Witness: Scott Mescudi

Kid Cudi’s 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, rapper Scott 'Kid Cudi' Mescudi testified at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in New York. Kid Cudi, a Grammy Award-winning artist known for his introspective hip-hop, provided testimony about his brief 2011 relationship with Combs’ then-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, alleging that Combs broke into his home and orchestrated the firebombing of his car in retaliation. His testimony, which lasted under two hours, aimed to support the prosecution’s narrative that Combs used violence and intimidation as tools in a criminal enterprise, central to the charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Background and Role in the Trial Scott Mescudi, known professionally as Kid Cudi, is a 41-year-old rapper and actor who rose to fame with his 2009 album 'Man on the Moon: The End of Day'. He was called as a prosecution witness to corroborate Ventura’s earlier testimony about Combs’ violent reactions to her relationship with Kid Cudi in 2011. Ventura, the trial’s star witness, had testified from May 13 to May 16 that Combs assaulted her after discovering her fling with Kid Cudi, threatened to blow up Kid Cudi’s car, and that the car subsequently exploded in his driveway. Kid Cudi’s testimony followed that of Combs’ former assistant George Kaplan, who concluded his testimony earlier that morning, and preceded makeup artist Mylah Morales’ account of witnessing Combs’ abuse of Ventura. The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson, used Kid Cudi to illustrate Combs’ alleged use of violence and intimidation, key elements of the racketeering charge, while the defense sought to cast doubt on his claims and Ventura’s credibility. Key Points of Kid Cudi’s Testimony 1. Relationship with Cassie Ventura Kid Cudi began his testimony on May 22 at 10:43 a.m., describing his relationship with Ventura. He told the jury they met in 2008 at an event in New York and became friends, initially working together on music at Combs’ request in 2010. By 2011, their friendship turned romantic during a period when Ventura said she and Combs were not dating, though they still engaged in 'freak-offs'—drug-fueled sexual encounters Combs allegedly orchestrated. Kid Cudi testified that Ventura confided in him about physical abuse from Combs, stating, 'She told me he would hit her, sometimes kick her,' which bothered him deeply. He clarified that Ventura did not mention sexual abuse, focusing solely on physical violence. Kid Cudi noted that Ventura seemed 'shook' when Combs discovered their relationship, highlighting the fear Combs allegedly instilled in her. 2. Break-In at Kid Cudi’s Home Kid Cudi recounted a disturbing incident in December 2011, shortly after Combs learned of his relationship with Ventura. He testified that Ventura called him, sounding scared, to warn that Combs had found out about them. Concerned for her safety, Kid Cudi picked her up and took her to a hotel. Later that day, he received a call from Combs’ former assistant, Capricorn Clark, who was 'alarmed and crying,' informing him that Combs was near Kid Cudi’s Los Angeles home. Kid Cudi called Combs while driving to confront him, asking, 'Motherf---er, you in my house?' Combs, sounding calm, replied, 'I just want to talk to you. I’m over here waiting for you.' Upon arriving, Kid Cudi found Combs gone, but his security cameras had been moved, Christmas gifts for his family were opened, and his dog was locked in the bathroom, which he said left the dog 'jittery and on edge' afterward. Kid Cudi filed a police report, believing Combs was responsible, as he saw it as an act of intimidation following Ventura’s disclosure. 3. Car Firebombing Incident The most striking part of Kid Cudi’s testimony was his account of his Porsche 911 being firebombed in January 2012, weeks after the break-in. He told the jury he was 45 minutes away from home when his dog sitter called to report the car was on fire in his driveway. Rushing back, Kid Cudi found a Molotov cocktail had been thrown through the convertible roof, leaving a burned hole, with scorch marks on the driver’s seat and door. Prosecutors displayed photos of the damage in court, which Kid Cudi described in detail, noting the remains of the Molotov cocktail nearby. He directly linked the incident to Combs, citing Ventura’s earlier testimony that Combs had threatened to blow up his car and wanted his friends to see it happen. Kid Cudi told the jury, 'After the fire, I was like, ‘This is getting out of hand,’' leading him to arrange a meeting with Combs to address the escalating tension. 4. Meetings with Combs and Resolution Attempts Kid Cudi testified about two meetings with Combs to address their conflict over Ventura. The first occurred shortly after the car fire at the Soho House in Los Angeles. Kid Cudi described Combs as resembling 'a Marvel supervillain,' standing with his hands behind his back in a conference room. During the meeting, Combs denied involvement in the car fire, asking, 'What vehicle?' Kid Cudi told the jury he believed Combs was lying, stating, 'I came away from the meeting thinking he was lying.' A second meeting occurred years later in 2015, also at the Soho House, where Combs brought his daughter and apologized, saying, 'I just want to apologize for everything, all that bulls---.' Kid Cudi said he 'kind of found peace' with the situation, noting it was the last thing he expected. He concluded his direct testimony by affirming he had no other issues with Combs at that time, though he remained firm in his belief that Combs was violent, saying, 'I knew Sean Combs was violent,' when asked about his safety concerns. 5. Cross-Examination by the Defense Defense attorney Brian Steel conducted the cross-examination, aiming to undermine Kid Cudi’s allegations and Ventura’s credibility. Steel confirmed that Kid Cudi left his front door unlocked during the alleged break-in, there was no forced entry or furniture damage, and Combs was calm on the phone, not threatening him directly. Steel also questioned whether Kid Cudi saw who set his car on fire, to which he admitted he did not, and acknowledged that no one was charged despite DNA evidence being collected. Steel suggested Ventura had 'played' both Kid Cudi and Combs, framing her as manipulative and possibly exaggerating Combs’ actions. Kid Cudi agreed that Ventura might have misled both men but maintained his belief in Combs’ involvement in the car fire. On redirect, prosecutors reinforced Ventura’s account of physical abuse, with Kid Cudi reiterating her disclosures about Combs hitting and kicking her. The defense’s line of questioning about Kid Cudi’s sexual relationship with Ventura drew objections from the prosecution, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey calling it 'outrageous,' and Judge Arun Subramanian chastised the defense during a sidebar. Legal and Trial Context Kid Cudi’s testimony followed Kaplan’s account of witnessing Combs’ violence and preceded Morales’ testimony about a 2010 incident where she saw Ventura with injuries after Combs stormed into a hotel room. The prosecution used Kid Cudi to bolster their racketeering charge by showing Combs allegedly used violence—like the car firebombing—to intimidate others, supporting Ventura’s claims of coercion. The defense, led by Marc Agnifilo, argued there was no direct evidence linking Combs to the arson, as CNN legal expert Misty Marris noted, with the cross-examination casting doubt on Kid Cudi’s assumptions. Posts on X reflected mixed sentiments, with some users finding the car fire testimony 'damaging' to Combs, while others noted the lack of concrete proof and Ventura’s potential manipulation, though these views are inconclusive. Implications and Next Steps Kid Cudi’s testimony provided a compelling narrative of Combs’ alleged jealousy and violence, particularly the car firebombing, which aligns with the prosecution’s claim of a criminal enterprise using violent tactics. However, the defense’s cross-examination highlighted the absence of direct evidence tying Combs to the arson, potentially weakening its impact on the jury. When court resumes on May 27 after the Memorial Day break, prosecutors will call Combs’ former assistant Capricorn Clark, as well as representatives from the Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments, to further explore the allegations of violence and coercion central to the case.

Compiled from news sources and summarized by Grok.

Transcript