Hotel Rooms Cleaned to ‘Protect’ Combs’ Public Image, Jury Hears
A former assistant of American rapper Sean Combs, also known as Diddy, has told a court that he was tasked with cleaning Combs’ hotel rooms to "protect" his public image. George Kaplan, who worked as Combs’ assistant for a number of years, gave evidence in the Diddy sex-trafficking trial, which is currently underway.
According to reports from the court, Kaplan revealed that he worked extremely long hours, often exceeding 80-100 hours a week, for a salary of $125,000 (£93,000) per year. Kaplan stated that he was frequently threatened by Combs, who would often yell at him and threaten his job on a monthly basis. On one occasion, Kaplan claimed that Combs became aggressive with him after he brought him two half-gallon water bottles instead of a single gallon water bottle.
During his testimony, Kaplan revealed that he was responsible for both preparing and cleaning Combs’ hotel rooms. This included picking up baby oil from various parts of the room, which he did to help "protect" Combs’ public image. The court heard that Kaplan’s duties went beyond simply cleaning the rooms, and that he was also tasked with ensuring that Combs’ personal life remained private.
Prosecutors have indicated that they have at least 30 more minutes of questioning left for Kaplan, which will continue on the next day of the trial. After Kaplan’s testimony, the court is expected to hear from rapper Kid Cudi, who is likely to give his own account of his experiences with Combs.
The trial, which is being reported live by the BBC, has already heard a number of damning allegations against Combs. The prosecution has presented evidence that suggests Combs was involved in a sex-trafficking ring, and that he used his wealth and influence to exploit young women.
As the trial continues, it is clear that the prosecution will stop at nothing to present their case against Combs. With Kaplan’s testimony, the court has heard first-hand accounts of the lengths to which Combs’ team went to protect his public image. The BBC will continue to provide live updates from the trial as more evidence is presented.
The allegations against Combs are serious, and if found guilty, he could face significant prison time. The trial is expected to continue for several more days, and the BBC will be providing comprehensive coverage of the proceedings.
This is a developing story, and the BBC will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Source: BBC News Live
