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Grammy-winning rapper Scott Mescudi — better known by his stage name, Kid Cudi — took the witness stand today as prosecutors continued sketching their portrait of Diddy’s violent and chaotic world. Here’s what the “Pursuit of Happiness” singer told jurors, and what we heard from today’s other witnesses as the sex trafficking trial reached the end of its second week:
- Kid Cudi, who briefly dated Diddy’s off-and-on girlfriend Cassie, accused Diddy of breaking into his Hollywood Hills home in 2011 and then told jurors about his Porsche catching on fire in 2012 after a Molotov cocktail was thrown inside. Cassie previously testified that Diddy, in a jealous rage, threatened to blow up Kid Cudi’s car.
- The two men met at a Los Angeles hotel after the fire. Kid Cudi recalled Diddy staring out a window with his hands behind his back like a “Marvel supervillain.” Diddy seemed to be unaware of the fire — but years later, he offered Kid Cudi a general apology for the past, Kid Cudi testified. Diddy’s legal team says he wasn’t involved in any arson attack.
- George Kaplan, Diddy’s ex-assistant, described an altercation between the rapper and Cassie on a private jet in 2015. Kaplan testified he heard glass shatter and saw Diddy standing over Cassie with a whiskey glass. He said Cassie yelled: “Isn’t anybody seeing this?” Kaplan said he once bought beauty products to cover up bruises on Cassie’s face.
- Mylah Morales, a makeup artist who worked with Cassie (as well as Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez), testified about the aftermath of Diddy’s alleged beating of Cassie after a party hosted by Prince. Morales said she didn’t witness any violence but heard yelling and later saw Cassie with a swollen eye, busted lip and knots on her head.
- Frederic Zemmour, the general manager of the L’Ermitage Beverly Hills hotel, told jurors that a room would require deep cleaning after one of Diddy’s stays. The hotel’s notes on the rapper’s profile said he left behind “excessive amounts” of oil and candle wax. (Diddy’s legal team elected not to cross-examine Zemmour.)
ALSO: In a 37-second video posted to X this afternoon, Kid Cudi directly addressed the camera and thanked his fans for “all the love and support” in the lead-up to his testimony. “This is a stressful situation,” he added. “I’m glad it’s behind me.”
The view from inside
By Adam Reiss, Chloe Melas and Katherine Koretski
Kid Cudi was by far today’s main attraction. The celebrated rapper, wearing a black leather jacket over a white T-shirt, drew a crowd of spectators in the rain outside the courthouse. He identified himself on the stand as an “actor and musician,” a nod to his roles in films like “Don’t Look Up” and “X.” In general, he struck a confident tone and often spoke animatedly.
Diddy, wearing a cream-colored top over khaki pants, sat back in his chair with his arms and legs crossed during parts of Kid Cudi’s testimony. He seemed to be listening closely, calmly taking in the back-and-forth without displaying much emotion.
Maurene Comey, one of the prosecutors, heatedly told Judge Arun Subramanian she was “shocked” that defense lawyer Brian Steel asked Kid Cudi about his sexual activity with Cassie, calling the question out of bounds and “outrageous.” Subramanian agreed, saying “the line was clear and crossed.” He chastised Steel and ruled the exchange should be struck from the record.
In other news: The reporters in the gallery were treated to some rare levity this morning as the attorneys debated whether Kid Cudi could testify about his dog’s behavioral changes after the 2011 break-in at his home.
Steel told Subramanian that prosecutors wanted the rapper to testify that his pet was traumatized. Emily Johnson, a prosecutor, argued that comments about the dog were relevant to the break-in.
“He’s not going to testify to what the dog thought,” Subramanian said, drawing laughter. (Subramanian ultimately ruled that Kid Cudi could testify about the dog, but only in general terms. Johnson explained that the animal is “no longer with us.”)
Analysis: Why the Molotov cocktail story matters
By Danny Cevallos
Kid Cudi testified today that, in 2012, his dog watcher called to alert him that his car was on fire. He testified that it appeared someone had cut open the top of his Porsche, and “that’s where the Molotov cocktail was put in,” destroying the car.
This is critical evidence for the prosecution because it is evidence of arson, which is one of the “predicate” racketeering crimes listed in the racketeering (RICO) statute. However, Diddy is charged with racketeering conspiracy, which is even easier for the government to prove.
To convict a defendant of racketeering conspiracy, the government must prove only that the defendant agreed with others to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering (those predicate crimes). The government does not need to prove a conspiracy to commit those specific predicate acts, like the arson of Kid Cudi’s car.
In fact, the government must prove only that two racketeering acts were, or were intended to be, committed as part of the conspiracy. The government does not have to prove that the defendant himself committed any of these predicate crimes (like arson). The government doesn’t even need to prove Diddy himself agreed to commit any of the predicate acts (like arson).
While the government must establish that Diddy participated in some manner in the overall objective of the conspiracy, it does not need to prove that the hip-hop mogul himself tossed a Molotov cocktail into the Porsche, or even that he participated in the arson himself.
What’s next
No court tomorrow. The trial resumes on Tuesday, after Memorial Day. Enjoy your holiday weekend.
PSA: Every night during Diddy’s trial, NBC’s “Dateline” will drop special episodes of the “True Crime Weekly” podcast to get you up to speed. “Dateline” correspondent Andrea Canning chats with NBC News’ Chloe Melas and special guests — right in front of the courthouse. Listen here.
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