Diddy trial potential juror reveals sister has domestic violence history in pre-trial chat

The Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking trial kicked off in dramatic fashion this week - and it's not just the allegations turning heads. According to , a potential juror has emerged with a background that could strike a nerve on both sides of the courtroom. On Monday morning (May 5) in a packed New York City federal courtroom, Judge Arun Subramanian began questioning prospective jurors, using responses from a detailed questionnaire to dig into each person's background.

That's when Juror No. 2 stood out - not for his celebrity connections, but for his profession and a personal family story that may directly tie into the themes of the explosive case. Juror 2 works as a massage therapist, which raised eyebrows immediately given the central role of baby oil in the federal indictment against the musician.

Prosecutors claim that Diddy purchased baby oil in bulk to use during his alleged "Freak Offs" - which consisted of multi-day, drug-fuelled sex marathons involving the rapper, his girlfriends, and a male escort.

Juror 2, who probably knows a thing or two about baby oil, could be exposed to testimony where those details matter greatly. The judge also asked the juror about any celebrities he recognized from the questionnaire.

They responded by saying "he knows of, or may have rubbed elbows with, actors Michael B. Jordan and Mike Meyers," and he listed two high-end Manhattan hotels - Essex House and The Peninsula - which could hold relevance to the prosecution's case.

But then things got even more personal. In response to Question 10 on the form, Juror 2 revealed that his sister had once been beaten by her ex-husband. He told the court: "She was given a black eye, which led to their divorce."

Despite this, he said he could still be fair and impartial if selected, however the defence wasn't convinced. Diddy's lawyer Marc Agnifilo challenged the juror, but the judge wasn't having it.

He overruled the objection and reminded Agnifilo that he could use a peremptory strike to remove the potential juror without needing to give a reason. Picking a jury will be a major challenge for both the prosecution and the defence, for a variety of reasons.

Diddy, who has pleaded not guilty, is facing five charges in total: one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; one count of transportation to engage in prostitution; one count of racketeering conspiracy; and two new charges added in April 2025 - another sex trafficking count and another transportation for prostitution charge.

The I'll be Missing You hitmaker's trial kicked off with lighthearted remarks from Judge Arun Subramanian, who joked about Diddy's many nicknames and compared the lengthy jury questionnaire to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Diddy, 55, arrived at the Manhattan courthouse sporting a gray beard, a full suit, and reading glasses after being granted permission to wear civilian clothes instead of jail scrubs - and, as expected, the style-conscious star showed up dressed to impress.