
This is a free article for Diddy on Trial newsletter subscribers. Sign up to get exclusive reporting and analysis throughout Sean Combs’ federal trial.
Diddy’s ex-girlfriend “Jane,” on the witness stand for a third and final day of cross-examination, faced a series of questions about their relationship — including how it played out after he became the subject of a headline-grabbing criminal investigation in 2024.
The key moments:
- Jane told jurors she saw positive changes in Diddy after Cassie Ventura, his former partner, filed her November 2023 civil lawsuit alleging physical and sexual abuse. Responding to questions from defense lawyer Teny Geragos, Jane agreed that Diddy became more apologetic and attentive, less egotistical and cold.
- Jane was in Miami with Diddy last year when CNN aired hotel security video showing him assaulting Ventura. The witness affirmed the behavior wasn’t consistent with the man she knew and, at that time, he had never beaten her. Jane’s friends told her to leave Diddy, but she decided to stay, she confirmed.
- Diddy and Jane had a violent altercation about a month after the video was released, she testified. They had another brawl last year that began with her pushing his head into a marble countertop, she said. She told jurors she was driven to anger over suspicions that he’d been on a trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands with another woman.
- Jane, facing redirect examination by prosecutor Maurene Comey, reiterated how frequently Diddy pushed her for marathon “hotel nights” even after telling him she wasn’t interested: “All the time.” She cried as she described her jealousy of other women who weren’t under the same “pressure” to constantly fulfill Diddy’s sexual desires.
🔎 The view from inside
By Adam Reiss, Chloe Melas and Katherine Koretski
The proceedings got a late start today because Judge Arun Subramanian and the lawyers stepped away for a closed-door meeting to hash out ground rules for Jane’s cross-examination. It’s not entirely clear what they discussed in the judge’s robing room, though the attorneys made cryptic references to some sort of event involving Diddy and Jane.
In other news: In general, Jane came across as firm and composed on her sixth day of testimony, only fighting back tears near the end of the day. Diddy, clad in what appeared to be the same orange sweater and khaki pants he wore yesterday, hugged members of his defense team when he walked into the courtroom this morning.
During an afternoon break, Diddy grabbed tissues and dabbed an eye before heading out of the room. “It wasn’t immediately clear if the defendant was briefly overcome by courtroom drama or a more natural irritant,” NBC News’ David K. Li wrote on our live blog.
🗓 What’s next
Tomorrow: “Jane” is finished testifying. The prosecution team is expected to call another wave of witnesses.
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. 🎧