Kid Cudi Testifies in Diddy Trial, Details Alleged Home Break-In and Car Bombing

22 May 2025

The rapper Kid Cudi entering court on Thursday morning. He said he suspected Sean Combs of blowing up his car because he was also dating Mr. Combs’s girlfriend. Credit...Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

In a gripping and emotional testimony that stunned the courtroom, acclaimed rapper and actor Scott Mescudi widely known as Kid Cudi took the witness stand on May 22, 2025, in the federal racketeering and sex trafficking trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. The ongoing trial, unfolding in a federal court in New York, has sent shockwaves through the music industry as more celebrities come forward with stories detailing Combs’ alleged pattern of intimidation, violence, and control.

Kid Cudi’s testimony centered around a disturbing incident from 2011 that had never before been publicly disclosed in such detail. According to Mescudi, Combs allegedly broke into his Los Angeles home in the middle of the night after discovering that the rapper had been in a romantic relationship with Cassie Ventura, Combs’ ex-girlfriend and a key witness in the broader case against him. Cudi told the court he received a frantic call from Ventura warning him to stay away from the house, which she claimed Combs was already inside.

When Mescudi returned to the property, he found his home in disarray. Several of his personal items had been moved or tampered with, his dog had been locked in the bathroom, and there were signs someone had forcibly entered. Though nothing appeared stolen, the rapper described a chilling sense of violation. “He wanted me to know that he could get to me,” Cudi said under oath. “That he was watching.”

But the incident didn’t end there. About a month later, Cudi’s Porsche parked in his driveway was engulfed in flames after a reported Molotov cocktail attack. Cudi told the court that while he couldn’t directly prove Combs carried out the act, he had “no doubt” in his mind about who was behind it. "It was a warning," he stated firmly. Photos of the charred vehicle were submitted as evidence, leaving a stark impression on the jury.

Combs, who is facing a litany of charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, conspiracy, and witness intimidation, has pleaded not guilty to all counts. His legal team continues to deny all allegations, framing the case as a “media-fueled character assassination” and labeling the testimonies of witnesses like Cudi as “fabricated stories influenced by sensationalism and personal vendettas.”

However, Kid Cudi’s testimony is just one of several shocking accounts presented in court over the past weeks. Singer Cassie Ventura, who filed a lawsuit against Combs last year that was later settled out of court, is expected to testify again under subpoena. Other witnesses have accused Combs of using his influence in the music industry to create a culture of silence, where victims and their associates were either bought off or threatened into silence.

Prosecutors argue that Combs operated his empire like a criminal syndicate, using private investigators, gang connections, and even members of his own security team to keep people in line. The government alleges that the music mogul exploited his power to manipulate and control not only his romantic partners but also former employees and business associates.

Kid Cudi’s appearance in court is being hailed as a turning point in the trial. As someone known for his deeply personal and vulnerable music, his testimony resonated beyond the courtroom. Fans and fellow artists took to social media in support, praising his bravery for speaking out.

As the trial continues, all eyes remain on the high-profile case that has the potential to not only reshape the legacy of one of hip-hop’s most powerful figures but also influence how abuse and misconduct are addressed in the entertainment industry moving forward. Verdicts in the case are not expected for several more weeks, but the stories emerging from the courtroom are already having a cultural impact that cannot be ignored.