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Kid Cudi, real name Scott Mescudi, has opened up about his past with Cassie Ventura in his new memoir Cudi: The Memoir. In the memoir, he revisited the turbulence surrounding Ventura’s on-off romance with Sean Diddy Combs. Reflecting on their brief relationship in 2011, Cudi revealed how trapped she seemed during her time with the music mogul. He added,

Over time, I realized she was a prisoner. I just prayed one day she would be free.

His statement sheds light on the darker side of Ventura’s relationship with Combs and the emotional toll it left on those close to her. Cudi’s revelations came following Combs’ ongoing trial, where he is facing charges of racketeering, s*x trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Though Combs has continued to deny all allegations, Ventura has testified, describing years of alleged abuse, including claims of assault.

Diddy’s Jealousy Toward Kid...

The Fast and the Furious copycat film, based on the popular video game series Need for Speed,is headed to a brand-new streaming platform next month.

Need For Speed is racing towards Hulu and set to arrive on the platform on Sept. 1. The 2014 action movie starring Aaron Paul, best known for his key role as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad,was a major box office success, earning $203.3 million on a $66 million budget. Paul plays Tobey Marshall, a mechanic framed for a crime by the traitorous Dino Brewster. After he's released from prison, Tobey is determined to get his revenge on Dino in a race.

Need for Speed's Divisive Movie Adaptation Lands New Streaming Next Month Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Despite its financial success, Need for Speed wasn't very well received by critics. The film sits at an unfortunate score of 23% percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with a...

Kanye West was once a mentor to and frequent collaborator with Kid Cudi, but the “Pursuit of Happiness” rapper revealed that he cut West out of his life following several conflicts.

On CBS Mornings on Wednesday, Cudi explained that his and West’s relationship fizzled out. After he said the situation was “sad,” interviewer Anthony Mason asked him to clarify in “what way” the falling out disappointed him.

“The freedom that we experienced when we were creating, it just will never happen again, you know?” Cudi said. “And that is the heartbreaking side of things. But, hey, I had a lot of things in my life break my heart, and I’ve been able to survive and move past it.”

Mason then asked if West broke his “heart in some way” and Cudi admitted, “I think he has over and over, multiple times.”

Cudi went on to claim that West...

Kid Cudi says he “hated every minute” of his time on the witness stand at Sean Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial in New York. Still, he found “peace” knowing he was there to support Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, the R&b singer who testified that Combs routinely beat and harassed her during their tumultuous decade-long dating relationship.

Appearing on the Call Her Daddy podcast to promote his new memoir, Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, revealed that he twice said no to prosecutors when they asked him to testify voluntarily.

For six years, Kanye West gave an aspiring director from Orange County unfettered access to his life, breakdowns and inner circle. The result of that can soon be seen on the big screen in the documentary In Whose Name?, which will be released by Amsi Entertainment in partnership with AMC, Regal and Cinemark on Sept. 19.

Ballesteros, who started shadowing the artist also known as Ye at 18, shot more than 3,000 hours of footage during some of West’s most tumultuous times as he struggled with mental health issues and a bipolar diagnosis, the breakdown of his marriage to Kim Kardashian, the crumbling of lucrative endorsement deals and a series of controversies over hate-filled public statements promoting antisemitic views, conspiracy theories and personal attacks on other artists and celebrities.

“I’m off my meds for five months now,” West says as the teaser opens, later adding, “I would rather be dead than be on medication.

Kid Cudi is breaking his silence about testifying in Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ trial.

The 41-year-old rapper revealed on the Call Her Daddy podcast on Wednesday (August 13) that he initially turned down requests to testify twice before being subpoenaed to take the stand in May.

“I hated every minute of it,” he said. “I did not want to do it, but then I thought about — when I was up there — I’m here to support Cassie.”

Keep reading to find out more…

Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, explained that his close friendship with Cassie (real name Casandra Ventura) motivated him to testify, sharing, “Cassie is my friend, and I love her and I want to see her do well. I’ve always just wanted to see her thrive and do well and be happy. I know she was living a nightmare.”

During his testimony, he alleged that Diddy...

M. Night Shyamalan is in the middle of working on his next movie with Jake Gyllenhaal, but more than a year before it premieres in theaters, one of his older movies has returned to streaming charts more than 10 years later. In 2013, Shyamalan directed After Earth, the coming-of-age space sci-fi epic starring Will Smith opposite his son, Jaden Smith. The film follows a son who must embark on a perilous journey to call for help after his father is injured. After Earth is currently streaming on Netflix in America and Rakuten TV globally, where it’s one of the top 10 most popular movies in Estonia and Malta. The film earned “Rotten” scores of 12% from critics and 36% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, and it grossed $243 million at the global box office against a $130 million budget.

