in logistics, she was likely not informed about the sexual arrangements, particularly the hiring of male escorts.

This could weaken prosecutors’ claims that Combs’ business operations were used to carry out or facilitate sex trafficking, a key requirement for a conviction under the RICO statute.

How does this testimony connect to earlier trial developments?

Jane’s testimony builds on damaging allegations already presented by other witnesses, including singer Cassie Ventura. Earlier, Ventura testified to long-term abuse by Combs, including being forced into sex acts and subjected to beatings. Additional testimony from a hotel security guard alleged Combs paid hush money to conceal violent episodes.

These accounts are intended to establish a pattern of criminal behavior, spanning from personal abuse to an alleged broader system of sexual exploitation. Prosecutors argue that this system was supported through financial inducements, staff complicity, and control over victims’ lives.

What’s next in the Sean Combs trial?

Defense attorneys told the court on Tuesday that they expect to finish cross-examining Jane by Thursday, June 12, 2025. The court is scheduled to resume Wednesday afternoon. Jane remains a crucial witness for the government, and the strength of her credibility may determine the trajectory of the trial.

Should the jury be persuaded that Jane’s experiences represent coerced and orchestrated sex trafficking, they may also find sufficient basis to conclude that Combs’ business network was used to execute this criminal pattern. However, if the defense can successfully portray these encounters as part of a consensual lifestyle—albeit unconventional—the burden of proof may fall short of the RICO standard.

As the trial progresses toward its final stages, all eyes remain on the Manhattan courthouse, where the future of one of hip-hop’s most prominent figures hangs in the balance.

What is the Sean Combs trial about?

The federal case against Sean “Diddy” Combs stems from a sweeping sex trafficking and racketeering investigation launched in 2023, following civil lawsuits and investigative reports alleging long-standing abuse and coercion by the music mogul. The charges were formally filed in September 2024, when federal agents arrested Combs after conducting simultaneous raids on his homes in Los Angeles and Miami. Authorities cited evidence of a “pattern of sexual exploitation” involving dozens of women and professional sex workers.

At the heart of the prosecution’s case is the claim that Combs ran what amounted to a private sex-trafficking ring—using his wealth, influence, and staff to recruit women, supply them with drugs, and coerce them into participating in sex acts, often in front of or involving Combs himself. Prosecutors allege that this enterprise spanned at least a decade, and was maintained through financial enticements, psychological manipulation, and, at times, physical violence.

Combs faces multiple felony counts, including sex trafficking, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and racketeering conspiracy under the federal RICO Act. This latter charge is typically reserved for organized crime operations and requires the prosecution to prove a criminal enterprise with at least two related predicate acts. The prosecution argues that Combs’ entourage—security, assistants, and managerial staff—were at times complicit or wilfully blind to his conduct, which they allege was central to maintaining the Combs brand and protecting his reputation.

The trial began in May 2025 and has included testimony from multiple witnesses, including former romantic partners like Cassie Ventura, service workers, security personnel, and now the key witness “Jane,” whose account spans years of alleged abuse. If convicted, Combs could face life imprisonment. He has pleaded not guilty and maintains that all sexual activity was consensual and that he has never coerced anyone into unwanted acts.

This case marks a pivotal moment in how U.S. courts handle allegations of celebrity-driven abuse networks, and its outcome could have far-reaching implications for both criminal accountability and power dynamics in the entertainment industry.