Every celebrity reaction after Diddy’s found guilty on 2 out of 5 charges in sex trafficking and prostitution case

Celebrity have been weighing in on Diddy’s trial following the jury coming to a verdict on the many charges he was accused of.

The New York jury were finally able to come to a verdict on Wednesday (July 2) in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial, which has gone on for the last two months.

A jury gave a verdict on Diddy’s trial on Wednesday (July 2) (Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images for Sean “Diddy” Combs)

The jury have since reached their verdict and Combs has been found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. However, he has been found not guilty of two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and one count of racketeering conspiracy.

As this news spread around the world, celebrities began to weigh in on it.

Rosie O’Donnell

Talk show host and comedian Rosie O’Donnell was one such name to air her views on the verdict.

She wrote on Instagram: “Guess a jury just never wants to believe that a woman stays because of power and coercion – wow – they just think women stay because what? money – fame – ‘they love the abuse.’ What a f***ing joke. This decision got me angry.”

50 Cent

Rapper 50 Cent had an odd response to the news, sharing an AI picture of himself and seemingly joking about the outcome, despite him and Combs seemingly having a longstanding feud.

He wrote: “Diddy beat the Feds that boy a bad man! beat the Rico, he the Gay John Gotti.”

50 Cent took to social media to respond to the verdict (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Aubrey O’Day

Aubrey O’Day, who was signed to Combs’ Bad Boy Record label as part of a female group Danity Kane, and was discovered on his reality TV show, Making the Band, had stern words about the verdict.

Writing in an Instagram Story, she said: “I’m still unpacking the magnitude of it all. The cultural weight of this decision is immeasurable. It is heartbreaking to witness how many lives have been impacted by their experiences with Sean Combs — only for those stories to fall short in the eyes of a jury. I can only hope these jurors never have to watch someone they love endure what so many survivors have described

“My heart is with Cassie. A woman who could’ve had a life and career free of fear and control. A woman who told her truth in a courtroom, only to have the world dissect her credibility instead of her courage.”

Cassie Ventura

Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura, who was a former long-term partner of Combs and testified significantly during his trial, also had a statement issued via her legal team following the verdict.

Her lawyer, Douglas H Wigdor, told Sky News: “This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023.

Cassie’s team of lawyers also released a statement following the jury’s verdict (Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

“Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.

“By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice. We must repeat – with no reservation – that we believe and support our client, who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial.”

Kesha

Singer Kesha shared a message on social media, saying: “Cassie, I believe you. I love you. Your strength is a beacon for every survivor.”

Yung Miami

In a bizarre twist, rapper Yung Miami has been facing backlash for how she responded to the verdict. The rapper has been a vocal supporter of Combs throughout the trial.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been found guilty on two counts of transportation for purposes of prostitution in his lengthy sex trafficking trial.

After weeks of testimony, jurors reached a verdict in Combs’ case today (July 2), and found the rapper guilty on two counts: Transportation to engage in prostitution pertaining to ‘Victim 1’, Cassie Ventura, and commercial sex workers; and Transportation to engage in prostitution pertaining to Victim 2, known by the pseudonym “Jane”, and commercial sex workers.

The jury also determined that Combs was not guilty of racketeering conspiracy, and two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.

If convicted of all counts, Combs would have faced up to life in prison as a result of the racketeering conspiracy charge.

However, now that he’s been acquitted on that charge, the time he may spend behind bars has reduced significantly.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been convicted on two counts (Andrew Savulich/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Each count of transportation for purposes of prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. With Combs having been found guilty on two counts, he could spend up to 20 years behind bars.

The verdict comes after Combs was first taken into custody during his arrest in September 16, 2024.

He was taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, and has remained there throughout the duration of his trial despite his lawyers’ request for him to be released on bail.

A New York federal judge denied the request and claimed Combs was a ‘serious flight risk’. The rapper has since appeared in court wearing an orange jumpsuit.

In the wake of the verdict, federal prosecutors said they would seek the maximum sentence of 20 years in total, NBC News reports.

The verdict in Combs’ case comes following weeks of testimony (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

The decision to acquit Combs on three of the five charges may come as a shock to many following weeks of witness testimony offered up by the prosecution, in comparison to the defense which took less than an hour to deliver their case.

Among the witnesses called to the stand for the prosecution was Cassie Ventura, who shared details of her on-again, off-again relationship with Combs between 2007 and 2018.

During her testimony, Cassie discussed taking part in so-called ‘freak-offs’ with Combs, which left her feeling ‘grimy’ and ‘dirty’. She also claimed she felt pressure to take part, telling the court of one particular incident in which she agreed to participate after Combs ‘asked [her] over and over again’.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been denied bail by Judge Arun Subramanian after being found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

The rapper will remain in custody while he awaits his sentence.

Judge Subramanian cited Combs’ history of violence as a factor towards the decision to keep the music mogul behind bars until he is sentenced.

CBS News reports the judge has proposed October 3 for when Combs will be sentenced.

The jury in New York finally reached a verdict on Wednesday (July 2) following the sex trafficking and prostitution trial which has been ongoing for two months.

Diddy has been denied bail (John Nacion/WireImage)

They found Combs guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He has, however, been found not guilty of two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and one count of racketeering conspiracy.