Fans who want to enjoy After Earth on Netflix should do so quickly — the streamer has announced...

Wednesday on CBS Mornings, two influential figures face pivotal moments: one in public confession, the other in public trust. First, musical innovator Kid Cudi sits down with Anthony Mason for a revealing conversation about his new memoir, Cudi. An artist who has always been unflinchingly honest about his battles with mental health and the pressures […]

CBS Mornings: Kid Cudi, Charlie Baker...

Scott Mescudi, Brandon Perea, J. Alphonse Nicholson and Keyla Monterroso Mejia are among the stars of the horror short films produced for Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions and TIFF’s “No Drama” Initiative.

The program — supported by Monkeypaw, TIFF and Universal Filmed Entertainment Group — launched last fall with five filmmakers selected to create proof of concept or short films that explore horror across cultures, time, environments and society. “No Drama” asked the artists to reflect on this question: “What’s your biggest fear? What monsters lurk in the deepest corners of your inner thoughts?”

The inaugural class of filmmakers, Chandler Crump, Charlie Dennis, Helena Hawkes, Jared Leaf and Ariel Zengotita, each received a $50,000 grant from TIFF to produce their projects during the one-year, non-exclusive program. All five films, written and directed by each participant, will premiere next month at TIFF (out of competition), and the filmmakers will also participate in...

Seeking an acquittal or a brand new trial, the incarcerated Sean “Diddy” Combs has pretty much already launched an appeal on his conviction of the lesser counts in the “I Need A Girl” performer’s sex-trafficking trial and he hasn’t even been sentenced yet.

“Sean Combs sits in jail based on evidence that he paid adult male escorts and entertainers who engaged in consensual sexual activities with his former girlfriends, which he videotaped and later watched with the girlfriends,” asserts the Bad Boy Records founder’s defense team in a sprawling and preemptive 62-page memorandum of renewed motion filed late Wednesday in federal court. “That is not prostitution, and if it is, his conviction is unconstitutional.”

In a scolding rejection of the prosecution after an eight-week trial, the eight men and four women New York jury earlier this month only found 55-year-old Combs guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Adam Sandler can do very little wrong when it comes to his run of Netflix movies, as even if not everyone likes them, millions still tune in to watch them. His long-awaited return as Happy Gilmore, in the imaginatively titled Happy Gilmore 2, is no exception to the rule. With a mixed set of reviews from critics, and only slightly better reaction from audiences, Sandler has still been breaking records.

Happy Gilmore 2 is certainly not one of the most disastrous Adam Sandler movies to land on Netflix in the last several years, and managed to scrape a fresh rating from the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer (on 64% at the time of writing). Audiences were a little happier with Happy, but the 70% score on the Popcornmeter is nowhere near the 85% of the 1996 original movie.

Despite that, Happy Gilmore 2 was watched 46.7 million times in its first three days, which not only makes...

After waiting patiently for almost three decades, Adam Sandler is teeing up once again as beloved character Happy Gilmore in the long-awaited comedy sequel, Happy Gilmore 2. The follow-up, which finds Happy returning to the golf course once again after all these years, has now landed on Netflix, with the oft-angry golfer coming out swinging with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

The sequel is now available to stream on Netflix, with some audiences eager to catch up with Happy after all this time. And, in a surprise to cinematic cynics, Happy Gilmore 2 may well have been worth the wait. The sequel now stands at a solid 72% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter meaning, while it doesn’t quite live up to the first movie’s 85%, it’s far from the comedic disaster that many expected.

Awarding Happy Gilmore 2 a perfect rating of five stars, one user writes, “Happy Gilmore 2...

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end and boyfriend of global pop icon Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, is officially in Happy Gilmore 2. NFL star will make his big-screen debut in the long-awaited sequel to Adam Sandler‘s 1996 comedy, premiering on Netflix on July 25. Fans have already spotted him in the trailer wearing a vest, shirt, and tie, potentially a hotel employee.

The speculation was confirmed by Sandler himself in August 2024 during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “We have a nice something for Travis,” Sandler said.

He’s going to come by, and he’s a very nice guy. You guys would love him in real life. What a big, handsome guy. Funny and cool as hell.

