Kid Cudi testifies at Diddy's trial
REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg; Marc Piasecki/WireImage

Kid Cudi testifies at Diddy's trial

Earlier today, the jury in the federal racketeering and sex-trafficking trial against Sean "Diddy" Combs heard testimony from Kid Cudi in what was a much-anticipated part of this highly-publicized case.

In 2011, Cudi briefly dated Casandra Elizabeth “Cassie” Ventura, Diddy's former partner and whom much of the case is centered around. Their involvement with one another allegedly angered Diddy to the point of blowing up Cudi's car with a molotov cocktail. The incident is a key part of the prosecution's argument that Diddy ran a violent criminal enterprise. Diddy has plead not guilty to this and all other charges.

Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

During his testimony, Cudi spoke of his time dating Cassie, which occurred after she and Diddy had broken up. Cudi told the jury that when Diddy found out about their relationship, Cassie called Cudi saying "she didn't know what [Diddy] would do."

Cudi claimed that shortly after this conversation, one of Diddy's staff members called him "on the verge of tears," informing him that Diddy was at Cudi's home in Hollywood Hills. Cudi raced home and called Diddy asking him what was going on, to which Diddy allegedly replied, "I just want to talk to you." Cudi then claimed that when arrived back to his house, he found that it had been broken into; security cameras had been tampered with, gifts that Cudi had purchased for his family were opened, and his dog was locked up in the bathroom and distressed. Cudi filed a police report alleging that Diddy was the culprit.

During the holidays in 2011, Diddy attempted to reach out to Cudi asking to speak with him. Cudi refused, telling Diddy over text, “You broke into my house, you messed with my dog, I don’t want to talk with you." Cudi said he and Cassie broke up shortly afterwards.

The following January, Cudi allegedly received a call from his dog sitter informing him that his car was on fire. The jury was shown a series of photos which showed smoke damage to the car doors, a hole cut into the roof of the convertible, and a Molotov cocktail found near the car.

Earlier in the trial, Cassie alleged that, upon learning of her relationship with Cudi, Diddy lunged at her with a wine bottle and specifically threatened that Cudi’s car would be “blown up” in his driveway. Cassie then said that she broke up with Cudi because she was afraid of what Diddy might do if the relationship continued.

No direct evidence was put forth linking the Molotov cocktail to Diddy. The rap mogul's lawyers have claimed that Diddy was "simply not involved" in the incident.

Christine Cornell

Cudi's testimony comes after four days of questioning of Cassie, whose allegations of Diddy's physical and sexual abuse – including his infamous "freak-offs" – are central to the case against him. In describing the freak-offs, Cassie told the jury "it basically entails the hiring of an escort and setting up this experience so that I could perform for [Diddy]." She went on to say that these drug-fueled events “became a job where there was no space to do anything else but to recover and just try to feel normal again.”

Today's proceedings will also include testimony from Mylah Morales, former makeup artist for both Diddy and Cassie.

Ben Barzilai

Writer, podcaster, amateur karaoke philosopher

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