A key witness in P Diddy’s sex-trafficking trial testified he was paid to rub baby oil on Cassie while Combs watched and masturbated, spotlighting explosive new allegations.
Sean P Diddy Combs, the Grammy-winning music mogul, is standing trial in Manhattan federal court facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and related offenses. The indictment alleges that, over a span of two decades, Combs coerced multiple women—including his former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura—into staged “freak-off” sex shows, often photographing or videotaping the encounters for his personal collection. Combs, who has pleaded not guilty, maintains that all relationships were entirely consensual.
P Diddy Key Testimony Highlights
Baby Oil Rubdown and Masturbation
On May 12, ex-dancer Daniel Phillip took the stand as the first witness, recounting an encounter in 2012 where he was hired under the guise of a simple strip tease. Instead, he was instructed by Cassie to apply baby oil to her body as Combs sat in a corner, wearing a mask and bathrobe, and proceeded to masturbate throughout the session. Phillip testified, “Before you and Ms. Ventura had intercourse, what, if anything, did you rub on each other?” to which he replied, “Baby oil.
P Diddy Payment and Locations
Phillip said he was told the gig would pay $200, but by the end of the encounter, Cassie handed him an additional “couple thousand dollars.” He detailed similar encounters across Manhattan—at the Gramercy Park Hotel, JW Marriott Essex House, Combs’ Midtown residence, and Ventura’s West Side apartment—earning between $700 and $6,000 per session, some lasting over 10 hours.
Physical Abuse Allegations
Beyond the sexual nature of these encounters, Phillip described disturbing incidents of physical abuse. He testified that Combs once hurled a liquor bottle at Ventura for not responding immediately to his command, dragged her by the hair into a bedroom, and slapped her so forcefully that Phillip feared for her safety.
Legal Implications
Charges and Potential Penalties
Combs faces five felony counts including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force or coercion, and transportation for the purpose of prostitution. If convicted on all counts, the 55-year-old mogul could face life in prison. Prosecutors maintain that orchestrating paid sexual acts constitutes commercial sex under federal trafficking statutes.
Prosecution’s Argument
The prosecution contends that Combs leveraged his celebrity status and financial power to manipulate vulnerable individuals into non-consensual acts, branding these “freak-off” parties as the linchpin of a wide-ranging sex-trafficking ring. They emphasize the element of coercion—through intimidation, violence, and threats—as the defining factor separating consensual adult entertainment from criminal exploitation.
Defense Strategy
Combs’ legal team, led by attorney Teny Geragos, argues that all encounters were between consenting adults and that the government has “no place in his private bedroom.” They assert that Cassie and other women were free to decline any acts and that there was no force or coercion involved. Geragos highlighted that Ventura voluntarily received payment for her participation and that Combs never physically prevented anyone from leaving.
What’s Next in the Trial
Following Phillip’s testimony, the prosecution is expected to call additional witnesses, including security personnel who allege they observed violent outbursts by Combs. Cassie Ventura herself may be summoned to testify later in the proceedings. Closing arguments are not anticipated until early July, with the jury deliberating thereafter.
Suggested Authoritative Sources
- Business Insider
- The Washington Post
- CBS News
A dimly lit luxury hotel suite scene: a bottle of baby oil on a candlelit table in the foreground, with a shadowed silhouette of a masked figure reclining on a velvet couch in the corner, watching as a second figure applies oil—evoking the covert, voyeuristic nature of the alleged “freak-off” encounters see more.