Kelce had previously downplayed rumors of his involvement during an episode of his New Heights podcast, joking,

I didn’t even know there was a job opening for Happy Gilmore 2,...

When Happy Gilmore first teed off in 1996, it quickly became one of the most beloved sports comedies of its time. Directed by Dennis Dugan and starring Adam Sandler in one of his most iconic roles, the film’s mix of crude humor, underdog charm, and slapstick golf action turned it into a cult classic. Now, nearly three decades later, Sandler is stepping back onto the green for Happy Gilmore 2, a long-awaited sequel that blends the nostalgic vibe of the original with fresh faces and a modern twist. With the film set to release globally on Netflix on July 25, 2025, fans are eager to revisit this hilariously dysfunctional world of golf, grudges, and unlikely triumphs.

In this article, we’ll break down everything we know so far about Happy Gilmore 2—from plot direction and returning cast to celebrity cameos, streaming details, and what this sequel means for Sandler’s Netflix legacy.

The release of the long-awaited sequel to the Adam Sandler comedy classic Happy Gilmore is now imminent, with the follow-up coming as part of Sandler’s mega eight-movie deal with Netflix. Now that Happy is returning to tee up, fans cannot help but wonder what other Sandler classics could get a sequel thanks to the streamer. Well, the beloved comedian has now responded with excitement to a certain suggestion...

Speaking to Variety at the premiere of Happy Gilmore 2, which is due to land on Netflix later this week on July 25, Sandler was asked whether he would be interested in bringing back Billy Madison for another adventure. By far one of his most beloved comedies, the first Billy Madison was released back in 1995 and follows Sandler as the titular 27-year-old slacker who, to inherit his father’s fortune, must go back to school and complete grades one to twelve all on his own.

Adam Sandler and Bad Bunny are hitting the green carpet!

The co-stars posed for photos together at the premiere of Happy Gilmore 2 on Monday evening (July 21) held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Fellow cast members in attendance included Julie Bowen, Margaret Qualley, Christopher McDonald, Haley Joel Osment, and Benny Safdie.

Here’s a synopsis: It’s been almost 30 years since we last saw Happy Gilmore, the long-driving hero who won the Tour Championship in 1996.”

We’ve compiled photos of all the stars in attendance at the premiere so you can see who was there!

Happy Gilmore 2 hits Netflix on July 25.

Keep reading to find out more…Keep scrolling to see the stars in attendance…

Adam Sandler & wife Jackie

Bad Bunny

Christopher McDonald with wife Lupe and daughter Rosie

Julie Bowen

Margaret Qualley

Kid Cudi

John Cena & wife Shay Shariatzadeh

Benny Safdie

Adam DeVine & wife...

The long-awaited “Happy Gilmore 2” celebrated its premiere in New York City on Monday, July 21 at Jazz at Lincoln Center, along with a massive array of talent including stars Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Benny Safdie, Bad Bunny, and Kid Cudi, to name a few. Sandler reprises his role as the titular unsuccessful ice hockey player turned unlikely golf pro.

Sandler’s “Grown Ups” co-star Kevin James revealed that a third installment may be on the horizon. “I think you can keep hope alive,” James told The Direct. “I can say that. I would keep a lot of hope alive. And I think it’s happening—something’s happening. I can say that.”

“It would be fun, that would be fun,” Sandler told IndieWire on the “Happy Gilmore 2” carpet. “We’re always thinking of some shit and trying to get us all together. I’ve heard chatter.” As for if...

Jaden Smith has largely disappeared from his on-screen roles in recent years. He has also had long periods of absence from acting in the past. His last major on-screen appearance was alongside Cara Delevingne in the 2020 film Life in a Year. Smith hasn’t officially announced his retirement from acting, but it appears that he has shifted his focus to music, where he’s more successful.

Will Smith’s son first impressed us with his performance in The Pursuit of Happyness, which won multiple awards. He played 5-year-old Christopher Gardner Jr. in the film. He later appeared as Dre Parker alongside the legendary Jackie Chan in The Karate Kid.

Both this film and his collaboration with Justin Bieber for the song, Never Say Never, elevated his popularity at the time. He later released his debut mixtape, The Cool Cafe: Cool Tape Vol. 1, in 2012. However, he was devastated after his lead...

