Germania Rodriguez-Poleo
Appearances
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
She admitted she'd filed a civil lawsuit against Diddy last year, but claimed she had no idea how much money had been requested to settle it. She said she'd filed it because she'd been forced to work for days on end with no sleep, and she wanted compensation for that. And she ended her direct testimony by insisting that she was giving evidence against him for, quote, justice, not cash.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Westmoreland took her back to the first time she allegedly saw Diddy attack Cassie in 2009. She pointed out that when she was interviewed by prosecutors, Ms. Richard told them Diddy had hit Cassie with the frying pan and later that he threw eggs at her and did not strike her with the pan.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Westmoreland also pointed out that she was interviewed by prosecutors three times, and at no interview had she mentioned that Diddy had made a death threat towards her to stay quiet. Ms. Richard claimed notes of the interviews must be wrong.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Now. Something to note, Karen, is that Diddy appeared a bit frustrated with his lawyer after she was done with the cross-examination. And there was a hot mic moment where he appeared to be asking his lawyer why they did not bring up an interview. It's unclear which interview he was referring to. The next witness to be called was Cassie's former best friend, Carrie Morgan.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
She's 39 and from Buffalo, New York. She was questioned by another of the prosecutors, Meredith Foster. Morgan told the jury that she first met Cassie on a modeling gig in 2001 when they were still in high school. She was 16 and Cassie was 15. She said they became best friends but fell out in 2018 and no longer speak. She said this was because Diddy assaulted her and Cassie took his side.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Welcome back to The Trial of Diddy. We're now into the second week of testimony in this trial, and it's fair to say that there have been some very interesting revelations over the past few days. Filling in for Kayla today is Karen Rees. Karen is the assistant editor for the Daily Mail U.S. exclusives desk. Welcome to The Trial of Diddy, Karen.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Now, Karen, we know that it was a year later when Cassie was 19 that she started dating Diddy. Morgan said that this was when they started taking drugs. She said he would give them ecstasy and marijuana, which they all took when they went out to nightclubs to party. She said that at first she liked Diddy. She thought he was extremely generous.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
They hung out with his entourage and became friends with his staff and bodyguards and had a lot of fun together. But she also said there was a lot of chaos around him and that he was a flawed person. She described him as an intimidating and strong presence. And she said that over time she realized he would get moody. She said she saw him get aggressive and upset instead of having fun.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
She said he would talk down to Cassie and criticize her looks, her behavior and who she spoke to.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Another time, she saw Diddy hit Cassie when they were all on vacation in Jamaica in January 2013. She said she, Cassie and Diddy had been drinking when Cassie left to go to the bathroom. She said a few minutes later Diddy went after her because he thought she'd been gone too long and the next thing she knew Cassie was screaming. This exchange, which begins with Foster, has been voiced by actors.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Welcome to The Trial of Diddy. I'm Germania Rodriguez-Poleo. And I'm Karen Ruiz, filling in for Kayla Brantley. We'll be back in a second.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
She said she ran inside to get her bag and then saw Diddy and Cassie outside.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
She said she and Diddy jumped in a golf cart each to try and find her. Not long after that, Cassie came running out of the woods and she picked her up. She said they hid from him in a ditch for what felt like hours before eventually returning to the house.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Morgan also told the jury about the attack, which led to the end of her friendship with Cassie. She said she'd been staying at her house in Hollywood in 2018 when Diddy arrived and started accusing Cassie of cheating. Now, we know that by this time, Cassie had started dating her personal trainer, Alex Fine, who later went on to become her husband.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
So to recap, Cassie is the prosecution's star witness. She says that from the age of just 22, Diddy coerced her into taking part in hundreds of drug-fueled sex parties. She says she did so at first to make him happy and later because she was worried he would turn violent or leak video footage of these sex sessions on the internet if she refused.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
However, what Estevo tried to do in her questioning was to show that nobody forced her to take part in these freak-offs and to demonstrate that, in fact, she was a willing participant. The lawyer highlighted several text message exchanges between them, which she said suggested Cassie was the one initiating these freak-offs as late as 2016 and 17, towards the end of their relationship.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
She also highlighted texts in which Diddy offered to cancel the sex session if she wasn't up for it. As he put it, was, quote, heading in the wrong direction. The jury was shown one particular text she sent him in 2017, in which she suggested role-playing during a freak-off. Her words have been voiced by an actor.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Now, Karen, we have heard a lot about Cassie and Diddy taking drugs from some of the other witnesses today. And Cassie has admitted they were a main event in their relationship. She even said they called each other get high partners.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
She said they both became dependent on opiates or painkillers, which they took to come down from all the ecstasy and MDMA they took to stay awake during the freak-offs. Here's Estevo again.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
That's right, Karen. It comes from his personal assistant who claimed in court this was the moment he felt in danger as an employee.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Estevo suggested Diddy's bad moods and temper flared when he was trying to come off the opiates. And Cassie admitted he had, quote, blacked out on drugs and alcohol when he assaulted her in the hallway of the Intercontinental Hotel in March 2016.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
