On May 22, 2025, the Manhattan federal courtroom hosting Sean “Diddy” Combs’ high-profile sex trafficking and racketeering trial buzzed with anticipation as rapper Kid Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, took the stand. Day nine of the trial marked a pivotal moment, with Cudi’s testimony shedding light on alleged threats and violent acts tied to his brief 2011 romance with Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura. Drawing from Inner City Press’s live courtroom coverage and other reports, this article details the word-for-word testimonies and key moments from Cudi’s appearance, alongside other witnesses who testified that day.

Kid Cudi’s Testimony: A Tale of Break-Ins and a Torched Porsche

Cudi, known for hits like “Day ‘N’ Nite,” entered the courtroom in a black leather jacket and jeans, a stark contrast to the formal attire of other witnesses. His demeanor was described as “comically casual” by The Washington Post, with moments of levity that drew laughter from jurors. Inner City Press captured the intensity of his testimony, which centered on two alleged incidents: a 2011 break-in at his Hollywood Hills home and the 2012 firebombing of his Porsche, both of which Cudi linked to Combs’ jealousy over his relationship with Ventura.

Direct Examination by Prosecutor Emily Johnson:

Cudi began by recounting his brief relationship with Ventura, which started in 2008 when they met to work on music. By late 2011, their romance had sparked, but it quickly drew Combs’ ire. Cudi testified about a distressing early morning call from Ventura in December 2011:

“She called me, said Mr. Combs had found out about our relationship and asked me to pick her up. She sounded nervous and scared, and warned me she had given Mr. Combs my Hollywood Hills address.”

Cudi said he took Ventura to a West Hollywood hotel to shield her from Combs, who was “seething” over their relationship. While at the hotel, Cudi received a chilling call from Combs’ assistant, Capricorn Clark:

“Capricorn Clark called me, said Mr. Combs and an affiliate were in my house, and that she had been forced to go with them.”

Cudi testified that he immediately called Combs while racing home:

“I said, ‘M—----, you in my house?’ And he said, ‘What’s up?’ ‘Are you in my house? I just want to talk to you. I’m on my way over right now,’” Cudi recalled.

Upon arriving, Combs was gone, but Cudi found evidence of the intrusion: “The Christmas gifts I bought for my family had been opened, and my dog was locked in the bathroom.” He described the scene to jurors, noting his dog’s distress, which prompted a lighthearted courtroom debate about the pet’s state of mind, as reported by The Washington Post.

Weeks later, in January 2012, Cudi’s Porsche convertible was destroyed in his driveway. He testified:

“I was at a friend’s house when my dogsitter called and told me my car was on fire. I immediately went to my house. The top of my Porsche was cut open, and that’s where they inserted the Molotov cocktail.”

Prosecutors displayed six photos to the jury, showing a slashed convertible top, charred red leather seats, and the remains of the Molotov cocktail. Cudi believed Combs was behind the arson, citing Ventura’s earlier testimony that Combs had threatened to “blow up” his car. When asked why he sought a meeting with Combs at the Soho House in Los Angeles the next day, Cudi said:

“After the fire, I said, this is getting out of hand, I need to talk to him.”

Cudi described the meeting vividly, drawing laughs from the courtroom:

“Sean Combs was standing there, staring out the window with his hands behind his back, like a Marvel supervillain.”

When Cudi confronted Combs about the car fire, Combs deflected:

“He said, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ I walked away.”

Years later, in 2015, the two met again at Soho House, where Combs offered an unexpected apology:

“He said, ‘I’m just sorry for all that bullsh*t.’ I was surprised, so I found peace with it.”

Cudi testified that Ventura had confided in him about Combs’ violence, saying, “He would hit her, sometimes kick her,” but she never mentioned sexual abuse. He ended his relationship with Ventura because “things were getting out of hand” and he feared for their safety.

Cross-Examination by Defense Attorney Brian Steel:

Combs’ defense, led by Brian Steel, aimed to undermine Cudi’s allegations and cast Ventura as manipulative. Steel pressed Cudi on the lack of evidence linking Combs to the car fire:

Steel: “You get a call about damage to your vehicle. Any surveillance photos?” Cudi: “No. My dog’s babysitter sent me pictures of the damage.” Steel: “Do you know there were DNA results?” Cudi: “No.”

Steel suggested Ventura had “played” both men:

Steel: “The person who played you, the person who played Sean was Ms. Ventura. True?” Cudi: “Yes.”

Cudi acknowledged that Ventura ended their relationship and that he had left his door unlocked during the alleged break-in, admitting no witness placed Combs at his property. Steel also challenged Cudi’s claim about Combs’ violence, noting that Ventura only mentioned physical, not sexual, abuse to him.