Happy Gilmore fans who have been waiting for the opportunity to channel their inner Happy are in luck. In tune with Netflix's release of the anticipated sequel to the 1996 cult classic, Callaway will release a limited-edition Odyssey Hockey Stick Putter in the shape of a hockey stick, a nod to the titular character's unconventional golf style. This release, alongside some themed golf balls from the golf equipment company, is perfectly timed for Happy Gilmore 2's debut on July 25.

Adam Sandler's Happy, famously a hockey player before his golfing career, brought his aggressive approach to the greens, often using a hockey stick as a putter. The new black and gold hockey stick putter directly references this questionable choice, complete with a design that honors Happy's favorite sports team, the Boston Bruins (the jersey frequently donned on the golf course); the handle is inscribed with Happy Gilmore. Callaway has...

Kid Cudi had lots of good news to share Friday as he announced both that a new album is on the way and he recently married his longtime girlfriend.

The rapper also shared the video for his new song “Grave,” the second single off the just-announced Free, out August 22.

For the “Grave” visual, Cudi teamed with director Samuel Bayer, the music video legend who previously helmed Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Blind Melon’s “No Rain,” the Cranberries’ “Zombie” and other classic videos.

“Grave” follows Free’s first single “Neverland,...

Kid Cudi is now a married man!

On Friday (July 11), the 41-year-old Grammy-winning rapper, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, announced that he married fiancée Lola Abecassis Sartore late last month in the South of France.

Keep reading to find out more…In a new interview with Vogue, Cudi and Lola, the head designer at Erl, shared that they married on June 28 at Cap Estel in Èze, near where Lola grew up.

“It was bliss,” Lola shared. “A moment out of time where the world stopped, and it was just the two of us. We forgot everything around us. It was just us and our love, and it was the purest moment.”

“Everyone [we know who had] already gotten married told us it would go fast,” Lola added. “We didn’t know it would go this quickly [though]. We’re on cloud nine in our little bubble of love. It’s so overwhelming to receive...

On Monday, less than a week after the split verdict was announced at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lengthy and contentious federal criminal trial, news came from the Trump administration regarding a different billionaire once beset with sex-crime charges. The Justice Department’s announcement that the much-hyped and sought-after Jeffrey Epstein files amounted to a whole lot of nothing. The two-page memo said Epstein’s much-speculated-upon client list didn’t exist and that there would be no further public releases related to his sex-trafficking investigation.

Conspiracy-mongers are now frothing at the mouth as both of the high-profile cases, while unrelated, reached unceremonious, and to many unsatisfactory, ends within just a few days of each other. Both the Diddy and Epstein sagas have captivated public attention and become lightning rods for disinformation and conspiracy theories. And now, it seems, both Combs and Epstein have narrowly escaped a life behind bars — the financier in a more permanent sense,...

Sean “Diddy” Combs scored a major legal victory this week as he managed to avoid the most serious of the sex trafficking and racketeering allegations in his criminal trial, leaving those in the music business questioning how an industry with a notoriously murky past in handling abusive behavior is going to move forward.

“I’m tired of living in a world where money, power, misogyny and patriarchy continues to win,” Tiffany Red, a prominent music industry advocate and a close friend of Cassie Ventura’s wrote on Instagram after the verdict went out Wednesday.

The chances of Combs’ image itself being significantly rehabilitated seems slim, given that violent, abusive behavior was caught on camera and aired to millions of people around the world. And Combs still faces a litany of civil suits that will continue to follow him for the foreseeable future. Whatever career he has to return to comes with a significant asterisk.

Nearly three decades after Happy Gilmore landed in theaters, a sequel to the golf comedy will land on Netflix. Alongside Adam Sandler as the titular character, Julie Bowen will return for the anticipated Happy Gilmore 2 as Virginia, a fan-favorite character that she initially thought she would not be able to play again in the streaming sequel.

During a conversation on the Inside of You podcast, Bowen shared that she was surprised to be called back to reprise her role.

"I didn't think they'd bring me back at all. I mean, who am I supposed to be? He's got to have a younger woman in this one, 'Happy Gilmore 2.'"

Bowen famously portrayed Virginia Venit in the 1996 original, a public relations director for the professional golf tour that Happy joins. She recalled the audition process, sharing that the casting team was "visibly relieved" by her more grounded approach to Virginia.

Julie Bowen is more than happy to be reprising one of her her roles 30 years later for the upcoming sequel “Happy Gilmore 2.” Bowen starred in the 1996 original film as Virginia Venit, a representative for the professional golf tour that Adam Sandler’s titular character joins on a whim. Virginia (Bowen) is also the romantic interest of Happy (Sandler).