She also said he did not like her taking drugs without him or with her friends and could become, quote, pretty explosive if he thought she had taken some from his stash.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
We've got the evidence from singer Don Richard, who watched him attack Cassie with a frying pan and later threatened her to keep quiet about what she had seen. And how Cassie negotiated a $30,000 payout to her best friend after she too was allegedly attacked by Diddy. Welcome to the trial of Diddy. People go missing. So Karen, on Friday, we heard a lot from Cassie.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Cassie also admitted she was jealous of Kim Porter and upset that he spent every holiday with her and their children. She agreed she felt disappointed that he would not integrate her into his family life or allow her to form relationships with his kids. Here's another text she sent him after seeing pictures of Kim and him together on social media in 2013.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Estevo asked her if she found it all, quote, a little heartbreaking.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
She agreed that Diddy was furious when he found out she was dating Kid Cudi during one of those breaks in December 2011 because he didn't like the fact that she had cheated on him with someone else in the music industry. He also suspected she was dating Michael B. Jordan in the fall of 2015. At that time, Cassie had discovered Diddy was dating Gina again and broke it off again.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
She admitted that after he allegedly raped her, she met and had sex with him again. But after he said publicly that Kim Porter was his soulmate following her death in November 2018, Cassie said she never saw him again. However, she did say she did later receive a series of affectionate text messages congratulating her on her marriage.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
She said she was surprised by them because he'd finally written, quote, all the things she had wanted to hear for a long time. Here's what he wrote.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Thank you so much for tuning into The Trial of Diddy. Thank you, Karen, for filling in for Kayla Brantley, who will be back with us for Friday's episode.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
As we know, at eight months pregnant, she spent four days being questioned about her 11-year relationship with Diddy. We're going to bring you some of her final testimony later in this episode. But first of all, we're going to bring you the evidence of some of the other witnesses that we've heard from this week.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
James told a jury that Diddy had at least three other girlfriends, as well as Kim Porter and Cassie, when he worked for him. He said he remembered overhearing a conversation when Diddy told a friend that he had Cassie, quote, right where he wanted her and that she was young and very moldable. He said he was often asked to set up hotel rooms for Diddy and would organize clothes and toiletries.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
He said they would be paid for by the record label. But when he restocked personal items such as baby oil, lubricant and condoms, he would ask his security to reimburse him and they would give him cash. James said Diddy also traveled with a medicine bag that contained around 30 different pills.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
He said the rapper took prescription drugs, including painkillers, water tablets to help him lose weight, and Viagra, as well as ecstasy. He said he remembered one type of ecstasy pill that he took, which was pressed in the shape of Barack Obama's face.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
And James also told the jury that he decided to quit after an incident in November 2008 when he was ordered to drive Diddy and his bodyguards to Mel's Diner in LA to confront Suge Knight. As many will know, he's the man who ran Death Row Records, who, as we know, Diddy classed as one of his biggest rivals.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
James said he looked into the back of the black Escalade and saw Diddy had three handguns in his lap. He told the jury, quote, I was really shook up by it. It was the first time I realized my life was in danger. We'll be right back after this.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Welcome back to the trial of Diddy. Now, one of the other witnesses to take the stand this week was Homeland Security Special Agent Yasin Binda. She works with the Human Trafficking Department and was one of the officers sent to search Diddy's hotel room, room 2115 at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan on September 16th, which of course was the day Diddy was arrested.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Now, Diddy knew he was going to be arrested because he'd already agreed with his attorneys that he was going to surrender to the authorities. But shockingly, it seems he was still planning on having a freak-off before he was taken into custody.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
The next witness the jury heard from was Dawn Richard. She's 42 and from New Orleans. Now, most of our U.S. listeners will probably know that she's a singer in a girl band, but for our listeners in the U.K., we should explain that she's famous for being one of the five members of a group called Danity Kane, which was formed as part of the MTV series Making the Band.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Now, this group made it pretty big. They sold 100,000 records in just one day and as many as 600,000 in a week at the peak of their popularity.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
And she also told the jury that during that time, she often witnessed him beating up Cassie. Mitzi Steiner, who is another one of the prosecuting lawyers, asked her about a specific incident that occurred late one night in 2009 when she was recording with Dirty Money in the basement studio at Diddy's LA home. This exchange, which begins with Ms. Steiner, has been voiced by actors.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
She told the jury that following this attack, she frequently saw Diddy being violent towards Cassie. She said the attacks could be random or happened when Cassie had an opinion or tried to speak up for herself. She said Diddy's staff and bodyguards also witnessed Cassie being assaulted but did nothing to stop it.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
Everything Diddy touched turned to gold. Now he faces multiple federal charges in New York, including sex trafficking and allegedly running a criminal enterprise.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
She said that Diddy and Cassie continued arguing on the way home in the car when he grabbed her by the neck and slapped her in the mouth. She said Cassie really wanted to have a career in music and modeling, but Diddy owned her and told her things would happen, quote, on his time.
