George Kaplan, who worked as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ personal assistant, told the court about the ‘final straw’ that made him quit working for the disgraced music mogul
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ former personal assistant has been called to the stand as part of the disgraced rapper’s trial, where he delved into what it was like working for the music mogul. George Kaplan started working for Combs in 2013 but walked away from the position two years later.
Combs, who is known as Diddy, Puff Daddy and various other aliases, is currently on trial for a number of serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.
He was arrested in September and strongly denies all allegations made against him. Combs has been in prison since his arrest, and a number of bail requests have been rejected.
His trial has since entered its second week, with Kaplan, 34, first taking to the stand on Wednesday. Kaplan testified he worked around 80 to 100 hours per week.
He travelled with Combs and would set up his hotel rooms with a bag that included clothes, a speaker, candles, liquor, baby oil, and lubricant.
The assistant said he came to understand his role was to protect Combs’ image as he would tidy up the rooms once he left. He said there would be sports drink bottles, liquor bottles and baby oil strewn around the hotel room after Combs left.
Kaplan also testified that he picked up drugs for Combs with cash he gave him. He said it happened once in Miami and once in Los Angeles.
During Thursday’s court session, Kaplan said he quit his dream job working for Combs after seeing his boss attack yet another girlfriend in 2015.
He said he was staying at Combs’ guesthouse in Miami and late one night he saw the music star throwing green apples “very hard” at a woman named Gina.
Kaplan said he wasn’t sure if the apples were real and testified that Gina was “trying to shield herself with her arms.” He was later called to Combs’ bedroom to bring a medicine bag, and Kaplan said the mood was tense.
The former assistant told the court that Gina stood in the corner of the room and Combs “seemingly on edge”. He later heard a woman screaming at the front gate of Combs’ Miami estate, along with male voices Kaplan took to be the security team.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey asked why Kaplan didn’t do anything to intervene, while he repeated that he was young and ambitious at the time.
“I thought it might be normal,” he said. Kaplan shifted in his chair, crossed his arms and looked at the floor.
Kaplan said the attack on Gina proved to be “the final straw,” and he gave Combs his notice shortly after. “I was not comfortable or aligned with the physical behavior that I had seen pieces of,” Kaplan told the jury.
Prior to taking to the stand, Kaplan had invoked his Fifth Amendment right to not testify citing potential self incrimination. However, Judge Arun Subramanian indicated that he would sign an immunity order which would require Kaplan to take the stand.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk
If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
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