When it came to the long-awaited sequel, though, Bowen was shocked to be asked to return. “I didn’t think they’d bring me back at all,” Bowen said during the “Inside of You” podcast, as reported by Variety. “I mean, who am I supposed to be? He’s got to have a younger woman in this one, ‘Happy Gilmore 2.’”

However, Sandler assured Bowen that Virginia is the “heart of the movie” even though Bowen noted she has less screentime than in the first film. “Adam’s like, ‘Stop saying that.

The split verdict announced Wednesday morning in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial — with Combs found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and acquitted of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy — may have come as a surprise to observers who thought federal prosecutors had a sturdy case in which they laid out how the onetime high-flying hip-hop mogul used his corporation as a criminal enterprise to traffic women.

But now that Combs has been found not guilty of the more serious charges, he’s looking at a far less severe sentence, reduced from a potential lifetime behind bars to what could be mere years. What form his sentence will take and what’s next after he’s released (he was denied bail Wednesday) are some immediate questions, but the burning one is more existential for those fighting for the...

Sean Combs, the rapper and multi-industry mogul, known as “Puff Daddy” then “Diddy,” who captured the hip-hop zeitgeist in the mid-1990s and played a key role in mainstreaming the genre, was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution but was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, the more serious charges in the case and what federal prosecutors spent six weeks trying to prove to the jury to no avail.

On Wednesday, the foreman of the 12-person jury read their decisions on a verdict after deliberating for over 12 hours and decided that the government’s argument that he was at the center of a criminal enterprise run through the company he founded and where he was CEO, Combs Global (now renamed Combs Enterprises) was not used for nefarious purposes that ultimately led to the trafficking of multiple women.

Following the reading of the surprise verdict, Combs was led out by marshals.

Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted on two of the five counts in his federal sex crimes trial on Wednesday — specifically, he was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution. However, he was acquitted of the more serious charges related to racketeering and sex trafficking.

The prostitution charges each carry a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

The contentious trial began on May 12th, when prosecutors began presenting a chilling narrative of Combs as the leader of a criminal enterprise operating under the guise of his music and business empire. Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik argued that Combs systematically used violence, coercion, and manipulation to control his victims.

Throughout its seven weeks, the prosecution detailed how Combs allegedly leveraged his power and resources to carry out and cover up serious crimes, including sex trafficking, arson, bribery, and physical abuse. “Up until today, the defendant was able to get...

Updated with more details: Sean “Diddy” Combs has been found guilty on two counts in his sex-trafficking trial, the jury said today.

After a total of just 13 hours in the jury room, the panel of eight men and four women found the Bad Boy Records founder guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution. However, the jury found Combs not guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. The mixed verdict, just read out by the foreman, can only be viewed as a big defeat for the Maurene Comey-led prosecution

The two counts under the engaging in prostitution charge each carry a maximum sentence of a decade behind bars. Surely stinging from being defeated on the major Rico charge, prosecutors do not think Combs should be allowed out on bond, which is what the defense is arguing for with a million dollars on the table. The defense also wants its client...

While Sean “Diddy” Combs became a definitive figure in hip-hop — as his career spread from music to fashion, spirits and more, climbing to the top echelons of these industries — rumors of his conduct behind closed doors persisted for years. The first crack in the dam came in November of 2023, when accusations in a legal complaint from his ex-girlfriend, “Me & U” singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, opened the door to what’s now mounted to 10 legal complaints against the mogul. In September of 2024, he was arrested in Manhattan on charges that included sex trafficking, forced labor, coercion to engage in prostitution and narcotics distribution.

Combs entered a not guilty plea on these charges and, in a statement after his arrest, his attorney Marc Agnifilo said the U.S. Attorney’s Office is pursuing an “unjust prosecution,” adding that Combs has cooperated in the investigation.

“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving...

One legal expert claimed that P Diddy might be off the hook for the Freak-Off parties, but added that he might get cooked on another charge. Legal analyst for Fox News, Gregg Jarrett, has shared that the rap mogul could be acquitted of the sex trafficking and racketeering charges. However, he felt that the jury would not find his physical abuse of ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura lightly.

While Jarrett believed the prosecution put up a formidable case, he shared that the defense’s claims would put the jury in a hard position. According to Jarrett, the defense claimed in court that “our client is a bad guy, we own the brutal beating of his ex-girlfriend, but nevertheless, everything else was consensual.”