The Trial of Diddy
“People Go Missing”
She said Didi and Harv Pierre, who was the president of Bad Boy Records, warned her that it would get, quote, dark and lonely if she did not listen.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
Ms. Johnson said that, as well as hearing from Cassie, the jury would hear from two other women, Jane, another of Diddy's ex-girlfriends, and a woman called Mia, who worked as his personal assistant. Both of them are anonymous and cannot be named. She said it is alleged that Diddy beat up Jane not even a year ago today. She said she described the attack as the worst day of her life.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
Ms. Johnson said later that night, the couple fought again.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
She said as well as hearing from Cassie, Jane and Mia would be called to give evidence and their testimony would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Diddy was guilty.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
She said Mia will say he forced himself on her sexually and assaulted her, while other staff members, including his chefs and personal assistants, will describe how they were threatened with guns or ordered to buy him drugs or work punishing hours, at times without any sleep.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
Ms. Johnson said the evidence would come in piece by piece, but by the end of the trial, they would understand the full picture. And she summed up the case against Diddy by saying,
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
She told the jury the story of Sean Combs' life was a fascinating rags to riches tale. She said he was an engaging individual and people wanted to be around him and work for him because they realized that to do so meant they could be part of something special.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
She said her witnesses would tell the jury that they were not part of any criminal enterprise and that this case is all about the private and very personal life of her client.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
She said he was physical, he used drugs and had a bit of a different sex life. But she insisted jealousy, alcohol or drugs were at the heart of his problems and typically the root cause of the fighting that took place between himself and both Cassie and Jane.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
And it's far from over. I want to reiterate that Diddy has denied all charges. Be sure to tune in this Friday to hear word-for-word coverage on Cassie's long-awaited testimony and much more.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
Before she took the stand, Diddy's lawyers asked the judge to ban Cassie's husband, Alex Fine, from the courtroom while she testified because they said they may want to call him up as a witness later in the trial. But she began giving her evidence around 11 a.m. Eastern Time. She's heavily pregnant and was wearing a brown turtleneck.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
She said she was 21 when she and Diddy, who is 17 years older than her, got together, but she said they'd known each other platonically for a while beforehand because she'd been signed to his label. She said they first kissed during her 21st birthday party trip to Las Vegas, and they later had sex during a trip to Miami. She said she was young and quickly fell in love with him,
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
She said it was her first adult relationship and she was drawn by his lifestyle. She said she was impressed how he commanded respect and had assistance at his beck and call. Her words have been voiced by an actor.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
She said that he coerced her to take part with violence and the threat of releasing videos of the sex parties on the Internet. She said she only had to look at him with the, quote, wrong face and she would get hit.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
Now, we should warn you, his testimony was pretty graphic. He said he had never been paid for sex before, but when he arrived, there was no party. Only Cassie and Diddy were in the room, and the meeting soon turned intimate. Here's the exchange between prosecutor Maureen Comey and Mr. Phillip. Their words have been voiced by an actor.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
He described various sex moves that he and Cassie performed together in graphic detail. He said he and Diddy would take turns having sex with Cassie for up to 10 hours at a time, often with no protection. He said on at least two occasions the rapper filmed the sessions. Diddy also allegedly gave him ecstasy, but he said he didn't like it because it turned him into a, quote, jackass.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
At the height of his career, Sean Diddy Combs had it all. Everything Diddy touched turned to gold. Now, he faces multiple federal charges in New York, including sex trafficking and allegedly running a criminal enterprise.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
He told the jury that one time, after taking the drug, he stumbled out of the hotel and into Times Square, where he handed out $100 bills to strangers. He told the jury that Diddy paid him between $700 and $6,000 to have sex with Cassie, but there were also times when he did it for nothing.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
He said Diddy had previously taken a picture of his driver's license as insurance, and he feared he may be attacked himself, or worse, if he went to help her.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
But Mr. Phillip denied this was the case. Mr. Donaldson also questioned why his testimony was different from the one he gave to police when he reported the incident back in December 2023. In that statement, Mr. Donaldson said Mr. Phillip told officers that he'd been asked to go to the hotel in the middle of the night by a female client who told him to ask for a Mr. Black at reception.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
But Mr. Phillip insisted the officers must have misunderstood his account or noted it down incorrectly. We'll be right back with more after this quick break.
