A former personal assistant of Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is currently on trial for federal sex trafficking and racketeering, testified that she continued to send him affectionate text messages years after her employment ended in 2017—describing this behaviour as a result of being “brainwashed.” Under the alias “Mia,” she has been giving evidence for the third consecutive day, facing rigorous cross-examination from Combs’s defence lawyer, Brian Steel, who even questioned her veracity.
Combs, aged 55, has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. His legal team acknowledges his potential for violence but disputes any claims that he exploited his influence in the music industry to commit any form of abuse. During her testimony, Mia was prompted to read several affectionate messages she had sent to Combs. In one, she recalled a vivid dream about being rescued by him, leading Steel to challenge her sincerity regarding the nature of their relationship and the alleged assaults.
Despite the confrontational nature of the questioning, Mia stood resolute in her allegations, declaring, “I have never lied in this courtroom and I never will lie in this courtroom.” She expressed a sense of responsibility to speak out following the emergence of other allegations against Combs, highlighting the complexities of her feelings during her tenure with him which included memorable experiences amid troubling incidents.
On a particular occasion, in a text from August 2020, Mia reminisced about enjoyable moments during her eight years working for Combs, claiming, “I remember only the good times.” When questioned about feelings of being manipulated, she attributed her confusion to being “brainwashed” in an environment fraught with extreme emotional highs and lows, which muddled her instincts.
The ongoing trial, extending into its fourth week, has seen a markedly different approach by the defence compared to previous witness testimonies. Mia’s cross-examination has drawn criticisms from the prosecution, particularly for its focus on her social media history, which included celebratory messages about Combs. Assistant US Attorney Maureen Comey labelled this line of questioning as excessive and potentially damaging, warning that such tactics might discourage other victims from coming forward in the future.
Though Judge Arun Subramanian noted the lack of outright hostility in Steel’s questioning, he did advise against over-exploring Mia’s online posts in future sessions. The trial continues to unfold with significant public interest, as the allegations against Combs persistently cast a shadow over his legacy.
For those in need of support, a counselling service dedicated to addressing sexual assault and domestic violence is available through the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).