Jarrett shared that the prosecution was able to methodically go through Diddy’s ten crimes that amounted to racketeering and criminal enterprise. They also presented witnesses and documentary evidence, but...

After spending six weeks calling witnesses and presenting evidence against rap and fashion mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs at a lower Manhattan court, the team of six women federal prosecutors told the jury in the prosecution’s closing arguments that the onetime pop culture titan was, without a doubt, “the leader of a criminal enterprise.”

Combs faces five counts including one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty after his September arrest and has said that he has not committed any of the crimes of which he’s been accused.

On Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik presented the government’s closing salvo, focusing first on the racketeering conspiracy charge Combs faces and then moving into the sex trafficking allegations, specifically regarding two of his ex-girlfriends, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura and the pseudonymously named “Jane.

Hours after prosecutors rested their sprawling sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy case against Sean Combs on Tuesday, prosecutors filed a late-night letter to the court saying they’d be scaling back elements of three predicate acts of the racketeering charge against the hip-hop mogul.

The government is “no longer planning to proceed” on theories of attempted arson, alleged incidents of attempted kidnapping in California and New York, and the aiding and abetting of sex trafficking when giving charging instructions to the jury.

Combs is still facing separate counts of sex trafficking...

As jurors begin deliberations in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex crimes case, prosecutors have dropped several charges, including attempted kidnapping, attempted arson, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking.

This move comes as prosecutors seek to streamline jury instructions and focus on charges backed by stronger evidence. Combs is still facing charges related to sex trafficking and forced labor.

The dropped charges specifically related to allegations that Combs set fire to Kid Cudi’s vehicle after the rapper entered into a relationship with Combs’ on-again, off-again girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, and that Combs kidnapped both Ventura and his former assistant, Capricorn Clark.

Prosecutors say they’re no longer going to argue attempted kidnapping, attempted arson and aiding and abetting sex trafficking as liability for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ racketeering conspiracy charge. https://t.co/aBgvsVsaas pic.twitter.com/3GXF0JbAj9

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) June 25, 2025

Prosecutors Drop Kidnapping, Arson Charges Against Sean “Diddy” Combs...

There’s been a change to the proceedings in the ongoing Sean “Diddy” Combs trial.

The day before closing arguments in the 55-year-old music mogul’s federal criminal trial in New York City, prosecutors have pulled back on some key testimony during the trial, specifically kidnapping, attempted arson, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking, per TMZ.

Prosecutors said in a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian that the government is following His Honor’s instructions to “streamline” the jury instructions.

Keep reading to find out more…

They seemingly feel unable to prove Diddy kidnapped former employee Capricorn Clark, who was reportedly taken to a building and given a lie detector test to determine if she stole Diddy‘s jewelry, and that he allegedly kidnapped ex Cassie and held her at the London Hotel.

Prosecutors are also not pursuing the attempted arson claim that Diddy blew up Kid Cudi‘s car in...

Follow all of our Sean Combs trial coverage

After six weeks, more than 30 witnesses, several days of tearful testimony from three alleged sexual-abuse victims, sealed “freak-off” videos, testimony from Kid Cudi, and a courthouse cameo from Kanye West, the Southern District of New York rested its sprawling sex-trafficking and racketeering case against Sean Combs on Tuesday.

Prosecutors confirmed their final witness was Joseph Cerciello, the Homeland Security special agent who answered questions about charts documenting Combs’ “freak-offs” with his ex-girlfriends and a rotating cast of male escorts. When Cerciello was dismissed,...

The prosecution is about to wrap up its case during the ongoing trial against P Diddy at the Manhattan Federal Court. During the court proceedings, many celebrities were mentioned by name. However, Cassie Ventura, Kid Cudi, and Dawn Richard were the only celebrities who testified in court. Nicole Blank Becker, who represented R. Kelly, explained why the prosecution did not bring more celebrities to the stand.

Diddy is facing five counts of serious charges, including one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of s*x trafficking, and two counts of transportation to engage in pr*stitution. If charged, the hip-hop mogul is looking at life in prison.

Why were celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio & Usher not called to testify in P Diddy’s trial? Diddy in a still from Black-ish | Credits: ABC

In the trial against P Diddy, Cassie Ventura and Kid Cudi appear to be the only star witnesses until now.