Re-Direct by Prosecutor Emily Johnson:

On re-direct, Johnson bolstered Cudi’s testimony by asking why he feared for their safety:

“I knew Sean Combs was violent,” Cudi said, citing Ventura’s accounts of being hit and kicked.

Cudi’s testimony concluded around noon, with Steel thanking him, to which Cudi replied, “Yeah, no problem.” His candid demeanor and vivid storytelling left a lasting impression, with Inner City Press noting “laughter in the courtroom when Kid Cudi’s warm candor came through.”

While Cudi’s testimony dominated the day, other witnesses provided additional context to the prosecution’s case.

Combs’ former assistant, George Kaplan, resumed his testimony from the previous day, questioned by Prosecutor Maurene Comey. Kaplan described his grueling 80- to 100-hour work weeks from 2013 to 2015, including cleaning up hotel rooms littered with liquor bottles and baby oil. His testimony, though brief on May 22, corroborated earlier accounts of Combs’ demanding and chaotic lifestyle, setting the stage for Cudi’s appearance.

Frederic Zemmour, general manager of the L’Ermitage Beverly Hills hotel, testified about Combs’ stays under aliases like “Frank White” and “Frank Black.” He told jurors that Combs’ guest profile noted he “ALWAYS spills candle wax on everything and uses excessive amounts of oil,” requiring rooms to be placed “out of order upon departure for deep cleaning.” This testimony aligned with earlier accounts of Combs’ “freak offs,” drug-fueled sexual events described by Ventura and others.

Mylah Morales, a makeup artist for Ventura, testified after lunch about a 2010 incident at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Ventura had previously mentioned Morales in her testimony, recalling staying with her to heal from injuries inflicted by Combs. Morales recounted hearing “yelling and screaming” from a bedroom where Combs and Ventura were:

“Where the f—- is she?” Combs allegedly shouted before entering the bedroom and closing the door.

Morales said Ventura emerged with a swollen eye, busted lip, and “knots on her head.” Ventura stayed with Morales for days, where a doctor friend checked for a concussion, but Ventura declined to visit the ER. On cross-examination, Combs’ lawyers emphasized that Morales did not directly witness the assault, as she was outside the bedroom.

The day concluded with Special Agent Joshua Croft, the 16th prosecution witness, who testified about data extraction from three laptops belonging to Ventura. Croft detailed technical challenges, noting one laptop had a user profile for “Frank Black,” an alias linked to Combs, while another was set to factory default and a third was damaged. On cross-examination by defense attorney Teny Geragos, Croft confirmed Ventura consented to the searches. His testimony laid groundwork for future evidence, with Inner City Press noting its technical complexity.

Cudi’s testimony was a cornerstone of the prosecution’s effort to prove Combs engaged in a pattern of violence and intimidation, central to the racketeering and sex trafficking charges. The Porsche arson is a specific element in the racketeering conspiracy count, with prosecutors alleging Combs ordered underlings to “slice open the car’s convertible top and drop a Molotov cocktail inside.” However, the defense highlighted gaps in evidence, such as the lack of DNA or surveillance linking Combs to the fire, as noted by CNN legal expert Misty Marris.

Judge Arun Subramanian maintained a tight schedule, urging jurors to enjoy their weekend and jokingly suggesting they “watch the Knicks avenge their Game One loss.” He also chastised the defense for veering into inappropriate questions about Cudi’s sexual history with Ventura, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey calling the line of questioning “outrageous.”

Combs, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, appeared calm during Cudi’s testimony, occasionally sitting with arms and legs crossed. The trial, which began May 12, 2025, is expected to last six weeks, with upcoming witnesses including Capricorn Clark and representatives from the Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments.

Cudi’s testimony reverberated beyond the courtroom. After testifying, he thanked supporters on social media, acknowledging their encouragement amid the grueling day. However, his appearance drew mixed reactions online, with rapper Young Thug posting on X, “Dam cudi a rat lol,” reflecting tensions within the music community. Legal analysts noted that while Cudi’s testimony bolstered Ventura’s claims, the defense’s cross-examination raised doubts about direct evidence tying Combs to the arson.

As the trial progresses, Cudi’s candid and dramatic account—punctuated by his “Marvel supervillain” quip—will likely remain a defining moment, offering jurors a vivid glimpse into the alleged dark side of Combs’ empire.

Sources:

• Inner City Press coverage, as referenced in and other reports.📷
• NBC News,,,📷📷📷
• ABC News,,,📷📷📷
• The Washington Post,📷
• Business Insider,📷
• MediaTakeout,📷
• Vulture,,📷📷
• Sky News,📷
• NPR,📷
• People,📷
• RapTV,📷
• The Independent,,,📷📷📷