Diddy‘s sex trafficking trial is officially under way, and his defense team is coming to the table with the accusation that ex-girlfriend Cassie physically abused him in their relationship.
According to TMZ, the topic came up in the courtroom on day four of the trial after prosecutor Emily Anne Johnson told Judge Arun Subramanian that Victim 1 (who is believed to be Cassie) will not be cross-examined about certain medical issues.
The judge replied saying that whatever issues prosecutors do touch on, the defense can also do so and cross-examine the witnesses on the topic(s).
It was then that Diddy’s attorney Marc Agnifilo said the defense “is going to take the position there was mutual violence in their relationship, hitting, on both sides. DV [domestic violence].”
He added, “We are absolutely going to admit to domestic violence. But at what point does it become coercive?”
In response to the judge asking whether “you’re arguing that they are just violent?” Agnifilo responded, “Right. We’re saying it’s relevant.”
While the abuse Cassie allegedly endured is not part of the charges Diddy’s facing, video of him beating her at the Intercontinental Hotel in L.A. in 2016 will be used in the trial in an effort to paint a picture of the embattled mogul’s personality – something he tried to exclude.
Diddy filed formal request that the judge excludes the tape on April 17.
His team revealed their plans to do so in a letter, where they claimed that “CNN purchased the only known copy of the Hotel’s surveillance footage, uploaded that footage into a free editing software, altered the video and then destroyed the original footage, even though it knew about and repeatedly reported about the federal investigation.”
The altering, his team says, includes “covering the time stamp and then changing the video sequence. It also includes speeding up the video to make it falsely appear that the actions in the video are taking place faster than they are.”
They argue that it is not an accurate representation of what really happened, and revealed plans to file a motion to exclude the video from the trial. Should what they allege be true, Diddy’s motion may be granted as courts rarely allow edited video evidence.
However, in a statement to HipHopDX, representatives for CNN said: “CNN never altered the video and did not destroy the original copy of the footage, which was retained by the source. CNN aired the story about the video several months before Combs was arrested.”
Johnson said in court this week that she plans to submit two cellphone videos and the corrected CNN footage of the beating.
MGK has unveiled his high energy new single “Fix Ur Face” featuring Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst.
The intense collaboration sees the rapper turned rocker dive deeper into the hard hitting sound he has been refining over the past few years.
Fusing the raw edge of 90s nu metal with Machine Gun Kelly’s modern alternative style, the track stands out as one of his most aggressive releases so far.
The song dropped alongside a bold black and white video, which premiered across MTV Live, MTVU, and the Paramount Times Square billboards.
Directed by frequent collaborator Sam Cahill, the visual was shot in several cities during mgk’s lost americana tour, including Berlin, Dublin, Düsseldorf, London, Prague, Cologne, Nashville and Los Angeles. It highlights the intensity and intimacy of touring, from packed venues and sweat drenched crowds to the blurred line between performer and fans.
The track was created with his close knit creative team, including SlimXX, BazeXX, RookXX, Nick Long, and No Love For The Middle Child, giving it a gritty and multi generational energy that sets it apart from today’s mainstream rock and rap.
Durst brings a high powered performance, channeling the same raw intensity that shaped Limp Bizkit’s early era.
The video’s look was further developed by street artists Lugosis and Strato, who painted a large mural in Berlin, while Slawn Olaolu designed the character face and jackets featured throughout the clip, adding a distinct DIY feel.
MGK first previewed “Fix Ur Face” during the European run of the lost americana tour, then later shared a snippet during shows in Australia, building strong anticipation among fans.
His relationship with Durst stretches back over a decade, with the two having performed together on multiple occasions, including mgk’s 2014 tour alongside Limp Bizkit.
The lost americana tour is now set to return to the United States, resuming on May 15 with Wiz Khalifa joining as support.