Follow all of our Sean Combs trial coverage

With Sean Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial entering its sixth week, much of the closely guarded case is now public record. Jurors have sat through days of highly emotional testimony from the two principal alleged victims, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and a recent ex-girlfriend testifying under the pseudonym “Jane.”

In disturbing detail, the women described Combs feeding them drugs and stage-directing them through days-long sexual marathons with male escorts. The women said Combs threatened to release their intimate videos or yank financial support if they resisted.

Kanye “Ye” West made a brief, surprise visit to Manhattan federal court on Friday to support Sean “Diddy” Combs in the fallen mogul’s ongoing sex-trafficking trial.

West arrived at the courthouse dressed in a white denim jacket and sporting sunglasses shortly before 11:30 a.m. local time and spent about 40 minutes in the building, but his appearance instantly created a media frenzy.

West indicated he was there to support Combs, according to CNN and the Associated Press, but he didn’t respond when a reporter asked if he’d testify on Combs’ behalf, according to the AP.

The rapper did not make it into the courtroom where Combs’ trial is closing out its fifth week. Instead, he was ushered into a separate overflow room showing the proceedings on closed-circuit TVs, an individual inside the courthouse told The Hollywood Reporter; the room was opened for Ye to view the trial alone,...

You have probably heard Sam Austins already. Since releasing the song “Seasons” last year, the dreamy nü-new wave track has been used in over one million TikTok videos (most of which are just talking about how great the song is) and has accrued nearly 60 million streams on Spotify so far.

Austins may seem like a sudden breakout act but his story isn’t too dissimilar from other megastars on the rise the last couple years: The 29-year-old has been hustling since his teens, eventually getting signed to a major label during the pandemic.

As the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs has been unfolding over the past six weeks in a lower Manhattan federal courtroom, testimony from his former staff members and girlfriends has revealed a great deal about the hip-hop icon and business mogul, whose alleged dark life behind closed doors was not apparent amid the razzle-dazzle of his larger-than-life public persona. The ambitious and flashy pop culture fixture was a kingmaker in the rap game and pop world, and later expanded his career into fashion, television and spirits over the past 30 years. At a point, he became so recognizable that he was asked to parody himself in a major 2010 studio movie — the Judd Apatow-produced comedy, Get Him to the Greek. As testimony is pouring out at his trial, some viewers with the advantages of hindsight are pointing out that Combs’ biggest role may have revealed more of his personal life than was understood 17 years ago.

P Diddy’s trial is ongoing at the Manhattan Federal Court, where Cassie Ventura, Dawn Richard, and several others have taken the stand against him. Ventura’s former boyfriend, Kid Cudi, had to testify for the prosecution. It is now reported that other famous celebrities with ties to Diddy and Ventura are lawyering up to avoid testifying in the trial.

Diddy is facing five counts of serious charges, including one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of s*x trafficking, and two counts of transportation to engage in pr*stitution. If charged, the hip-hop mogul is looking at life in prison.

Celebrities do not want to testify in P Diddy’s trial Diddy in a still from Black-ish | Credits: ABC

In the trial against P Diddy, Cassie Ventura and Kid Cudi appear to be the only star witnesses until now. Ventura took the stand on the second day of trial...

It’s official—Happy Gilmore is back, and honestly, it feels like the perfect movie to bring back to hit nostalgia. After nearly three decades, Adam Sandler is stepping back onto the green, and this time, he’s bringing a whole new generation along for the ride. The first trailer for Happy Gilmore 2 dropped on June 1, and it’s already creating a lot of buzz around the movie.

The trailer packs in everything you’d hope for—classic one-liners, some surprising new faces, and yes, a hilariously aggressive Happy, just that he is significantly older. And looking at the trailer, things seem hopeful, as the movie is not just riding the nostalgic wave, but is also adding to it. This sequel looks like more than just a simple return. It builds on the original’s legacy with fresh energy, wild moments, and, of course, some classic Adam Sandler-type comedy.

50 Cent just stirred the pot, again. This time, he dropped a throwback clip of Diddy going off on Donald Trump, and social media lit up like wildfire. In the resurfaced video, Diddy didn’t hold back, saying white men like Trump “need to be banished.”

With 50’s massive following and Diddy’s raw delivery, the moment exploded online, sparking debate, memes, and some serious heat. Whether you’re Team Diddy or Team Trump, this viral clip has everyone picking sides and hitting replay.

50 Cent drops the clip, Diddy drags Donald Trump, and a pardon slips further away Diddy in Closer to God Mv | Credits: YouTube (@Diddy)

50 Cent hit the internet with a throwback that’s throwing serious shade. He shared a resurfaced clip of Diddy declaring, “White men like Trump need to be banished.”

