Potential jurors for Diddy case asked about sex abuse and celebrities

The day of reckoning has arrived for Sean “Diddy” Combs, whose trial on a range of sexual assault charges could result in the one-time billionaire spending the rest of his once-gilded life behind thick steel bars.

As he entered the Manhattan courtroom on May 5, Combs hugged his lawyers as they, and the prosecution, began the laborious task of selecting the 12 people who could free or doom the rap mogul.

Combs, whose empire once extended to fashion, traded the jail garb he has donned since September for a navy blue sweater over a white collared shirt. Dark glasses shielded his eyes, while salt-and-pepper tufts flecked his goatee.

Jurors were questioned one at a time by the judge, the prosecution and the defense, their stated mission to try to seat a jury in just three days. May 5's slow pace could put that timeline in jeopardy, as finding jurors who remain unbiased in such a high-profile case could prove challenging.

Questions ranged from their history with sexual assault or abuse to their familiarity with such notable names as Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams to comedian Mike Myers. It was unclear how those celebrities might be featured in the trial.

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Judge Arun Subramanian even joked that the process could feel as long as the famously lengthy "Lord of the Rings" movie series.

One juror, identified only as No. 2, said that despite having a sister who was physically assaulted by her first husband decades ago, he could remain impartial in the case. He also said, despite being familiar with the actors Michael B. Jordan and Myers, two celebrity names that apparently could be mentioned in the trial, he could remain objective.

In contrast, some prospective jurors were dismissed after saying they had seen "damning" images of the defendant or had relatives who had suffered abuse.

Sean Combs was once considered a prime example of bootstrap success, rising from party promoter to cultural tastemaker

The rapper's connections with celebrities from Jay-Z to Jennifer Lopez bring increased interest to a case that has dominated headlines over the past months. Combs once was considered a prime example of Black success, the only child of a widowed mother who rose from a modest New York background to stratospheric heights of wealth and influence. His uncanny knack for rap hooks sent his own songs up the charts while also making stars out of performers such as The Notorious B.I.G.

After his fashion brand Sean John hit it big in the late '90s, Combs' status and wealth swelled, leading directly to his fabled White Parties, extravagant bicoastal blowouts that ran from 1998 to 2009. The biggest names in show business vied for those prized invites. But rumors soon swirled, with some lawsuits alleging that some abuse took place at these high profile events, in addition to more intimate gatherings known as freak-offs and Wild King Night parties.

And yet Combs' star continued to rise. After inking a partnership in 2007 between his vodka label Cîroc and spirits giant Diageo, the Howard University dropout eventually amassed a 10-figure fortune, a good deal of which has reportedly been swallowed up by soaring legal bills.

Combs' lawyers will try to convince a Manhattan jury that what prosecutors call a criminal enterprise is a mischaracterization of the private and consensual activities of Combs and his friends.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs could face up to life in prison if convicted on the most serious charges

Combs, 55, is facing federal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all five counts and recently turned down a plea deal that could have found him serving less than the life sentence that is possible if he is convicted on the major charges.

The case against Combs, who rose from concert promoter to rap impresario to fashion and spirits magnate, is one of the highest-profile trials for sexual misconduct since R. Kelly and Harvey Weinstein, both of whom were found guilty of a range of sexual abuse charges.

Like those two men, Combs' power and influence created an impenetrable cocoon of privilege that, prosecutors will argue, insulated him from repercussions while devastating the lives of men and women who stayed largely silent for fear of his reach.

Combs' team, anchored by high-profile lawyer Brian Steel, will aim to convince jurors that whatever happened in the rapper's private orbits was between consenting individuals and did not constitute the machinations of a criminal enterprise.

As potential jurors faced an array of questions from the judge, prosecutors and the defense, the issue of remaining impartial took the spotlight. That meant some candidates were excluded because they were related to someone who had suffered sexual abuse, while others in the same position were kept in the pool after assuring the court that they could weigh the evidence without bias.

Many jurors admitted to seeing media coverage about the allegations against Combs, as well as a video of him dragging and kicking his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a hotel hallway. Ventura's 2023 lawsuit against Combs opened the floodgates that led to the trial.

While many have said that wouldn't sway their ability to be impartial, one individual was excused after saying they had previously seen what could be a "damning" image of Combs. One juror, who said hearing from victims of alleged assault would make them “uncomfortable,” was also quickly dismissed.

For some potential Diddy trial jurors, even the slightest connection to the rapper's saga meant disqualification

Combs' lawyers have tried to remove potential jurors for other reasons. They moved to dismiss a woman who works at HBO because the media company recently released a documentary titled "The Fall of Diddy." The potential juror did not work on the film, and the judge overruled the attempt.

Another prospective juror, who is a marketing officer at a large book publishing house, was excluded for cause after saying that the company is publishing a memoir from Al B. Sure! this fall that contains accusations or references about Combs. The prospective juror said she would “be unlikely to read that book,” but the judge said this was “too close to home.”

Two potential candidates appeared to have reasons for disqualification but remained in the pool. One woman revealed she had been caught shoplifting at a young age and admitted to liking a social media post poking fun at the use of baby oil, which Combs allegedly employed during his “freak-offs.”

Another expressed some anxiety about being on the jury, and revealed she had been assaulted as a teen. Combs’ lawyer attempted to exclude her from the pool but was unsuccessful after the judge called her “careful” in her answers rather than "cagey," as the defense characterized her. 

Whoever is selected can at least feel relatively sure they will not become part of the sordid Diddy saga. The dozen chosen for this civic duty will remain anonymous, which is frequently the case in high-profile trials in which jurors could face threats or harassment if their identities are known.

Contributing: Marina Pitofsky and Patrick Ryan