Sean Combs, who once proclaimed himself "Bad Boy for Life," now faces what could amount to a life sentence if convicted.
NEW YORK -- The sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs started Monday -- beginning the first courtroom test of whether one of hip-hop's most important figures used power and wealth amassed in the music, clothing and spirits industries to sexually abuse, coerce and exploit alleged victims for decades.
Known by various names through the years - Puffy, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy and Love - Combs became a rap impresario in the 1990s, launching the careers of Mary J. Blige, Usher and the Notorious B.I.G. and lending his hip-hop credentials to the songs of Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez.
Combs is on trial over an alleged conspiracy that ran for 20 years from 2004-2024 in which federal prosecutors in New York allege he "abused, threatened and coerced women" into prolonged, drug-fueled sexual orgies with male prostitutes he called "freak offs" and threatened them into silence.
Combs, who once proclaimed himself "Bad Boy for Life," now faces what could amount to a life sentence if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
"Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy," a new podcast from "20/20" and ABC Audio, traces how the whispers of abuse came to light and led to the downfall of Sean "Diddy" Combs, who was once among the most influential entertainers and entrepreneurs in hip hop. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and more.
(ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Potential jurors were asked to fill out a questionnaire that gauged their knowledge of Combs.
They were also given a list of celebrities and public figures whose names could be brought up in trial and were asked to indicate which names they recognized.
That list included Kanye West, Michael B. Jordan, Mike Meyers and Kid Cudi.
It is not clear how the names on the list relate to the trial.
A 30-year-old former parochial schoolteacher remained in the jury pool despite once reacting to a comedian's joke on social media about baby oil.
Federal prosecutors said they seized cases of baby oil and lubricant that Combs' staff stocked for "freak off" sex parties.
"I guess when they went into his house they found a bunch of baby oil," the woman said. "I liked the video because I thought it was funny."
The woman affirmed she could be fair and impartial despite liking the comedian's video post.
"This case is going to be decided on the evidence and not what you've seen on a comedy sketch," Judge Subramanian said. The woman agreed.
The same prospective juror said she was once caught shoplifting from Harry Potter World at Universal Studios. She was barred from going to the park for a year.
A different woman recounted an incident from her past in which she said an employer kissed and groped her. The judge asked if she could fairly and impartially weigh evidence that is sexual in nature. She affirmed she could.
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked for her dismissal. "I sensed a struggle on her part," Agnifilo said.
"I read that as her trying to be extremely careful," Subramanian said and allowed her to remain in the jury pool.
Once there are 45 qualified potential jurors the lawyers will begin to ask additional questions and strike those they do not want to serve.
A prospective juror said she was familiar with the video of Combs dragging and kicking Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.
"The video was disturbing," the woman said. "It was upsetting to watch but I don't know the full story so I can listen to the facts."
She works for HBO, which produced the documentary The Fall of Diddy. The defense sought her dismissal. The woman said she heard no official business about Combs, only what she described as "water cooler talk" about the case. She was allowed to remain in the jury pool.
The judge dismissed a prospective juror after she said that listening to the kind of testimony anticipated during Sean Combs' criminal trial would make her uncomfortable and unable to deliberate.
"I have a family member who went through something like that," the woman said. "It would make me uncomfortable."
The jury is meant to be anonymous, so prospective jurors are identified only by number.
Prospective juror #5 said he has seen newspaper and television accounts of the case against Combs, including video first aired by CNN showing Combs knocking down then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and dragging her through a hotel hallway.
"Can you decide this case solely on the evidence presented at trial?" Judge Arun Subramanian asked. "Yes," the man responded. "Blank slate."
Another prospective juror, #6, indicated that she had seen a still image from the video.
"The still image was of a woman on the floor and Mr. Combs standing," the woman said.
"Did you form any opinions of the guilt or innocence of Mr. Combs?" Subramanian asked. "Well, I learned not to," the woman responded. "Everything is alleged and there needs to be evidence presented."
The woman described it as a potentially "damning" piece of evidence because it depicted a situation in which no one wants to be.
"She used such a definitive phrase in regard to probably the single most important piece of evidence in this case," defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said.
The judge said "I don't think there are grounds to dismiss this juror" but agreed to exclude her because she identified a specific piece of evidence.
Prospective juror #2 indicated he knew a few of the names on the list of people who might come up at trial, including Michael B . Jordan. "I believe he's an actor," the man said.
On his written questionnaire the man indicated he had heard about the case against Combs on the radio and thought Combs was "likely" to have been involved in the alleged activities. He promised to form an opinion about the case based only on what happens in the courtroom. He was allowed to remain in the jury pool.
Prospective jurors filed into the courtroom just after 10 a.m., more than an hour and a half after Judge Arun Subramanian had called on them to muster.
"Welcome to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York," Subramanian said. "With the exception of voting, for most citizens, the honor and privilege of jury service is their participation in the democratic process."
Combs is seated in a crew neck sweater over a collared shirt after he received permission to wear something other than the beige jail smock he has worn during prior court appearances.
"This is a criminal case. It is entitled United States of America vs. Sean Combs," Subramanian said. "Mr. Combs denies these allegations and he has pleaded not guilty to these charges."
Several hundred prospective jurors filled out a written questionnaire. Responses form the basis for the first part of jury selection. The judge will ask follow-up questions to individual prospective jurors including whether they have any feelings about law enforcement personnel, hip hop artists or sexual assault victims that would prevent them from being fair and impartial.
They will also be asked what they've heard about the case in recent days and whether they've been through a traumatic event that could make it difficult to hear from witnesses who describe trauma.
