Witness: Mylah Morales

Mylah Morales’ Testimony in Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ Sex Trafficking and Racketeering Trial: Day 9 Highlights On May 22, 2025, during Day 9 of Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan, Mylah Morales, a celebrity makeup artist, testified at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in New York. Morales, who worked for both Combs and Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, provided a firsthand account of witnessing Ventura’s injuries after an alleged 2010 altercation with Combs, supporting the prosecution’s narrative of a pattern of violence and coercion central to the charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Her testimony followed rapper Kid Cudi’s appearance earlier that morning and preceded that of L’Ermitage Hotel general manager Frederic Zemmour. Background and Role in the Trial Mylah Morales, a makeup artist who worked for Combs from 2000 to 2005 and for Ventura from 2007 to 2018, was called as the prosecution’s 14th witness to corroborate Ventura’s allegations of physical abuse by Combs. Ventura, who testified from May 13 to May 16, described an 11-year relationship marked by violence, coercion into drug-fueled 'freak-offs,' and control over her career and personal life. Morales, whom Ventura described as a 'big sister,' was present during a 2010 incident at the Beverly Hills Hotel, which Ventura referenced in her testimony as a moment of severe abuse. The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey, used Morales to illustrate Combs’ alleged violence and the fear he instilled in those around him, key elements of the racketeering charge. Morales’ testimony came after Kid Cudi’s account of Combs’ alleged threats and preceded hotel records testimony that highlighted Combs’ use of aliases and excessive oil in rooms. Key Points of Mylah Morales’ Testimony 1. Relationship with Ventura and Combs Morales began her testimony by outlining her professional history with both Combs and Ventura. She told the jury she worked for Combs from 2000 to 2005, leaving to work with other clients like Rihanna, for whom she worked for 13 years. Morales first met Ventura in Brooklyn when Ventura was 16, during a photoshoot, and began doing her makeup regularly after Ventura signed with Combs’ Bad Boy Records in 2007. Morales described their relationship as close, with Ventura staying at her house multiple times over the years. This background established Morales’ long-standing connection to Ventura, positioning her as a credible witness to Ventura’s experiences with Combs. 2. The 2010 Beverly Hills Hotel Incident The core of Morales’ testimony focused on an incident during Grammy weekend in 2010 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where she and Ventura were sharing a suite. Morales testified that she was napping on a couch when Combs entered, shouting, 'Where the f--- is she?' in search of Ventura. She said Ventura came into the room, and Combs followed her into the bedroom, shutting the door. Morales then heard 'yelling and screaming' from both Combs and Ventura behind the closed door, after which Combs stormed out of the suite. Morales told the jury she was 'frantic' and didn’t know what to do. When Ventura emerged, Morales saw her with 'a swollen eye, a busted lip, and knots on her head,' indicating a violent altercation. This account aligned with Ventura’s earlier testimony about being beaten by Combs in the bedroom after attending a party at Prince’s Los Angeles home, which she said she hadn’t told Combs about, fearing his reaction. 3. Aftermath and Ventura’s Recovery Morales testified that she immediately packed their belongings and took Ventura to her house, where Ventura stayed for a few days to recover. She called a friend who was a medical doctor to examine Ventura the next day, concerned about a possible concussion. The doctor checked Ventura’s face, stomach, and ribs, noting the severity of her injuries, and recommended she go to the emergency room. However, Ventura refused, which Morales attributed to her fear of Combs’ reaction. Morales herself did not call the police, explaining, 'I feared for my life,' a statement she repeated multiple times, drawing objections from the defense. She told the jury that she and Ventura never spoke of the incident again, even though they maintained contact a few times a year after Ventura’s breakup with Combs, underscoring the lasting fear and trauma the event caused. 4. Media Interviews and Financial Details During cross-examination, defense attorney Anna Estevao probed Morales about her public discussions of the incident. Morales confirmed she had given about eight media interviews in the past year, including to CNN, Don Lemon, and Piers Morgan, and participated in documentaries about Combs. She said she wasn’t paid for most interviews, except for one instance where she received $1,000 for providing old photos of herself with Combs’ late ex, Kim Porter, from the early 2000s. She also noted a documentary reimbursed her $250 for therapy. Morales couldn’t recall specifics about some contacts, like whether Dateline reached out, saying she no longer checked those emails. The defense appeared to aim at painting Morales as an attention-seeker, but this line of questioning didn’t significantly undermine her testimony, as Morales maintained she wasn’t motivated by financial gain and that neither Combs nor his employees ever approached her about the incident. 5. Cross-Examination on Ventura’s Career and Incident Details Estevao also sought to challenge the prosecution’s narrative that Combs stifled Ventura’s career, showing the jury photos from Ventura’s music video shoot for Wiz Khalifa’s 'Black and Yellow' and various magazine shoots where Morales did her makeup. Morales confirmed she aimed to make Ventura look 'put together' for these projects and had reposted the images online, supporting the defense’s argument that Ventura had a 'full and blossoming career' despite her relationship with Combs. Estevao revisited the 2010 incident, emphasizing that Morales didn’t see what happened inside the bedroom, only hearing the altercation. Morales acknowledged this but stood by her observations of Ventura’s injuries. She also confirmed speaking with a lawyer friend shortly after the incident, though no legal action was taken. The defense objected each time Morales said, 'I feared for my life,' but Judge Arun Subramanian overruled these objections, allowing her statements to stand. Legal and Trial Context Morales’ testimony followed Kid Cudi’s account of Combs’ alleged threats and car firebombing, and preceded Zemmour’s testimony about hotel records showing Combs’ use of aliases like 'Frank White' and excessive baby oil, corroborating Ventura’s descriptions of 'freak-off' settings. The prosecution used Morales to reinforce Ventura’s claims of physical abuse and the culture of fear Combs allegedly created, supporting the racketeering charge by showing how his actions silenced witnesses. The defense, led by Marc Agnifilo, aimed to undermine this narrative by highlighting Ventura’s career successes and Morales’ media appearances, though these efforts had limited impact. Posts on X reflected public interest in Morales’ testimony, with some users noting her fear of Combs as compelling, though these sentiments are inconclusive. Implications and Next Steps Morales’ testimony provided a vivid account of Combs’ alleged violence, with her description of Ventura’s injuries and her own fear adding weight to the prosecution’s case. Her decision not to call the police, driven by fear, underscored the intimidation central to the racketeering charge. However, the defense’s focus on Ventura’s career and Morales’ media interviews introduced alternative interpretations, suggesting Ventura’s agency and questioning Morales’ motives. When court resumes on May 27 after the Memorial Day break, prosecutors will call Combs’ former assistant Capricorn Clark and representatives from the Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments, likely to further explore the allegations of violence and coercion.

Compiled from news sources and summarized by Grok.

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