The Trial of Diddy
An Opening to Remember
She told the jury Diddy called himself the king and relied on his bodyguards, chiefs of staff and other high-ranking employees closest to him to run all aspects of his life. Together, she said, they created an empire that promoted his power, guarded his reputation and worked to get him everything he wanted.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
At the height of his career, Sean Diddy Combs had it all. Everything Diddy touched turned to gold. Now he faces multiple federal charges in New York, including sex trafficking and allegedly running a criminal enterprise.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
And just to set the scene, Diddy arrived in court with a new outfit today. He was wearing a gray suit with a white shirt and glasses. His 85-year-old mother, Janice, was there too. She was wearing a large pair of sunglasses. Six of his seven kids also showed up to court. They all sat a couple of rows behind him in the main courtroom.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
Diddy's girlfriend, Dana Tran, also made a surprise appearance at the courthouse, and several of his close friends were also in the overflow court. One of Diddy's representatives, a woman called Holly Baird, told reporters that he was upbeat and ready for his side of the story to be told. The jury selection in this trial has already been a lengthy process.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
Over the past week, 150 potential jurors have been whittled down. There was even some debate around potential racial bias in the jury pool as the defense highlighted that seven black prospective jurors were being dismissed. This was quickly resolved. And just after 9.30 a.m. today, the hearing got underway with the final 18 jury members being chosen.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
There are 12, eight men and four women on the main jury and another six alternates. At around 10.17 a.m. today, they were each asked to stand in turn and were sworn in to try the case. The judge told them that they had a tremendously important task to do. He said it would be a long road, but they alone could be the sole judges of the facts of the case.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
She said, with the help of his trusted inner circle of bodyguards and staff, he committed many serious crimes, including kidnapping, arson, bribery, and crimes involving drugs and sex. And his entourage allegedly helped him to commit and cover up these crimes again and again. She said she wanted the jury to understand that the case is not about Diddy's private sexual preferences.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
That's right, Kayla. And today we heard the shocking case against him outlined for the very first time. We're going to hear how the rapper, with the help of his trusted inner circle, was allegedly allowed to commit and get away with a string of serious sex and violent crimes for more than 20 years.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
Rather, his behavior was allegedly coercive and criminal because he forced women to have sex when they did not want to.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
Both women, she said, were forced to take ecstasy and have sex with multiple male escorts, sometimes for days on end. which Diddy filmed for his own sexual gratification. These secret sex parties were highly orchestrated and nicknamed freak-offs or wild king nights or hotel nights. She said they allegedly took place in hotel rooms across the US and the world.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
Diddy would tell the women what lingerie and high heels he wanted them to wear, and he demanded that his inner circle stage dark lighting in the hotel rooms, supply lubricants and extra bedding for the sex sessions. He allegedly masturbated during these sessions, which he filmed and beat the women if they tried to leave without his permission.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
He also allegedly used the footage to control and blackmail them by threatening to release them publicly and destroy their careers.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
Now, you'll probably remember that Diddy apologized for his behavior in the video and his lawyers tried and failed to have it excluded from the trial. And we should say here that all the while this graphic detail was being outlined to the jury, Diddy simply stared blankly straight ahead with his hands folded in his lap.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
Then, just before the lunch break, it was his lawyer, Tenny Garagos' chance to address the jury. She asked Diddy to stand up as she described how they may know her client as Puff Daddy P. Diddy or just Diddy, but in court, he would be simply Sean Combs. She said he was born in Harlem and came from nothing, but worked hard to create a music label that changed a generation.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
She admitted he could be extremely jealous and occasionally lose his temper, and they might think he's a jerk and kind of mean. She also said the jury might not approve of his drug use or his preference for kinky sex and swinger lifestyles.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
She also claimed that money played a significant role in these relationships because Diddy was paying for the women's homes, their cars, their vacations and trips on private planes. She said Cassie had demanded $30 million when she sued him for physical abuse in 2023. And she said that while the evidence would show a very flawed individual and a complicated man, this was not a complicated case.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
How the women were forced to take drugs and have sex with male prostitutes in secret sex sessions, which he called freak-offs that he filmed for his own sexual gratification.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
This was how she summed it up. This case is about love, jealousy, infidelity, and money. We'll be back in a second.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
Mr. Flores said that it was around 11 a.m. when he received a call from the hotel saying there was a woman in distress on the sixth floor. When he arrived, Cassie was bundled up on the corner looking scared and Diddy, who was dressed only in a towel and socks, was louched in a chair. He immediately recognized the rapper and he said he looked with a devilish stare.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
He said Cassie told him she wanted to leave, but initially Diddy told her she could not. Mr. Flores said he told the rapper that she could go if she wanted to and Cassie left. But just as he also went to go, Diddy allegedly offered him a stack of money. He said, take care of this and don't tell anybody. He said he took this to be a bribe and refused.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
He later noticed Cassie had a purple eye and asked her if she wanted to call the police, but she said no.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
But Diddy's lawyer, Brian Steele, then pointed out that there were some discrepancies between what he was telling the jury and what he had written in the report. He said he hadn't mentioned that Diddy had grabbed his colleague's phone and insisted Diddy only offered him this money because he wanted to pay for the damage caused to the hallway.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
And when they failed to meet his impossible demands, he allegedly attacked them, sexually assaulted them, and made them take drugs. Welcome to The King on Trial.
