If anyone else had asked how Michelle Ross was feeling, she would have simply answered without giving it much thought.
But when the question came from none other than Sean “Diddy” Combs, the world’s most infamous showbiz villain, the gesture took on a different tone—one that might feel unsettling to some.
A Pregnant Reporter and the Charismatic Rapper
Ross, seven months pregnant, wasn’t the only expectant woman on Diddy’s mind during the proceedings.
Next week, Cassie Ventura, his heavily pregnant ex-girlfriend, is expected to take the stand in Diddy’s high-profile sex trafficking trial.
Ventura, who endured a violent relationship with Diddy that led to his arrest, now plays a pivotal role in what is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated celebrity trials in recent history.
Ventura, who is expecting her third child with her husband Alex Fine, was seen in New York this week while jury selection continued.
She announced her pregnancy in February and is in her third trimester.
Though she didn’t attend court on Friday, her health was a focal point during the trial, with her lawyer requesting regular breaks every 90 minutes due to her condition.
The prosecution agreed not to question her on medical matters, showing some accommodation for the expectant mother.
Diddy’s Observant Nature in the Courtroom
Meanwhile, Diddy’s charm seemed to have worked on the pregnant reporter.
Ross recalled how Diddy, showing his usual charisma, mouthed a simple “How are you?” when they made eye contact in the courtroom.
This moment exemplified his attentive nature, as Ross described it as a small yet telling gesture.
“When we all had to get up before the jury walked in—I’m seven months pregnant—and when I stood up, Diddy and I were in clear view of each other, and he mouthed to me, ‘How are you?’ It just shows how observant he has been during the trial,” Ross shared.
Throughout the trial, Diddy continued to display his characteristic charm, nodding and smiling at jurors as they were questioned.
His approval seemed to shine through in subtle ways, such as nodding when a juror discussed her sister’s struggles with addiction or smiling when another juror expressed her wishes to know some of the celebrities involved in the case.
It’s clear Diddy’s personality hasn’t gone unnoticed, even amid such a serious legal battle.
The Tense Legal Battle with Cassie
Despite his charm, Diddy’s treatment of Ventura, his former lover, is a far cry from the gentlemanly behavior he exhibited with others in the courtroom.
His legal team has painted her as a violent temptress, suggesting that any sexual acts between them were consensual and that there was no coercion involved.
Diddy’s lawyers even went so far as to claim that the violence between them was mutual, labeling it as “domestic violence.”
Marc Agnigilo, one of Diddy’s attorneys, argued that Cassie was a “strong, capable individual” who wasn’t afraid of confrontation.
He emphasized her nature and how it played into their tumultuous relationship.
Another lawyer, Alexandra Shapiro, suggested that the incidents of violence between the two would be relevant to challenge the prosecution’s argument that Cassie was coerced, pointing to her strength as evidence that she couldn’t have been forced into anything.
However, Judge Arun Subramanian appeared skeptical of this argument, remarking that strong individuals can still be coerced, just as much as those who might be perceived as weaker.
The judge questioned the relevance of the domestic violence claims, expressing doubt about their connection to whether Cassie could have been coerced.
The Trial Delays and the Unfolding Drama
As the trial progresses, Diddy’s team remains adamant about their narrative, framing the relationship as one of mutual violence.
They argue that this dynamic is central to understanding the case.
However, the trial has faced multiple delays, including one on Friday when the prosecution struggled to locate a key witness, a woman who had seemingly disappeared.
This has led the judge to worry that more witnesses may also pull out, further stalling the trial.
With so much attention on Diddy and Ventura’s doomed romance, all eyes will be on the courtroom next week when the trial finally kicks off.
For Diddy, this is the performance of his lifetime—one that has yet to truly begin.