50 Cent shares throwback clips of Diddy dissing Donald Trump to stop a potential Presidential Pardon...

Ti West (X, Pearl, Maxxxine) sat in the director’s chair for Kid Cudi’s upcoming vampire-themed music video Neverland, and the musician has released the official poster today.

Produced by Jordan Peele and his Monkeypaw Productions and directed by Ti West, Neverland will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 7, with tickets available now.

Being described as a short film, the eleven-minute video follows “a 200 year old vampire who takes his newly initiated love on her first feed.” Kid Cudi (Scott Mescudi) stars alongside Kiernan Shipka (Longlegs, “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”), Brittany Snow (X), Haley Joel Osment (Blink Twice, Tusk), Cary Elwes (Saw), and Brandon Scott (Descendent).

Kid Cudi teases, “This was a huge passion project, its different and something you haven’t seen before.”

Check out the poster below and listen to Neverland while you wait for the video.

Kid Cudi, who starred in Ti West’s slasher movie X,...

Sean “P Diddy” Combs is currently caught in the eye of a hurricane-sized storm. Once a towering figure in the music industry, the Bad Boy Records boss is now facing a firestorm of serious allegations — from s*x trafficking to racketeering and more. The trial has gripped the entertainment world, not only due to the shocking charges but also because of the constant name-dropping of Hollywood A-listers and industry insiders. And whether they liked it or not, a handful of celebs found themselves pulled into the chaos.

As things heat up in the courtroom, the stories coming out are nothing short of jaw-dropping. The testimonies are exposing wild pasts, hidden relationships, and allegations that no one saw coming. Let’s dive into the fifteen biggest chapters of this courtroom drama, where familiar names like Cassie Ventura, Michael B. Jordan, and Kid Cudi have surfaced in very unexpected ways.

10. Cassie Ventura...

Follow all our Sean Combs trial coverage

The third week of Sean Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering criminal trial brought three crucial witnesses for the prosecution to the stand: former staffers who all claim they not only witnessed Combs attack Casandra “Cassie” Ventura but that they were subjected to a range of abuse themselves while trying to protect her from the unpredictable and volatile hip-hop mogul.

Their testimonies help corroborate Ventura’s accusations of physical abuse against Combs, who is accused of keeping the R&b singer trapped in an abusive dynamic through physical force,...

50 Cent is banking on some gangster game recognizing gangster game in an effort to halt any pardon consideration for Sean “Diddy” Combs by Donald Trump.

After Potus said Friday in the Oval Office that he would “certainly” consider clemency for Combs after taking a “look at the facts,” the In Da Club rapper went into overdrive to deny his rival any chance at a Commander-in-chief Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card, preemptive or not.

“He said some really bad things about Trump, it’s not Ok,” Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson wrote online Saturday, mere hours after the former Apprentice host made his comments about his old party pal Diddy, who is currently amidst a sex-trafficking trial. “Im gonna reach out so he knows how I feel about this guy.”

On trial in New York City since May 12, Combs could end up spending the rest of his life in prison if found guilty on federal charges of racketeering,...

A woman who is suing Sean Combs for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2003 has filed a separate lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein.

In an amended suit filed Friday, May 30, in Manhattan Federal Court and obtained by Rolling Stone, former model Crystal McKinney alleges that in 2003, Weinstein raped her and her friend in a Manhattan hotel room.

McKinney claims that an unnamed modeling executive arranged a meeting between her and Weinstein for “business opportunities.” She had been hoping to get into the film industry, and she brought along her roommate...

After all these years, it’s time to return to your own happy place, as Adam Sandler walks onto the green again as one of his most beloved characters in the Netflix sequel, Happy Gilmore 2. After almost 30 years, Happy is back and once again donning his Boston Bruins hockey jersey to launch balls into the air using his unique swing, with Netflix Tudum offering us a new look at the long-awaited follow-up.

Netflix officially ordered a sequel to the beloved sports comedy last year, with Sandler returning as the titular character and penning the script alongside the original movie’s writer, Tim Herlihy. For the sequel, Sandler will reunite with Murder Mystery director Kyle Newacheck, with the filmmaker behind the likes of What We Do in the Shadows, Workaholics, Community, and Parks and Recreation taking over the helm from Happy Gilmore director Dennis Dugan.

The sequel will bring a...