50 Cent, Aubrey O'Day and more react to the verdict in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial

After deliberating for less than an hour Wednesday morning, the jury in the Shandy Combs case indicated that they had reached *** unanimous verdict not guilty on the most serious charges of racketeering conspiracy, but guilty of transportation. To engage in prostitution. This ruling from the jury in this case prompted big reactions from Holmes and his family who were overjoyed at this news and big reactions outside of the courthouse where Holmes has some supporters. The jury in the federal trial of hip hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs has come to *** verdict guilty on the charge of transportation to engage in prostitution, but not guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. The jury made up of 8 men and 4 women, heard from 34 witnesses called by the prosecution, including two of Combs's former girlfriends, Cassie Ventura, and *** woman testifying under the. Alias Jane. Both women testified Combs forced them to engage in sexual encounters referred to as freak offs and hotel nights. Ventura spoke on the stand about violence she endured throughout the course of her 11-year relationship with Combs. Jurors watched this hotel surveillance video from 2016 showing Combs dragging and kicking Ventura several times throughout the course of the trial. Ventura's attorney read *** statement from her after she testified, I hope that my testimony has given strength. And *** voice to other survivors and can help others who have suffered to speak up. Combs's defense team never denied allegations of domestic abuse but instead argued the two women participated willingly in the sexual encounters. Jurors heard from Combs's former personal assistants, *** male sex worker, and other former employees. The defense rested its case after less than 30 minutes, only reading text messages into the record. Combs did not testify. Transportation to engage in prostitution carries *** possible maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison. At this point we don't know if Holmes is going to be released from custody today while he awaits that sentencing. That's something the judge will rule on later this afternoon in lower Manhattan. I'm Lee Waldman reporting.

Updated: 1:25 PM CDT Jul 2, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

50 Cent, Aubrey O'Day and more react to the verdict in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial

Updated: 1:25 PM CDT Jul 2, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Sean "Diddy" Combs was convicted Wednesday of a prostitution-related offense but acquitted of more serious counts that could have put him behind bars for life, drawing divided reactions by his fellow celebrities.The jury found the music mogul guilty of two prostitution-related counts under the Mann Act, for transportation of star witness Casandra "Cassie" Ventura and a woman using the pseudonym Jane, but acquitted him of trafficking them for sex by using force, fraud or coercion.They also acquitted him of a racketeering conspiracy charge under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Cassie has.Combs, 55, could still face a maximum of 10 years in prison. He also is the subject of a civil case from singer Dawn Richard, said her attorney, Lisa Bloom. Richard testified at the trial that Combs threatened to kill her if she told anyone she saw him abusing his longtime girlfriend.Here are some celebrity reactions to the verdict.Not guilty verdicts draw anger"Oh, this makes me physically ill," said singer Aubrey O'Day, formerly of the music group Danity Kane, on her Instagram story as she watched the verdicts come in. "Cassie probably feels so horrible. I'm gonna vomit."She's previously been critical of Combs. Danity Kane formed on Combs' MTV reality television program "Making the Band" and signed to his Bad Boy Records.Others jumped in. "I guess a jury just never wants to believe that a woman stays because of power and coercion, wow," wrote actor Rosie O'Donnell on Instagram. "This decision got me angry."Others sound off"Diddy beat the Feds that boy a bad man!" the rapper 50 Cent wrote on Instagram.50 Cent has been a vocal critic of Combs, whom he has long beefed with — going back to his Diddy diss track "The Bomb," released in 2006. He expects to release a docuseries on Netflix about the allegations against Combs.Rapper Boosie BadAzz said in an Instagram video captioned "GREAT DAY N HIP HOP" that the courts had spoken."I'm tired of seeing us Black moguls get took down like that," he said. He added that he was "tired of seeing us Black people go against us Black moguls like that."___AP Writer Itzel Luna contributed to this report from Los Angeles.

The jury found the music mogul guilty of two prostitution-related counts under the Mann Act, for transportation of star witness Casandra "Cassie" Ventura and a woman using the pseudonym Jane, but acquitted him of trafficking them for sex by using force, fraud or coercion.

They also acquitted him of a racketeering conspiracy charge under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Cassie has.

Combs, 55, could still face a maximum of 10 years in prison. He also is the subject of a civil case from singer Dawn Richard, said her attorney, Lisa Bloom. Richard testified at the trial that Combs threatened to kill her if she told anyone she saw him abusing his longtime girlfriend.

Here are some celebrity reactions to the verdict.

Not guilty verdicts draw anger

"Oh, this makes me physically ill," said singer Aubrey O'Day, formerly of the music group Danity Kane, on her Instagram story as she watched the verdicts come in. "Cassie probably feels so horrible. I'm gonna vomit."

She's previously been critical of Combs. Danity Kane formed on Combs' MTV reality television program "Making the Band" and signed to his Bad Boy Records.

Others jumped in. "I guess a jury just never wants to believe that a woman stays because of power and coercion, wow," wrote actor Rosie O'Donnell on Instagram. "This decision got me angry."

Others sound off

"Diddy beat the Feds that boy a bad man!" the rapper 50 Cent wrote on Instagram.

50 Cent has been a vocal critic of Combs, whom he has long beefed with — going back to his Diddy diss track "The Bomb," released in 2006. He expects to release a docuseries on Netflix about the allegations against Combs.

Rapper Boosie BadAzz said in an Instagram video captioned "GREAT DAY N HIP HOP" that the courts had spoken.

"I'm tired of seeing us Black moguls get took down like that," he said. He added that he was "tired of seeing us Black people go against us Black moguls like that."

___

AP Writer Itzel Luna contributed to this report from Los Angeles.

��vlog