Explosive Testimony: Kid Cudi's Porsche Torched, Cassie’s Injuries, and the Apple-Throwing Incident | Diddy Trial Day 9
Release Date: May 23, 2025
Podcast: Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield
Overview
In Day Nine of Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial, Ashleigh Banfield delves into a series of explosive testimonies that reveal a harrowing pattern of abuse and intimidation within Diddy's inner circle. This episode unpacks critical witness statements, including those from Diddy's former assistant George Kaplan, Grammy-winning artist Kid Cudi (Scott Mescudi), makeup artist Milo Morales, hotel manager Frederick Zamour, and Special Agent Joshua Croft. The testimonies collectively paint a disturbing picture that could significantly impact the prosecution's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) case against Diddy.
Key Testimonies
1. George Kaplan's Revelations (00:05 - 10:30)
George Kaplan, Diddy's former assistant, returns to the stand, offering a profound insight into the alleged misconduct within Combs Enterprises.
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Witnessing Abuse: Kaplan describes witnessing multiple violent incidents perpetrated by Diddy between 2013 and 2015. Notably, he recounts an incident on a private jet en route to Las Vegas where Diddy allegedly held a whiskey glass over Cassie Ventura's (Diddy's girlfriend) head, leaving her bruised and distressed. As Kaplan states, “Nobody stopped it. Nobody did anything” (04:15).
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Use of Corporate Resources: Kaplan admits to using the company credit card to purchase lotion to reduce Cassidy's swelling post-assault, highlighting an attempt to cover up evidence: “I was not comfortable with being aligned with the physical behavior. I had seen being a party to that kind of stuff” (15:45).
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Final Straw: Kaplan details witnessing Diddy throwing green apples at Gina, another of Diddy's girlfriends, which ultimately led to his decision to leave the company. “I was tired of being the guy who cleaned up violence” (16:30).
2. Kid Cudi's Explosive Testimony (10:30 - 26:08)
Scott Mescudi, known professionally as Kid Cudi, provides a riveting account of harassment and intimidation allegedly orchestrated by Diddy.
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Threatened Assault: Cudi recounts a harrowing experience where he was informed Cassie believed Diddy was aware of their relationship. This led to a series of intimidating actions by Diddy, including the firebombing of Cudi's Porsche: “What the...” (17:50).
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Confrontation at Soho House: Cudi describes a tense meeting with Diddy at the Soho House, where Diddy's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the severity of the situation. “I thought he was lying” (22:10).
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Apology and Closure: Years later, Diddy approached Cudi to apologize, providing a sense of closure: “After I got the apology, I found peace with it” (25:00).
3. Milo Morales (Myla) on Cassie's Injuries (26:44 - 35:20)
Milo Morales, a celebrity makeup artist and close friend to Cassie, corroborates the pattern of abuse.
- Witnessing Physical Abuse: Morales recounts witnessing Diddy's violent outburst at a party hosted by Prince in 2010, resulting in severe injuries to Cassie. “We were very afraid” (30:10).
4. Frederick Zamour's Hotel Insights (35:20 - 38:50)
Frederick Zamour, General Manager of L'Hermitage Beverly Hills Hotel, provides crucial information about Diddy's behavior during hotel stays.
- Aliases and Damages: Zamour confirms that Diddy used multiple aliases for hotel bookings and details the extensive damages caused by Diddy's parties, including excessive use of candle wax and oil. “Always spills candle wax on everything” (36:05).
5. Special Agent Joshua Croft's Forensic Findings (38:50 - 44:30)
Special Agent Joshua Croft of Homeland Security discusses the forensic investigation into Cassie's laptops.
- Data Recovery: Croft explains the recovery of data from three of Cassie's laptops, including one linked to Diddy's alias, Frank Black. This evidence could potentially unveil deeper connections and further incriminating information against Diddy. “I was able to recover most of the data” (40:15).
Prosecutorial Implications
The testimonies presented on Day Nine strengthen the prosecution's case by establishing a consistent pattern of abusive and coercive behavior tied to the RICO charges. Key points include:
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Pattern of Abuse: Multiple witnesses, including Kaplan, Cudi, Morales, and Zamour, testify to ongoing physical and emotional abuse by Diddy, fulfilling the predicate acts required for RICO charges.
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Use of Enterprise Resources for Cover-Ups: Kaplan's account of using company funds to conceal assaults demonstrates the misuse of Combs Enterprises to facilitate and obscure criminal activities.
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Arson as a Predicate Act: Cudi's firebombing incident provides concrete evidence of arson, a serious felony, further bolstering the RICO allegations.
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Corroborative Evidence: Zamour's information about hotel damages and Agent Croft's forensic findings add substantial weight to the prosecution's narrative, suggesting a well-organized and sustained campaign of intimidation and violence orchestrated by Diddy.
Notable Quotes
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George Kaplan: “Nobody stopped it. Nobody did anything” (04:15)
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George Kaplan: “I was not comfortable with being aligned with the physical behavior. I had seen being a party to that kind of stuff” (15:45)
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George Kaplan: “I was tired of being the guy who cleaned up violence” (16:30)
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Kid Cudi: “What the...” (17:50)
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Kid Cudi: “I thought he was lying” (22:10)
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Kid Cudi: “After I got the apology, I found peace with it” (25:00)
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Milo Morales: “We were very afraid” (30:10)
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Frederick Zamour: “Always spills candle wax on everything” (36:05)
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Special Agent Joshua Croft: “I was able to recover most of the data” (40:15)
What's Next?
As Memorial Day weekend approaches, anticipation builds for the resumption of the trial. Upcoming testimonies are expected to include:
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Additional Government Witnesses: Including Diddy's former assistant and Capricorn Clark, who alleges witnessing abuse firsthand.
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Law Enforcement Testimonies: Representatives from the LAPD and LA Fire Department are slated to provide further insights into the incidents under scrutiny.
With the prosecution on track to conclude the trial before July 4th, listeners can expect more intense and revealing episodes as the case progresses. The depth and consistency of the testimonies thus far suggest that the prosecution is building a compelling argument against Diddy, potentially setting the stage for significant legal outcomes.
Final Thoughts
Day Nine of the Diddy trial has undeniably intensified the narrative of abuse and misconduct within Combs Enterprises. The compelling testimonies not only reinforce the severity of the allegations but also highlight the strategic misuse of business resources to perpetuate and conceal illicit activities. As Ashleigh Banfield aptly summarizes, “The truth isn't just serious, it's drop dead seriously.” This trial continues to unravel critical truths that could redefine the landscape of accountability within the entertainment industry.
Stay Tuned: Subscribe to Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield on YouTube or your preferred podcast platform to follow the unfolding drama daily. Don't miss out on bonus episodes and in-depth analyses as the trial progresses toward its climactic conclusion.
