A chilling courtroom moment unfolded as rapper and actor Kid Cudi took the stand in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial, accusing the music mogul of orchestrating a terrifying 2012 incident that left his Porsche in flames and his home violated. The testimony, delivered on May 22, 2025, in a Manhattan federal courthouse, painted a vivid picture of alleged vengeance tied to Cudi’s brief romance with Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Here’s what went down on day nine of the high-profile trial.
Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, recounted a disturbing sequence of events from late 2011 to early 2012. He testified that he began dating Cassie Ventura in 2011, shortly after her tumultuous relationship with Diddy ended. According to Cudi, Diddy was furious when he learned of their romance. In December 2011, Ventura panicked Cudi, saying Diddy had found out about their relationship.
“She was nervous, scared,”
Cudi told the court that he picked her up and took her to the Sunset Marquis hotel, believing it was a safe hideout.
Soon after, Cudi received a call from one of Diddy’s employees, Capricorn Clark, who sounded distraught and warned that Diddy was near Cudi’s home. When Cudi confronted Diddy over the phone, asking if he was in his house, Diddy allegedly replied,
“I am here waiting for you.”
Upon returning home, Cudi found his place ransacked, with gifts from Chanel opened and his dog locked in the bathroom. While initial reports suggested the dog was injured, Cudi clarified it was confined but unharmed. He reported the break-in to the police, noting that his security cameras had been tampered with and were no longer working.
The situation escalated on January 9, 2012, when Cudi’s dog’s babysitter called to report his Porsche was on fire in his driveway. The blaze, caused by a Molotov cocktail, destroyed the car, with prosecutors showing jurors photos of the charred vehicle, including smoke-damaged doors and a hole cut in the convertible’s roof. Authorities confirmed the fire was arson. Cudi pointed the finger at Diddy, testifying,
“I knew he had something to do with it,”
Though the judge instructed the jury to disregard this statement after the defense objected, citing a lack of direct evidence.
The prosecution argues that Diddy’s actions were part of a broader pattern of intimidation and violence, a key theme in the sex trafficking and racketeering charges against him. Cassie Ventura, who testified earlier in the trial, claimed Diddy had threatened to blow up Cudi’s car when he learned of their relationship, a threat she said he later bragged about fulfilling. Her testimony and Cudi’s aim to show Diddy’s alleged willingness to use extreme measures to control those around him.
However, Diddy’s defense team denies involvement in the break-in or arson. They argue there’s no concrete evidence tying Diddy to the crimes and have challenged the relevance of certain details, like the behavior of Cudi’s dog, to avoid swaying the jury emotionally. The judge allowed limited questions about the dog’s immediate reaction to the break-in but barred speculation about its emotional state.