The Trial of Diddy
The "King" on Trial
And what it showed was Cassie standing with a bag at the hotel's elevators just before Diddy rounds the corner, strikes her and throws her to the ground before kicking her and then dragging her back towards the room.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
Yeah, and then he went on to tell the jury that he was contacted a second time by the couple and it was only during this encounter when he turned on the television in the hotel room and saw a welcome message for Sean Combs that he realized exactly who he'd been hired to work for.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
He said he went on to perform for the couple up to 12 times, usually always early in the hours of the morning and always at hotels in New York. He said the encounters took place over a period of just under three years and each could last for up to eight hours at a time. He said he was paid either $1,200 or $2,000 a time.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
From freak-offs to the mysterious list, the shocking case that has gripped the world is finally here. And we'll be bringing you every detail as it happens.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
The Punisher said that he didn't really do drugs or anything like that, but he was offered alcohol and marijuana. And then he pretended to inhale the smoke because, again, he's not a drug user. So he was never actually under the influence. And he also said that he never saw Diddy or Cassie take drugs and that they never really appeared intoxicated.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
He did admit that he just didn't have much experience with narcotics, but he said he took Viagra because sometimes the pressure of having to have sex in front of Diddy made him nervous and really struggled to perform.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
That is quite the title there. And naturally, there was lots of laughter in the courtroom, Hermania. And then laughter came again when Donaldson questioned him about it. This exchange begins with Donaldson.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
Hayes said that Cassie and Diddy were not named in the book, but he said he had referred to his encounters with them over six of its 182 pages. He accepted that certain details were not entirely accurate and admitted that he had sensationalized Cassie's enjoyment in his writing, quote, for entertainment.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
So Hermania, we are back with week two of the trial and there is so much to get through. The trial is moving so quickly and we've had several witnesses take the stand over the last few days and even some celebrity witnesses. It's currently 1.07 p.m. on Thursday in New York and rapper Kid Cudi is currently on the stand testifying about his brief relationship with Cassie.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
Now, we also had another former member of Diddy's staff give evidence this week. That was his former personal assistant, George Kaplan. He told jurors that he, quote, desperately did not want to come to court and that he was forced to testify because federal prosecutors had subpoenaed him. Initially, he said he would refuse to answer any questions and he wanted to invoke his Fifth Amendment right.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
But the government granted him immunity, so effectively he was left with no choice to take the stand and testify.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
But like we said, he was given no option and prosecutor Maureen Comey began by asking him about his role. He said he worked for him for two years from December 2013 until December 2015 and earned $125,000 during that time. But the hours were tough.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
He worked up to 100 hours a week, he said, organizing Diddy's life, his business affairs, and his belongings at his home, his office, and his recording studio. He said he never worked harder in his life than when he worked for Diddy.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
And while he was working for Diddy, he said it was basically common for Diddy to threaten his job and that he once got in his face for bringing him the wrong brand of water. Here's Maureen Comey asking the questions. Their exchange has been voiced by actors.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
Kaplan said that twice he agreed to meet a drug dealer and pick up narcotics for Diddy. Once in Miami when ecstasy pills were delivered to Diddy's home and another time in L.A. He also said he was occasionally asked to carry cash and one time looked after $50,000 on Diddy's private jet. And then he said it was in the bedroom of that jet during a flight in L.A.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
in 2011 that he once saw Diddy physically attack Cassie. He recalled how he was sitting with his back to the bedroom door and he heard a glass smash and a, quote, tremendous commotion. He said that when he looked behind him, Diddy was standing over Cassie and she had her legs up as if to try and push some distance between them. He said that she screamed, quote, isn't anybody seeing this?
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
Yeah, but Cassie wasn't the only woman that he said he saw Diddy get violent with. He said that he saw Diddy get violent toward Gina Hewn while they were staying at his mansion in Miami. He said Diddy was angry and he was actually throwing apples, which were part of an ornament in the hallway. He said that he saw him throw them very hard at her and that the tension in the air was very scary.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
And then later in the middle of the night, he said he heard Gina's voice and screaming and a commotion outside of the property. But again, he said he did nothing because he wanted a successful career and he just thought Diddy's behavior was normal for the entertainment industry.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
Yeah, and at this point, Diddy could be seen nodding in the courtroom as Kaplan told the jury that working for the rapper had been, quote, an incredible thing and a, quote, once in a lifetime opportunity. He said he considered Diddy to be a god among men and an inspirational business mogul who taught him to have a work ethic and lessons that he still uses today.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
He said Diddy had an extremely infectious vibration and people couldn't help but feel excited when they were around him. He said his friends told him he was crazy to quit because, quote, this was my Harvard and I was blowing it.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
So not only did the jury hear from witnesses, but they also heard from an expert this week. That was Dr. Dawn Hughes. She's a clinical and forensic psychologist who specializes in trauma and traumatic stress. And we should say here that this isn't the first big case she's been involved in. She also testified in the very famous Amber Heard and Johnny Depp trial back in 2022.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
We'll be hearing from a stripper named The Punisher who said he was paid up to $2,000 to have sex with Cassie for Diddy's Entertainment.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
She said sexual abuse could also stop women leaving an abusive relationship.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
Dr. Hughes said that abusers often love bomb their victims with affection or presents and gifts to keep them in a relationship and that it's more difficult for victims to disclose what's going on if their abuser has wealth, access and privilege.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
She also told the jury about a phenomenon called a trauma bond, which she said is when somebody loves their partner in spite of the violence and the abuse.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
So that's it for today. Thank you for listening and tune in to our next episode every Tuesday and Friday.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
Like I said, Harmonia, this trial is moving quickly and every day it feels like it comes with bombshell after bombshell. So there is a lot to cover. But currently, Scott Muscutty, he's known as Kid Cudi. If you know his songs, he's a rapper. He began his testimony on Thursday. He's the rapper and producer that Cassie dated at the end of 2011 when she and Diddy were on a break.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
He said that afterwards he ignored Diddy's texts and told him he didn't want to talk, but a few weeks later came the infamous Porsche firebomb. His Porsche was completely bombed and blown up with a Molotov cocktail.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
This is the first incident that was included in Cassie's civil claim back in November 2023, but it is the first time it's been confirmed and the jury were shown pictures of the damaged convertible. They saw that the roof was completely slashed, opened, and there was black burn marks on the red leather of the driver's seat and the driver's door.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
And then there was a bottle of some kind of inflammatory liquid and a cloth were found on the ground beside the vehicle. There was also laughter in court when he was asked what his reaction to the incident was, and he replied simply, what the fuck.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
Then came cross-examination from Diddy's lawyer, Brian Steele. That's when Muscati admitted that he had left the door to his home unlocked when the alleged break-in occurred in December 2011. He said that Cassie had actually told him that Diddy physically abused her, but he never saw any of it for himself.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
Kid Cudi said that he actually really did love Cassie and that he believed that she had played him because she had still been with Diddy while they were dating. And as I explained at the top of the episode, we will be talking to Dan Bates. He is our incredible reporter who's inside the courtroom doing all of the hard work reporting back in real time exactly what's going on.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
We wanted to talk to him because this week the jury was shown loads of exhibits by the prosecution. These are items that were recovered from Diddy's home in Miami when they smashed down the gates and executed a search warrant last year. So Dan Bates, you are outside of the Manhattan courthouse right now. I know it's a very rainy day. Yeah. So we appreciate you hopping on.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
So can you talk us through some of the most interesting or even shocking things that police found when they raided Diddy's Miami mansion? These things were then shown to the jury.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
Yeah, and Dan, you are one of the few people who do have access to the courtroom. What was kind of the vibe and what were everyone's reactions once these exhibits were shown?
