The notorious ‘freak off’ videos at the center of Diddy‘s trial will not be released to the public, nor will their full contents ever be known – despite being shown to the jury.
Judge Arun Subramanian sided with lawyers for Combs and alleged victim Cassie Ventura, both of whom both asked that the explicit content remain private.
The videos are said to show Cassie and another woman referred to only as ‘Jane’ in the throes of horrendous sex acts with prostitutes they say Diddy forced on them.
They are central to the prosecution’s case that Diddy abused and trafficked the women, and have long been speculated over by the public.
Super fans and pop culture fanatics who have long speculated over who may be involved in the disturbing case have eagerly awaited the footage. Many believe it will reveal the identities of others who might have been involved.
But Judge Subramanian today decided against allowing journalists to even review the footage and report on the contents of the videos.
Showing the clips or screenshots of them to anyone but the jury would retraumatize Cassie and the other victim, he said.
Combs’ lawyers meanwhile insisted that the videos were ‘adult pornography’ and flagged privacy concerns.
Lawyers for both Combs and alleged victim Cassie Ventura asked that the explicit content remain private
Combs is on trial in New York charged with sex trafficking and racketeering, which he denies
‘While the News organizations appreciate that some trial exhibits in this case may be sexually explicit and sensitive for the alleged victims, the public and the press should be permitted to view and consider this evidence (which lies at the heart of the Government’s case), consistent with the first Amendment right of access to criminal trials,’ reads his filing.
Ventura’s attorney argued that there could be a ‘chilling effect’ on future sexual abuse cases if the material is released.
Subramanian ruled against the release of the explicit videos and images on Wednesday.
The decision means that the contents of the clips and images will only ever be known to a select few within the court, including the jury who viewed the material from behind a privacy screen which obscured the evidence from the media.
The videos and pictures have been submitted as evidence in Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial in New York, where has denied all charges.
The court has heard extensive evidence about the so-called freak offs, booze and drug fueled sex parties allegedly orchestrated by Combs.
Ventura has claimed that she was coerced into the days-long sessions after she got into a relationship with Combs when she was just 19 and he was 18 years her senior.
Jurors had somber reactions as they were shown five still images from the freak offs which Ventura was involved in.
A black male juror’s eyebrows went up when he saw the images and a black female juror swallowed hard and appeared to move her head side to side.
A white male juror put his hand by his mouth and another white man appeared to do a double take.
Ventura, 28, delivered bombshell testimony about how she was allegedly coerced into participating in the drug-fueled sex sessions along known as ‘freak offs’, along with male escorts.
Judge Arun Subramanian has ruled that videos of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ infamous freak offs will remain sealed from the public
Ventura was seen looking stoic as she made her way to court, as she is set to come face to face with her abusive ex, Diddy, on Tuesday
During her emotional testimony on Tuesday, Ventura wept in on the witness stand
She described the alleged sessions in harrowing detail and claimed that Combs would often direct the male sex workers to urinate in her mouth.
‘Sometimes he himself (Combs) or he would have the escort urinate on me… there was no conversation. It was a turn on for him, so it happened.’
When asked if she had wanted this, she said a firm ‘no’, describing it as ‘humiliating is anyone was there to see it.
‘It was disgusting, it was too much, overwhelming,’ she said.
In an indication of the procedure, she said she was choked and ‘I was laid on the floor in a position I couldn’t easily get out of.’
Ventura described how she was supplied with a cocktail of drugs and booze prior to freak offs, which she said she used to numb the trauma of the situation.
The court was also played video from an infamous 2016 altercation at a Los Angeles hotel in which Ventura was attacked by Combs.
She testified that he became violent after she tried to end a freak off early to attend a movie premiere later that night.
The media had requested to view the videos as they were presented to the jury for reporting purposes only, but this has now been refused
Surveillance footage from the hotel corridor captured Combs battering a terrified Ventura, while holding nothing but a towel around his waist.
‘I’m not sure what happened. I got hit by Sean and had a black eye and at that point all I could think about was getting out of their safely. I had my premiere and didn’t want to mess it up,’ she said.
‘I just knew I had to get out. I grabbed my stuff and ran out as fast as I could. I made it to the elevators, got my sneakers on. The next thing I was just thrown to the ground.
‘It was really fast. I ran out without any shoes. It was faster. Sean grabbed me by the back of my neck and threw me to the ground.’
The incident was one of a string of violent attack that left the singer bloodied and bruised over the course of their 10 year relationship, the court heard.
