Sean 'Diddy' Combs' A-list friends are 'scared to death' of testifying in court

Sean 'Diddy' Combs' A-list associates have been notably silent since his arrest and subsequent charge for sex-trafficking - which he denies- as the world waits for his trial in May

Sean 'Diddy' Combs' famous associates are "scared to death" they are going to be asked to testify against him, according to a PR expert in L.A.

The rapper, 55, is currently languishing in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn as he awaits trial for sex-trafficking and racketeering, which he denies.

Since his arrest in September after a video of Diddy attacking his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a hotel lobby went viral, Hollywood stars, who often partied with the Bad Boy star, have stayed silent.

“Unlike Harvey Weinstein or R. Kelly, the response to Diddy's arrest is massively quiet within the celebrity community," celebrity crisis and PR expert, Eric Schiffer, told the Mirror.

As one of the world's most powerful music producers with a whole host of star-studded connections, Diddy was known for attracting an endless string of A-listers to his now infamous parties. However, not one of them has stood up for the rapper amid his arrest, as Schiffer claims they are worried about their brand - and having to take to the stand in court.

Giving his take on the tumbleweed in Tinseltown, he said: "Celebrities are silent because they are scared to death of their brands being in the klieg lights and bleeding out with fans over ties to Diddy, and worse, getting subpoenaed to reveal Diddy's chamber of secrets."

Combs, once a towering figure in the music industry, is now at the centre of serious allegations involving sex trafficking and exploitation. The music mogul, who faces charges of racketeering, transportation for prostitution, and sex trafficking, which he denies, is accused of orchestrating explicit parties known as Freak Offs in the early 2000s. The soirees were reportedly elaborate, high-profile affairs, which federal authorities describe as days-long sex parties.

A month after Diddy was denied bail again, his lawyers recently filed a new motion on November 8 to release him from jail ahead of his May 5 trial. The rapper was already denied bail in September, with the judge saying the government had provided sufficient evidence Combs was a danger to the community and a danger to obstruct justice and intimidate witnesses. He also said the defence's proposed bail package was "insufficient."

The I'll Be Missing You star currently faces 100 allegations of sexual abuse (a combination of criminal and civil suits), and is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York while he awaits trial. Former high-profile inmates have included the likes of R Kelly and Ghislaine Maxwell.

The prison was described as 'hell on earth' by a lawyer called Andrew Dalack, who took on the case of inmate Edwin Cordero, who died after being injured in a fight. The facility was initially opened in the early '90s and has come under scrutiny on a number of occasions. Notable problems include overcrowding and staff shortages, with court filings from November 2023 finding that the prison was operating at just 55 per cent of full staffing levels.

However, speaking to the Mirror, a spokesperson for the US Federal Bureau of Prisons, said: "As a general matter, the FBOP takes seriously our duty to protect all individuals entrusted in our custody, as well as maintain the safety of correctional employees and the community. As part of that obligation, we review safety protocols and implement corrective actions when identified as necessary in those reviews to ensure that our mission of operating safe, secure, and humane facilities is fulfilled."

Diddy recently celebrated his birthday behind bars at the MDC in a far cry from the lavish annual celebrations he's used to. The music mogul was called by his children - Quincy, 33, Justin, 30, Christian, 26, Chance, 18, twins D'Lila and Jessie, 17, and one-year-old Love - who wished him a happy birthday.

Justin took to Instagram to share a video clip of the siblings gathered around a table with a birthday cake in front of them and their father on the phone.

The footage showed little Love leading the sing-a-long as they delivered a rendition of Happy Birthday - prompting Combs to declare his love for his kids. He stated that he is looking forward to seeing them soon. Justin shared the clip along with a caption stating: "Happy Birthday Pops, we love you!"

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