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
It's so interesting seeing those photos of the baby oil because that was one thing that really, when these raids happened, that was what everyone was talking about, the amounts of baby oil. And now you see it corroborated with the testimony that these witnesses have given. And another thing that was striking to me was the writing on the mirror. Can you talk a little bit more about that?
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
Well, Dan, thank you so much for joining us. I know you have to run back into court. So we will be following along on the live blog. Thank you so much.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
Next witness on the stand was Sharae Hayes. He's 51, and he's been working as an exotic dancer and a stripper in New York for 30 years. He goes by the stage name The Punisher. He said he was given this nickname as a teenager when he used to play basketball.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
The Punisher said he advertises his services online, and his job was to attend bachelorette parties and perform stripteases at house parties for birthdays and any other celebrations.
The Trial of Diddy
A Marvel Supervillain
but he said that when he got to the hotel, there were no guests and what he was asked to do was very different than his typical work.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
She said some of them were used regularly by the couple, others she only knew by their first name. She said they were flown all over the world and paid by Diddy to have sex with her. She said she was always high when she took part in these freak-offs and that Diddy mainly got the drugs they used from a dealer he knew called One Stop. Here's Ms. Johnson.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
That's right, Kayla. She also described in graphic detail the various different sex moves that took place at these freak-offs, which she said could involve three or four different men. She said Diddy would either be taking part or masturbating in the corner and talking to her, asking her how the sex was making her feel.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
Yeah. Cassie said she came to realize it was Diddy's way of knowing where she was every minute of the day. She said he told her not to do modeling or runway jobs she was offered. And if she failed to answer his calls, he would send his security guards to her home to check up on where she was.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
So as we outlined on Tuesday, she said she feared he would hurt her or put the videos of the freak-offs online if she refused to comply. She said several times he threatened to release the videos when he was upset about something she'd done. She said one time he did this when she was seeing another guy to try and hurt her.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
Another time he played the videos on his laptop while they were flying on a commercial flight from France to New York because they had just had an argument.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
That's right, Kayla. Today we're going to discuss how Diddy allegedly raped Cassie after they split in 2018.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
She explained that several times she tried to leave a freak off and would end up in alleyways behind the hotel they were at or in the hotel kitchen, but Diddy would always end up finding her and taking her back.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
She said she was trying to escape a freak-off when Diddy attacked her in the now infamous footage taken at the Intercontinental Hotel in LA in March of 2016 when he assaulted her in the hallway. She said it happened because Diddy hit her and gave her a black eye during the sex session.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
She said she was upset because she was due to attend the premiere of her film, The Perfect Match, a couple of days later and she did not want to look beaten up for the event. She said that when he was in the shower, she grabbed her belongings and ran out. But he realized what was going on and followed her to the elevator, pulled her to the ground, and tried to drag her back into the room.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
She said she was desperate for Diddy to read her book so he could understand the impact of what he had done to her.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
Hotel rooms. Cassie also recalled an incident in January 2009 when they were at a party at a nightclub in LA called the Ace of Diamonds. She said she had been speaking to a music producer at the club and when they left, Diddy called her a slut in the car. She said she was drunk and she punched him hard in the face.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
She said when they got back to Diddy's house, she ran off, but was brought back by one of his bodyguards. Ms. Johnson asked her about her injuries.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
Welcome to the trial of Diddy. I can't carry the shame.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
Cassie then said Diddy made her cover her face so no one saw her go into the hotel room. She said she wanted to go home to her mom, but she wasn't allowed, and she ended up being holed up in the hotel for around 10 days. She said it was not safe for her to leave.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
That's right Kayla. Cassie also spoke of another time where Diddy allegedly beat her up after she went to a party at Prince's house without his permission. Then, in December 2011, she said he kicked her in the back and also threatened to release the videos of the freak-offs on Christmas Day when he found out that she had been dating another rapper, Kid Cudi.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
She said she went to her mom's house in Connecticut for the holidays and confessed that Diddy had attacked her. Her mom took pictures of bruising on her back and thighs, which were then shown to the jury. But Cassie said that she also played down the attack and told her mom that it was the first time it had happened.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
By January 2017, Cassie said she'd had enough. The jury was shown a text Cassie sent to Diddy around that time, which read, Nothing good comes out of freak-offs anymore.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
He continued and finished. She said he left, but she later had sex with him again one more time, this time by choice after a friend's birthday dinner. Ms. Johnson asked her to explain why.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
She said that during this time in rehab, she wrote down her experiences in a book because she wanted Diddy to read about what he had put her through. Why did you want Sean to read the book?
