Sean "Diddy" Combs' former assistant, Capricorn Clark, delivered hours of harrowing testimony in federal court this week, alleging that the music mogul kidnapped her, threatened to kill her, and orchestrated armed confrontations, including a targeted trip to rapper Kid Cudi's home in 2011. Clark's emotional statements marked one of the most explosive moments yet in Combs' sex-trafficking and racketeering trial in New York.
"I was petrified," Clark said on the stand, describing how she was once detained for five days in a dilapidated Manhattan building over missing jewelry. She alleged she was forced to undergo repeated polygraph tests under threats of being thrown into the East River if she failed. "I was just trying to survive it."
The federal charges against Combs include sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering under RICO statutes. Prosecutors allege the 55-year-old rapper and entrepreneur ran a criminal enterprise that involved coercing women into drug-fueled sex acts known as "freak offs" over a 20-year span. Combs has pleaded not guilty.
Clark's most disturbing account centered on an alleged December 2011 incident. She testified that Combs showed up at her Los Angeles apartment at 5:30 a.m. holding a gun and demanded she accompany him to Kid Cudi's house after learning Cudi was dating Cassie Ventura, Combs' former partner. "Get dressed, we're going to kill Mescudi," Clark said Combs told her.
After arriving at Cudi's Hollywood Hills home, Clark said she stayed in the car and called Ventura. The rapper "brought me to Cudi's house to kill him," she said she told her. Later, she claimed Combs threatened, "If you tell on him, he's gonna hurt us all."
Kid Cudi, born Scott Mescudi, confirmed under oath on May 22 that Combs had broken into his home and locked his dog in the bathroom. He also alleged that Combs had blown up his car, though no one was inside at the time. Cudi contacted law enforcement and filed a report following the break-in.
Clark also recounted another act of violence at Combs' Los Angeles rental, where she alleged he repeatedly kicked Cassie Ventura and shoved her into the street. "She was crying silently," Clark said. "With each kick she moved back."
In earlier testimony, Clark described being held in confinement in 2004 after being falsely accused of stealing jewelry. She said Combs' bodyguard, Paul Offord, took her to the unfinished future site of Bad Boy Worldwide's corporate offices, where a heavyset man warned, "If you fail this test, they're gonna throw you in the East River."
Clark further testified that her grueling work conditions, including 19-hour days, caused her to develop alopecia. When human resources calculated she was owed $80,000 in unpaid overtime, she said Combs ripped up the report. She also claimed Combs frequently brought a Louis Vuitton bag filled with drugs, baby oil, and lube to hotel rooms, and left oil handprints on the walls.
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo attempted to discredit Clark by highlighting past text messages in which she said she once had a "crush" on Combs. "Did you ever know that I had the biggest crush on you before I started working for you?" one message read. Clark denied remembering the texts and insisted, "1000%" that her relationship with Combs was always platonic.
Agnifilo pressed Clark on her calls made during the alleged Cudi incident, questioning inconsistencies in whether she contacted Ventura or actress Lauren London first. Clark, tearful on the stand, said she called London for help before alerting Cassie, adding, "I just needed someone to know where I was in case something went bad."
Clark also recounted an incident in Miami in 2006 where Combs shoved her 20 to 30 yards after she muttered, "I hate it here." The next day, he asked her to return to work under his clothing brand, Sean John, where she wouldn't have to be in his home. "I didn't want to be trapped in his house no more," she said.
Explaining why she returned despite the alleged abuse, Clark said she needed to support her son, who is nonverbal and has autism. She claimed Combs told her after firing her that he'd destroy her career and "make me kill myself."
Combs remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
