Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs’ ongoing federal trial has unexpectedly brought numerous celebrities into the spotlight. Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend, is the central figure, testifying about years of alleged abuse. Her testimony has also introduced other notable names. Kid Cudi also testified, and names like Michael B. Jordan, Kanye “Ye” West, Mike Myers, Madonna, Rick Ross, Fabolous, Nicki Minaj, and Chadwick Boseman have been tossed around. So, why were Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey name-dropped during Combs’ trial? Here’s what to know about the A-listers’ connection to the mogul.

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Capricorn Clark, a former assistant to Sean “Diddy” Combs, delivered a harrowing account during his federal trial, detailing years of alleged abuse and coercion. She recounted being subjected to intense stress, including threats of violence, grueling work hours, and manipulation. Clark testified that Combs once threatened to throw her into the East River during a polygraph test and later demanded that she apologize to him to regain her job.

Several big names have been mentioned in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial so far. Clark mentioned Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, but not because either of these big names had an association with Combs. During Clark’s testimony, she said she thought Casandra “Cassie” Ventura had talent but didn’t have enough to make it huge as a live singer.

“Um, talented to me is Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey,” Clark explained to Combs’ lawyers when asked, according to Fox 9. “Very talented is that level of performer, entertainer. Cassie was more of a studio artist.” Clark then clarified that a “studio artist” was “a little bit more comfortable in the vocal booth to have a little bit of things equalized for you and, you know, engineered properly. Less of a live performer.”

So far, Houston and Carey have not come up in any other context.

In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.

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