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
So Kayla, it's been a few really busy days here in New York. And today, as we promised at the top of the podcast, we're going to bring you everything we have heard over the last few days.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
Yeah, that's new information, Kayla. Cassie finished her testimony by saying she believed she had hundreds of freak-offs with Diddy, but she has never done that again since they broke up. She also explained why she was given evidence at his trial.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
Yeah, she started by asking Cassie about the real Sean.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
Yes. Estevo continued a line of questioning that emphasized that Cassie knew the real Sean, a version she claimed he won't let the rest of the world see. Ms. Estevo asked Cassie if she took care of him and if she believed that he needed someone to take care of him.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
Much of the evidence we've heard so far today has been messages, and we're talking texts and emails which have been exchanged between Diddy and Cassie. Some of them are pretty graphic, as a lot of this case has been so far. We'll bring you more of those on Tuesday, but one email the court heard about was sent in December 2009.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
So that's what was going on as we started recording today. Cassie's still being cross-examined right now. But to wind it back a bit, on Tuesday, Kayla and I brought you the beginning of her testimony. Over their 11 years together, she alleges he forced her to take part in hundreds of drug-fueled sex parties with male escorts in hotels and homes all over the US and the world.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
She says he beat her up when she did not do what he asked and eventually she split with him in 2018 because of his cheating with other women. We're going to take you through what she told the jury and a timeline of their relationship, which we've heard was volatile, marked by infidelity and at times very, very toxic.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
She said that after that first kiss, Diddy began asking her to hang out with him in hotels in New York. She said initially they would talk about music and where her career was going. She said they became more comfortable with each other, then things started to become sexual. The jury was shown a picture of Cassie and Diddy on a boat in Miami.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
She said that was where they had sex for the first time after getting high on ecstasy. From then on, she said she became one of his girlfriends. Officially at this time, he was with Kim Porter, the mother of three of his children, and his other girlfriends were kept out of the public eye.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
Everything Diddy touched turned to gold. Now, he faces multiple federal charges in New York, including sex trafficking and allegedly running a criminal enterprise.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
So Kayla, she said she only had to look at him with the wrong face and he would become physically abusive. And she said this happened within the first year of them dating. In the end, it became pretty common for him to punch, kick, drag and mush her.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
She said the sex parties took place at both their homes in New York and Miami and in hotels all over the world, including in Ibiza and Turks and Caicos. She said they used fake names to make their reservations, She called herself Jackie Star or Veronica Bang or Anita Crawford and Diddy went by Frank Black or Frank White.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
She said his staff also booked the hotels for them and bought the baby oil, lubricants and condoms for the sex sessions.
The Trial of Diddy
“I Can’t Carry the Shame”
The jury was shown lots of text messages between Cassie and Diddy discussing potential escorts for these sex parties. And she said eventually it became her job. She said she contacted them via Craigslist, Backpage, or various agencies, including one called Cowboys for Angels and another called Latin Men. She was shown pictures of 19 different male escorts.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
Everything Diddy touched turned to gold. Now, he faces multiple federal charges in New York, including sex trafficking and allegedly running a criminal enterprise.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
Marjorie, let's break down the big players in this trial, because I have a feeling a lot of these names are going to become very familiar to people over the upcoming several weeks.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
But I wanted to talk about Mark Deragos because there has been a lot of conversation surrounding him in court. He's not officially part of Diddy's defense. His daughter is, Tani. However, he has been in court all week. and appears to be advising the team on jurors.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
The judge actually slammed him in a private meeting because the reason this lawyer cannot be on this defense team is that he is doing a podcast with TMZ on the trial. Tell us about this. And it's pretty outrageous that someone that's been so vocal in the media is actively advising this defense team.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
From freak-offs to the mysterious list, the shocking case that has gripped the world is finally here. And we'll be bringing you every detail as it happens. Welcome to The Trial of Diddy. So jury selection in Diddy's sex trafficking trial became this week, but we've seen a lot of delay.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
But also we need to mention, apparently on the podcast, this lawyer referred to the prosecution team as a pack of white women or something to that effect. And the judge also told him that statement was unacceptable. He mentioned it on the podcast and the judge was really not having that. But Garagos shot back and he continues bringing race into it.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
He said, well, the defendant as a black man feels targeted and this is relevant.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
And whether he gets kicked out of court altogether, perhaps.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
On that topic, though, Diddy added a new lawyer just this week, Nicole Westmoreland. She was previously with Brian Steele in the Young Thug trial. What else do we know about her?
