In a trial that’s already been described as a window into the dark underbelly of celebrity culture, singer Usher and former President Barack Obama were among the high-profile names mentioned during the third week of testimony in the federal sex trafficking case against rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, according to Fox News reports.
While prosecutors have emphasized that the case is not about celebrities, the sheer number of A-list figures linked to events described in testimony is raising eyebrows across both legal and entertainment circles.
One of the more unexpected revelations came from Diddy’s former assistant, David James, who testified that the rapper was known to take pills shaped like Barack Obama’s face. James also described Combs as traveling with a duffel bag containing “25 to 30” types of drugs, painting a portrait of a chaotic and drug-fueled lifestyle that extended beyond mere indulgence and into the realm of alleged criminal behavior.
While Obama himself is not accused of any wrongdoing, the surreal anecdote reflects the trial’s increasingly strange and disturbing undercurrents.
In more serious testimony, Dawn Richard, a former member of the girl group Danity Kane, told jurors that Usher was present during a dinner where Diddy punched his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in the stomach during an argument. Richard testified that Jimmy Iovine, Ne-Yo, Harve Pierre, and others were also at the table. Her account was intended to highlight a pattern of public violence and impunity.
Usher has not commented on the testimony and, like the other celebrities named, has not been accused of any illegal activity. Still, his name being linked to such an incident only adds to the gravity and complexity of the trial.
The list of celebrities referenced throughout the trial continues to grow. According to witnesses:
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Kid Cudi allegedly attended some of Diddy’s infamous “freak off” parties.
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Jennifer Lopez, Biggie Smalls, Rihanna, Suge Knight, Brittney Spears, Prince, Michael B. Jordan, and Bruce Willis were all mentioned during various testimonies.
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Will Smith and Ashton Kutcher were also linked to Diddy’s private events.
While federal prosecutors repeatedly stressed that the presence of celebrities does not equate to criminal behavior, the sheer number of familiar names has turned the trial into a public spectacle—one that threatens to expose long-rumored excesses and abuses of power within elite entertainment circles.
In her opening statement, prosecutor Emily Johnson set the tone for the proceedings by drawing a sharp line between celebrity lifestyles and criminality:
“Let me be clear… this case is not about a celebrity’s private sexual preferences. It’s coercive and criminal.”
Jurors heard disturbing allegations of violence, including Combs allegedly setting a man’s car on fire and dangling a woman from a balcony. Johnson described a culture of control, manipulation, and abuse fueled by Diddy’s wealth, influence, and notoriety.
