Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs jurors say they have seen video of alleged beating, heard baby oil jokes

Jury selection has officially begun in New York for the high-profile sex trafficking trial involving hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs.

During the initial questioning on Monday, several prospective jurors indicated they were already familiar with the allegations against Combs, with some specifically mentioning seeing a video that purportedly shows him assaulting a woman. Others recalled hearing public jokes, including one by a comedian, about baby oil, an item prosecutors claim was found at his residences.

However, having followed the case through media reports did not automatically disqualify these individuals from potentially serving on the jury for a trial that is anticipated to last up to two months.

In a courtroom located in Lower Manhattan, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian conducted the process known as voir dire, questioning 32 potential jurors individually. His objective is to assemble a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates who can remain fair and impartial despite the extensive public attention the case has received.

Opening statements in the trial are currently scheduled for May 12. Combs, 55, has entered a plea of not guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

On Monday, 19 of the prospective jurors were deemed qualified to potentially serve, including two who noted they were fans of 1990s hip-hop music. The questioning of additional candidates is set to continue on Tuesday, with jury selection expected to conclude by the end of the week.

The judge aims to qualify a pool of 45 potential jurors. Lawyers representing both sides will then have the opportunity to dismiss certain candidates without needing to provide a specific reason.

Combs was present in the courtroom, observing the proceedings while wearing dark glasses. One prospective juror, identified as Juror No. 5, confirmed seeing the widely reported video allegedly showing Combs assaulting someone in a hotel. Despite this, Judge Subramanian found this individual qualified after they assured the court they could approach the case with a "blank slate."

Conversely, a potential juror was dismissed after writing in a screening questionnaire that a still image they had seen accompanying a news headline, depicting a woman on the floor in a hotel corridor near Combs, "could be damning evidence."

The video referred to is reportedly surveillance footage aired by CNN last year, which it stated showed a 2016 incident involving Combs and his former girlfriend, R&B singer Casandra Ventura, in a Los Angeles hotel. Combs later issued an apology after the footage became public.

Given the high profile nature of this trial and potential risks, the identities of the selected jurors will be kept anonymous.

Prosecutors allege that the incident shown in the hotel video, among other actions, serves as evidence of how Combs purportedly used force and threats over a two-decade period to compel women to participate in prolonged, drug-fueled sexual performances, sometimes involving male sex workers, which he allegedly called "Freak Offs."

They claim employees within Combs' business structure facilitated these activities, for instance, by booking hotel rooms and acquiring controlled substances and other items utilized during sex acts, while also helping to conceal the activity. During raids on Combs' residences, authorities reportedly discovered drugs and a significant quantity, specifically 1,000 bottles, of baby oil and lubricant.

The topic of baby oil arose during questioning when one prospective juror admitted they had 'liked' a social media video featuring a comedian joking about Combs and baby oil. This individual explained they found the joke funny but was deemed qualified by Judge Subramanian after stating they could set aside the video and remain impartial for the trial.

Combs' legal team contends that the hotel surveillance video depicted a domestic disagreement stemming from infidelity and was not connected to sex trafficking allegations. They are expected to argue that any sexual activities described by the prosecution were consensual.

This case is among several high-profile instances in the entertainment industry where powerful men have faced accusations of sexual misconduct following the emergence of the #MeToo movement, which encouraged victims to come forward.

Combs has been held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his arrest in September, located about an hour away by subway from the Harlem neighborhood where he was born. His personal story is often characterized as a rags-to-riches narrative, highlighting his rise from being raised by a single mother to living in mansions in Los Angeles and Miami.

If convicted on all charges, Combs faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years and could potentially be sentenced to life imprisonment.