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
She also says she's a victim of rape. So this is definitely would be someone that would look good on Diddy's team. But let's talk about the prosecution a little bit because... James Comey's daughter. Maureen Comey is the lead prosecution. The daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, who also tried Ghislaine Maxwell.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
Finally, Judge Aaron Subramanian. I've been writing his name all week, but hadn't had to say it out loud. He was a judge appointed by Joe Biden. What do we know about him? I saw a picture, TMZ had a picture of him walking into court where he looked like a student. He is of South Asian descent, I believe. And he seems pretty measured so far.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
It was supposed to end today on Friday, but the judge sided with Diddy's defense team saying that he preferred to finalize that process on Monday. There was some concerns that more jurors were going to back out. Apparently, in the break that the court took on Thursday already, they lost some jurors.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
Yeah. Well, let's move on to what we can expect on Monday because things are going to move really, really quickly. We discussed that victim three is nowhere to be found. The prosecution said they will update the judge on Monday on that, but it does sound unlikely that victim three will be there. However, we now know there is victim five. Renato actually mentioned it briefly.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
It appears to be someone who has claims against Diddy that are not in the indictment. So I guess the prosecution is just trying to show a pattern of behavior with victim five. But Marjorie, Cassie is the star of the prosecution here. And as you mentioned, she's expected to be on the stand most of the week. heavily pregnant.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
Today, her lawyer was in court and actually asked that the court please take breaks every 90 minutes because his client will need to take breaks as she discusses what she has described as horrific abuse. So that'll be quite something to watch.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
And we have to remember, if it wasn't for Cassie's lawsuit, would we be here right now? And I think that won't be lost on Diddy. So even his demeanor, will it stay as happy and smiley as it's been so far? That's something we'll be watching for next week.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
Because the Simon & Schuster executive... was dismissed because she's part of the team that is working on that book.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
Well, we'll also be waiting to see if Albie Shore comes up in this trial.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
They share a son, right? Albie Shore and Kim Porter, but the son was raised by Diddy, correct? And continues to stand by Diddy?
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
That's something to look forward to next week because I was thinking that we haven't seen Diddy's kids or his mom publicly support him in court or social media since November. From what I could see, they were not in court this week. Will they show up next week to support him?
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
So the judge appeared to be leaning towards finalizing this process on Monday as a way to not lose more jurors, which I thought was interesting. The state really opposed that measure. So it was a win for Diddy in the end.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
Well, we'll be on standby for that. Episodes of The Trial of Diddy will be going live on Tuesdays and Fridays with word-for-word details of the biggest moments in the trial.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
Episodes will be hosted by me, Germania Rodriguez-Poleo, and Kayla Brantley.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
He's sending us updates in real time as the trial progresses. So far, we know that 43 jurors need to be whittled down to 12 jurors and six alternates by Monday. As I said, this process was supposed to end today, but instead it's going to happen on Monday right before opening statements. The judge claims that this is not going to delay opening statements on Monday.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
So let's get right down to it. I think this jury pool was quite interesting. I don't know if it's just a New York City thing, but it was quite fascinating that we had one juror who was an executive at Simon & Schuster and was actually working on a book with I'll Be Sure. Of course, that juror was let go. We also had...
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
Two workers from HBO, even though, as we know, there was a huge bombshell documentary about Diddy on HBO. How normal was this jury pool? It really I was expecting this process to not be as interesting as it was.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
The judge seemed a little desperate to get jurors because in some cases, if the potential jurors have heard about the case, they are immediately dismissed. But in this case, most jurors knew who Diddy was and even said they have seen reports and the video of him assaulting Cassie. So a lot of the jurors who said they are aware of the case, they have seen the video, are still in the pool.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
Definitely. And I wanted to ask Renato about it because I was under the impression that defendants had to really keep to themselves, not smile to the jury, not be laughing at their jokes, not making eye contact. But Diddy has been described by the people in the courtroom as super engaged, nodding along to the jurors that he likes, laughing at their jokes.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
There was a moment where Diddy shared a joke with his lawyers after a female juror said that she once fainted in school when a teacher talked about oral sex. She was dismissed because she said she doesn't do well oral. with the topic. Diddy was having a great time with it. He turned around, kept laughing with one of his reporters who was wearing a free puff sweatshirt.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
We had an interesting moment where a reporter from Fox 5 said that Diddy turned around and she's pregnant and that he mouthed to her, how are you? So he's putting on the charm. Tell us about that. At what point is that not allowed anymore?
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
The show of his life, for sure. But... What do you think we're going to end up in this jury with? We've had, again, such a diverse potential jury pool that I've seen. We even had someone I thought it was interesting. The prosecution seemed to be concerned with whether this potential juror spoke English and Diddy's team was really fighting to keep them. I thought that was quite interesting.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
What do you think will end up here? And do you think... Because as you mentioned, I thought a lot of people would want to do anything to get on this jury. But I also saw a lot of people clearly wanting to get out. There was a lawyer who should have known he's not allowed to be looking at the news after court. And he said, yeah, I looked on the train.
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
And the judge was like, well, we told you not to do that. And then he's like, well, I looked. I looked at who you dismissed. So that seemed a bit on purpose. But what do you think is going to happen with this pool of jurors?
The Trial of Diddy
A Jury of His “Peers”
Especially because the defense revealed today that their strategy is going to be to paint Cassie as a violent person who is very strong and cannot be coerced. And she it's exactly how is that going to look to a juror when a heavily pregnant woman is being kind of questioned this way?