As Diddy’s sex trafficking trial begins, the Bad Boy Records founder has admitted to being afraid. He told the judge on the first day of jury selection that he was nervous and asked to be excused. Diddy’s sex trafficking trial began on Monday, May 5, kicking off with the jury selection process. Over 600 jurors applied, of which 12 will eventually be selected in what may be this year’s highest-profile case.

Diddy Claims He Is Nervous About Sex Trafficking Trial

As Diddy’s long-awaited sex trafficking trial kicked off on Monday, the music mogul admitted to being a little anxious. Sean “Diddy” Combs, arrested last September in Manhattan, was in court this week to attend the jury selection. The process is important as 12 jurors will deliberate on the music executive’s freedom. Almost three dozen New Yorkers were in court on Monday to determine their eligibility to become jurors in Diddy’s sex trafficking trial.

About 90 minutes into the selection process, Diddy requested a brief break. Before then, the defense team had requested a quick bathroom break, but the judge, Arun Subramanian, declined to oblige them. He suggested they wait and continue questioning jurors.

“I’m a machine,” Subramanian said. However, Diddy, dressed in a white collared shirt and blue sweater and sporting gray hair and a beard, responded, “I’m sorry, your honor. I’m a little nervous today.” The judge then granted him a two-minute break.

Diddy’s sex trafficking trial is expected to last eight to ten weeks and will run from Mondays through Fridays. Last week, Judge Subramanian said he hoped to seat a jury of 12 people and six alternates for the trial.

Other Celebrities Named In Diddy’s Case

During jury selection, the legal teams also showed prospective jurors a list of over 100 people and places. They noted that the names and places might come up during the trial. They also asked the potential jurors if they knew any locations or people, or whether they might prevent them from being impartial. Some people mentioned included Diddy’s ex, Cassie Ventura, and Dawn Richard, who filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and threats.

The list included celebrities like Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers, and Kanye West. Their significance to the trial is unknown, and attorneys on both sides did not explain their appearance on the list. All jurors will remain anonymous in Diddy’s sex trafficking trial. They will also decide whether Diddy sexually exploited women using his power and influence for over two decades. In the meantime, Diddy’s defense team maintains that the sexual encounters were consensual.

Diddy has pleaded not guilty. However, if found guilty, he faces life in prison, having rejected a prior plea deal from the prosecution. Meanwhile, Ventura’s video is central to the prosecution’s case, where Diddy has been indicted on several counts of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Ventura is expected to testify during the trial, but whether she will is unknown.

Many are eager to see how Diddy’s sex trafficking trial will play out. His case has created several divides, as some think he is guilty and deserves punishment. However, some believe the music mogul is being witch-hunted and are rooting for him.

#Clique, what do you think?