 

CNN reports Combs was apparently sat with his hands clasped in his lap when the reading of the verdict began in court earlier on Wednesday.

His head was in his hands upon the first ‘not guilty’ verdict being reached out, while CNN says he did a ‘subtle fist pump’ when he was acquitted for the second of the two sex trafficking charges.

Diddy was found guilty on two counts (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued in favor of releasing Combs prior to sentencing, to which the judge asked, “Mr. Combs does not want to go back to the MDC?” — a reference to New York City’s Metropolitan Detention Center.

It is reported that Combs vigorously shook his head ‘no’ and made prayer hands.

Following the verdict, Cassie Ventura’s team have spoken out, after Combs’ former partner testified against the rapper earlier on in the trial.

She detailed her experience of the alleged ‘freak off’ parties and the abuse she claims to have suffered at the hands of Combs.

Following Wednesday’s verdict, Cassie’s lawyer Douglas H Wigdor told Sky News: “This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023.

“Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.”

 

50 Cent has issued a controversial response after Diddy was found guilty on two out of five counts in his sex trafficking and prostitution case.

The jury have since reached their verdict and Combs has been found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. However, he has been found not guilty of two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and one count of racketeering conspiracy.

Diddy and Cassie had an on-off relationship for a decade (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

50 Cent – who has a long-standing feud with Combs – has already taken to Instagram to issue his response to the verdict.

The two rappers’ feud has been a long-running one amid disputes over artist contracts and rival vodka brand deals – so 50 wasted no time in providing his thoughts.

Alongside an AI-created image of himself, 50 Cent wrote: “Diddy beat the Feds that boy a bad man! beat the Rico, he the Gay John Gotti.”

Gotti was an American mafioso who was convicted of five murders, conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, illegal gambling, extortion, and loansharking back in 1992.

He was sentenced to life behind bars, and died in 2002 aged 61.

Cassie Ventura’s team have also spoken out following the verdict.

The rapper didn’t waste much time to comment on the verdict (Instagram/@50cent)

Cassie – who testified in the trial while heavily pregnant – had been in a relationship with Combs on and off for over a decade.

She took to the stand to testify earlier on in the trial, where she detailed her experience of the alleged ‘freak off’ parties and the abuse she claims to have suffered at the hands of Combs.

Following Wednesday’s verdict, Cassie’s lawyer Douglas H Wigdor told Sky News: “This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023.

“Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.

“By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice. We must repeat – with no reservation – that we believe and support our client, who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial.”

 

A former federal prosecutor has shared why he thinks Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was found not guilty for 3 out of 5 counts in the verdict which was announced today, July 2.

Diddy has been on trial for almost two months, before the jury returned their verdict this afternoon.

He was found not guilty for three of the counts, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion – pertains to Victim 1 (Cassie Ventura) and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion – pertains to Victim 2 (‘Jane’).

The charges and verdicts against Diddy are as follows:

Count 1: Racketeering conspiracy – Not guilty

Count 2: Sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura – Not guilty

Count 3: Transportation for prostitution of Ventura and others – Guilty

Count 4: Sex trafficking of woman known as ‘Jane’: Not guilty

Count 5: Transportation for prostitution of ‘Jane’ and others: Guilty

Now, former federal prosecutor Robert Mintz, who focused on organised crime, has told the BBC why the verdict wasn’t a ‘total shock’ based on the evidence that was put forward in court.

A former prosecutor has shared his thoughts on why Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was found not guilty of three counts (Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images)

Mintz has also shared why he believes Diddy was found not guilty for the three charges.

He said: “It was always going to be difficult for prosecutors to prove their case, which basically required them to show that these acts were not consensual.”

The former prosecutor said evidence such as text messages have made it difficult to convict.

“Because the defence had a fair number of examples of text messages and other communications where the victims seemingly agreed to participate in these sex acts, it made it difficult for the jury to conclude that the victims were unwilling participants,” he explained.

“The burden of proof is always with the prosecution – beyond a reasonable doubt. And I think at the end of the day, jurors felt likely that the prosecution hadn’t met its burden.”

He said the verdict is as good as the defense could have wished for, adding: “There’s no other way to characterise this as but a win for the defense and a stinging defeat for prosecutors”.

The rapper will soon be sentenced, with it being predicted he’ll serve a minimum of 10 years behind bars (Bryan Bedder/CP/Getty Images for CP)

Diddy could have faced up to life in prison with the racketeering charges, but now he will face a maximum of up to 10 years on each of the two charges.

Mintz believes it is more likely that the sentences will run concurrently: “The judge more or less has complete discretion in terms of what the sentence will be. I think we’re going to see a sentence more in the five-to-10-year range.”

However, prosecutor Maurene Comey has made it clear she wants the rapper to serve the full 20 years, with the sentences one after the other: “It is clear that the defendant does pose a danger.”

In the run up to the court case, Diddy has been held at the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center. He has made it clear to the judge that he does not wish to return there.

His legal team expressed a wish for him to be released on bail, with his defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo arguing Diddy has ‘been given his life by this jury’.

“He would be nothing short of a fool to do anything that would violate any condition,” Agnifilo said.