Kid Cudi testifies Diddy bombed his Porsche over Cassie romance in federal sex trafficking trial
Grammy-winning rapper and actor Kid Cudi testified Thursday in federal court that he believes Sean “Diddy” Combs was behind the 2012 firebombing of his Porsche 911 — a retaliatory act, he claims, fueled by a love triangle involving R&B singer Cassie Ventura.
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Scott Mescudi, known professionally as Kid Cudi, took the stand as a witness in Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial currently underway in Manhattan federal court. Prosecutors have charged the hip-hop mogul in a five-count indictment that alleges Combs orchestrated a criminal enterprise to facilitate sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
According to Mescudi’s sworn testimony, tensions ignited after Combs discovered that both men had been romantically involved with Ventura, who was signed to Combs’ Bad Boy Records. The situation allegedly escalated when Combs illegally entered Mescudi’s Hollywood Hills home in December 2011. Christmas presents had been tampered with, and Mescudi’s dog was found locked in the bathroom. Mescudi testified that he reported the break-in to Los Angeles police.
Weeks later, in January 2012, Mescudi’s Porsche was set ablaze in his driveway. He told the court that a Molotov cocktail was discovered inside the vehicle and that the fire caused total destruction. Prosecutors submitted photographic evidence of damage, including a sliced roof.
Cassie Ventura, who testified the previous week, stated Combs had threatened to bomb Mescudi’s car and physically harm him upon discovering their romantic involvement. She detailed the use of burner phones and clandestine meetings to maintain the secret relationship with Mescudi while still engaging in intimate relations with Combs.
Mescudi recounted confronting Combs the day after the car bombing. "What are we going to do about my car?" he said he asked. Combs allegedly responded with a cold stare and denied any knowledge of the incident.
Though the judge instructed the jury to disregard Mescudi’s direct assertion — “I knew he had something to do with it” — the prosecution highlighted the event as part of a broader pattern of violence and intimidation central to the case.
On cross-examination, defense attorney Brian Steel cast Ventura as duplicitous, alleging she was romantically involved with both men simultaneously and questioning whether her duplicity may have fueled the violence. Steel also introduced the revelation that female DNA was reportedly found in the fire-damaged vehicle, a detail Mescudi said he was unaware of.
The trial continues as federal prosecutors seek to demonstrate how Combs weaponized wealth, influence, and associates to control women and silence threats to his image — with Kid Cudi’s dramatic testimony becoming a critical piece of that narrative.