A former employee of Sean “Diddy” Combs faced intense scrutiny during cross-examination on Friday, as the hip-hop mogul's federal racketeering and sex trafficking trial wrapped up its third week of testimony. The employee, who is testifying under the pseudonym “Mia,” displayed a noticeable change in demeanor during her cross-examination. Unlike her earlier guarded responses while being questioned by prosecutors, Mia spoke with a stronger tone, though her past demeanor included bowing her head and hiding her face behind her bangs. Mia is expected to continue her testimony on Monday.
The prosecution aims to establish that Combs and his inner circle operated a criminal enterprise that employed various tactics—including threats, violence, forced labor, drugs, bribery, arson, kidnapping, and lies—to coerce his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, into participating in “Freak Offs” and to protect his reputation. Combs has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to life in prison. The defense has acknowledged Combs' violent behavior but questions the motives behind the testimonies and argues that the accusations do not meet the threshold for a racketeering conspiracy.
During her testimony on Thursday, Mia recounted experiences of physical and sexual assault, humiliation, and forced labor during her employment from 2009 to 2017. On Friday, during cross-examination, defense attorney Brian Steel pressed Mia to explain why she remained in an abusive environment for so long. “In an abusive relationship, there’s a cycle of violence,” she responded. “I was young and manipulated and eager to survive. I’m unraveling a lot of this now in therapy.” Mia emphasized that there was no one in her environment to affirm the wrongness of Combs' behavior.
Steel challenged Mia's logic, questioning why she needed external validation to recognize Combs' abusive behavior. Mia articulated the struggle between her “logic brain” and her “trauma brain,” stating, “Eventually it becomes normalized, and you’re just trying to get back to the good.” She expressed her desire to please others and make everyone happy, a sentiment that contributed to her prolonged stay in the toxic work environment.
The defense also highlighted a series of positive social media posts Mia made about Combs even after the alleged assaults. Steel confronted her with dozens of posts that portrayed Combs as a mentor and inspiration, raising questions about the authenticity of her allegations. In one instance, Mia had referred to Combs as a “legend” and expressed love and gratitude in her posts.
Mia defended her social media presence, explaining that it was part of her job to present a positive image, despite the reality she faced. “The highs were high, and the goods were good,” she testified. “I was in fear any time Puff was not happy because I wanted to make sure that he was, because then I was safe.”
Mia shared details about the severe impact Combs' behavior had on her mental health, including struggles with PTSD. She recounted a specific incident in South Africa in 2015, where Combs threatened her job if she did not return home early, demonstrating the controlling nature of their relationship. “I was scared of him,” Mia admitted, explaining how the fear of retaliation influenced her actions.
The relationship between Mia and Combs deteriorated in late 2016 when she learned that Combs wanted to end her primary project, Revolt Films. She felt betrayed and shocked when Combs did not communicate this directly. In 2017, Mia sought legal counsel to negotiate her severance and bonuses, which Combs perceived as a betrayal. Ultimately, she settled for approximately $400,000 but received only half of that amount.
Following the lawsuit filed by Cassie Ventura against Combs in November 2023, Mia reported receiving multiple messages from Combs and his security guard, urging her to contact Combs. However, she declined, stating, “He was the person I was traumatized by.” Mia interpreted these outreach attempts as efforts to ensure she did not pose a threat to Combs.
Struggling with severe PTSD, Mia revealed that she has been unable to work since leaving Combs' employment. Everyday situations trigger overwhelming feelings of fear, a reality she directly attributes to her experiences with Combs. “Puff caused me to have those feelings,” she concluded.
The ongoing trial continues to reveal the complexities of the allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs, as both the prosecution and defense prepare for the next phase of testimony.
