Kid Cudi testifies about car fire and 'Marvel supervillain' meeting at Diddy's trial

This is a free article for Diddy on Trial newsletter subscribers.

This is a free article for Diddy on Trial newsletter subscribers. Sign up to get exclusive reporting and analysis throughout Sean Combs’ federal trial.

Grammy-winning rapper Scott Mescudi — better known by his stage name, Kid Cudi — took the witness stand today as prosecutors continued sketching their portrait of Diddy’s violent and chaotic world. Here’s what the “Pursuit of Happiness” singer told jurors, and what we heard from today’s other witnesses as the sex trafficking trial reached the end of its second week:

ALSO: In a 37-second video posted to X this afternoon, Kid Cudi directly addressed the camera and thanked his fans for “all the love and support” in the lead-up to his testimony. “This is a stressful situation,” he added. “I’m glad it’s behind me.”

Kid Cudi was by far today’s main attraction. The celebrated rapper, wearing a black leather jacket over a white T-shirt, drew a crowd of spectators in the rain outside the courthouse. He identified himself on the stand as an “actor and musician,” a nod to his roles in films like “Don’t Look Up” and “X.” In general, he struck a confident tone and often spoke animatedly.

Diddy, wearing a cream-colored top over khaki pants, sat back in his chair with his arms and legs crossed during parts of Kid Cudi’s testimony. He seemed to be listening closely, calmly taking in the back-and-forth without displaying much emotion.