Diddy’s legal team grilled his former assistant, Mia, on Friday (May 30), using her past social media posts to challenge her abuse allegations.
A woman testifying against Diddy faced off in tense court testimony on Friday (May 30) as his high-profile attorney, Brian Steel, worked to discredit her testimony.
The former assistant, known only as “Mia,” has accused the Hip-Hop mogul of repeated sexual abuse and violence during her employment with his companies.
Steel used a series of past social media posts and public statements to question Mia’s credibility, suggesting that her continued praise of Diddy after the alleged assaults contradicted her claims.
Throughout the day, Steel presented Mia with Instagram posts, photos and videos that appeared to show her celebrating Diddy’s birthday, attending parties with him and calling him a mentor and “extended family.”
Steel pointed out that many of these posts were made years after the alleged assaults took place.
Mia acknowledged that she had posted flattering messages about Diddy, including calling him “the good kind of crazy” and thanking him for being her friend.
She also admitted to tagging him in photos, appearing in a comedic video with him, and describing him as her “mentor and brother.”
Steel used these examples to argue that Mia’s actions were inconsistent with someone who had been traumatized by Diddy.
In one exchange, Steel questioned how Mia could describe him as a best friend while also accusing him of rape. Mia responded that she was afraid of upsetting him and said, “Ask my therapist.”
Steel also highlighted a photo of Mia in a tutu next to Diddy, who appeared to be grabbing his crotch. Mia confirmed the image but said she had been proud to be in the video at the time.
Steel pressed further, asking why she would celebrate Diddy’s birthday on the same date she claimed he had assaulted her. Mia replied that she marked the day as his birthday, not as the anniversary of the assault.
The defense’s strategy appeared focused on portraying Mia’s testimony as exaggerated and inconsistent.
Steel repeatedly asked why she would post positive messages about a man she claimed had abused her, to which Mia responded that it was part of her job and that she was caught in a cycle of highs and lows.
Mia previously testified that Diddy raped her “more than once” and described multiple incidents of physical abuse, including being thrown into a pool and having an ice bucket dumped on her head.
She worked for him from 2009 to 2017 and also described his relationship with singer Cassie Ventura as abusive, saying she once saw Diddy crack Ventura’s head open.
The cross-examination marked Day 13 of Diddy’s federal trial in New York, where he has pleaded not guilty to charges including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
If convicted, he could face life in prison.
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