No Bail for Diddy: Third Attempt Denied, Trial Wait Could Keep Him Behind Bars for Months

A Manhattan federal judge has denied Sean "Diddy" Combs' third attempt at securing bail in his sex trafficking and racketeering case, ensuring the rap mogul remains behind bars as the case moves forward.

The ruling, issued late Wednesday by Judge Arun Subramanian, came down with a single word in capital letters: "DENIED." Combs had hoped to spend Thanksgiving with his family in a three-bedroom Manhattan apartment under 24-hour surveillance, part of a $50 million bail package his lawyers had proposed. Instead, Combs will remain in the Metropolitan Correctional Center.

Judge Subramanian's decision underscored the severity of the charges against Combs. "No condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community," the judge wrote. The denial highlighted concerns about Combs' potential danger to others if released.

On Friday, Combs' family, including his 17-year-old twin daughters, Jessie and D'Lila, attended a bail hearing. Last year, the twins spent Thanksgiving with their father as he served turkey dinners to the homeless in Miami. That Thanksgiving also marked the day the Adult Survivors Act opened a one-year window for alleged victims of sex crimes to seek civil claims, which has led to several lawsuits against Combs.

In 2023, Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, Combs' former girlfriend, sued him for alleged rape and years of abuse. Combs settled the case a day later, but on Thanksgiving Day, two more women —Joi Dickerson-Neal and Liza Gardner — filed lawsuits alleging he raped them in the early '90s. Dickerson-Neal's suit says she reported the alleged assault to police, but was told she needed corroboration from witnesses, a common roadblock before the #MeToo movement.

Combs has denied all allegations, but his behavior, including alleged drug-fueled "freak-offs," drew federal attention, leading to his September indictment. The charges describe years of abuse, coercion, and control, alleging Combs used his business empire to create a criminal enterprise involving sex trafficking, forced labor, and more.

Combs' lawyers had already tried and failed twice to get him released on bail. Prosecutors argued that a multimillion-dollar bail package would create a "two-tier" justice system favoring the wealthy. They also highlighted Combs' repeated violations of communication rules at the detention center, deeming him too dangerous to release.

Judge Subramanian cited these concerns, referencing seized firearms, including AR-15s with defaced serial numbers, and the indictment's claims of Combs' use of violence to intimidate victims and witnesses. He also quoted a text from Ventura after a 2016 incident in which Combs allegedly assaulted her in a hotel hallway: "I have a black eye and a fat lip. You are sick for thinking it’s OK to do what you’ve done… I still have crazy bruising."

Combs entered the courtroom with a smile for his twin daughters, but the judge's ruling means he will likely stay in custody until his trial. If convicted, the music mogul could face many more Thanksgivings behind bars.

Travis Scott Breaks Boundaries: 'Circus Maximus' Becomes Highest-Grossing Solo Rap Tour

Travis Scott's "Circus Maximus" tour has redefined what a solo rap tour can achieve, earning a staggering $209.3 million in revenue and becoming the highest-grossing solo rap tour in history, according to Billboard. Over 1.7 million tickets were sold across 76 dates, solidifying Scott's status as a powerhouse in live music and an artist capable of unprecedented commercial success.

A standout moment of the tour came in Melbourne, where two sold-out shows generated $12.6 million from 115,000 tickets. The tour's momentum only accelerated towards the end, with the final nine shows contributing 24% of the total attendance—an impressive 415,000 tickets sold in just that stretch.

The numbers tell a story of exponential growth for Scott. Compared to his previous "Astroworld: Wish You Were Here" tour, "Circus Maximus" more than tripled the revenue and sold over twice as many tickets. Key drivers of this success included a 65% increase in ticket prices, an expanded schedule featuring over 20 additional shows, and a significant boost in average audience size, with 53% more tickets sold per event.

Scott's achievement places him firmly ahead of other rap giants in solo tour earnings. While JAY-Z and 50 Cent have approached similar milestones, JAY-Z's earnings were bolstered by his co-headlining tour with Beyoncé, and 50 Cent's "The Final Lap" tour crossed the 1-million-ticket mark in 2023. Scott now stands alone as the leading solo rapper in tour history.

The tour's success also coincided with the release of Scott's chart-topping album, "UTOPIA." The "Circus Maximus" tour, spanning four continents and totaling 78 shows, eclipsed Kendrick Lamar's "Big Steppers Tour," which grossed $110 million. Though Scott's revenue still falls short of the $320 million generated by Drake, J. Cole, and 21 Savage on their co-headlining "It's All A Blur" tour, he now holds the crown for solo rap tours.

This accomplishment highlights not only Scott's ability to command massive audiences but also his staying power in the competitive world of live entertainment. Compared to the "Astroworld: Wish You Were Here" tour, which grossed $63 million from 57 shows, "Circus Maximus" managed to triple that figure with just 21 more performances—demonstrating a sharp upward trajectory in Scott's career.

Even after the monumental success of "Circus Maximus," Scott isn't slowing down. He is set to headline and curate next year's Coachella Festival, scheduled for April 11–13 and April 18–20. The event, branded as "Travis Scott Designs The Desert," promises a unique and immersive experience, with the festival's announcement teasing a "Cactus Jack desert takeover" featuring an "immersive and experiential world."

Scott will perform on both Saturdays of the festival, sharing the stage with a diverse lineup including Post Malone, Green Day, and Lady Gaga.

Music Charts, Media Ethics at Stake in Drake, Williams Lawsuits

Kendrick Lamar's 'GNX' cover art. Released days before Drake's lawsuit against Universal Music Group for allegedly manipulating streaming charts, the album has further fueled the rappers' rivalry.

Drake is pursuing legal action against Universal Music Group and Spotify, accusing them of rigging streaming charts, while Wendy Williams challenges Lifetime over an allegedly exploitative documentary. Here is the latest on these celebrity legal disputes.

On Monday, Drake, through his company Frozen Moments LLC, filed a lawsuit in New York against UMG and Spotify. He alleges that UMG and Spotify manipulated streaming charts to boost Kendrick Lamar's diss track, "Not Like Us," at the expense of his album, "Certified Lover Boy." According to the lawsuit, UMG and Spotify utilized automated bots, payola, and Siri redirection to artificially increase Lamar's streams while undermining Drake's position on the charts.

Specifically, Drake claims that bots were deployed to inflate Lamar's streaming metrics, falsely inflating popularity. He also alleges that UMG engaged in payola — bribing for airplay and favorable streaming placements. Furthermore, Drake asserts that UMG collaborated with Apple to redirect Siri search results for "Certified Lover Boy" to Lamar's track, leading to significant misrepresentation of streaming activity. Entertainment lawyer Peter Paterno told Variety, "This case strikes at the heart of how we measure success... If streaming numbers can be manipulated so easily, it undermines the entire concept of fair competition."

UMG has vehemently denied these accusations. "The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is absurd," a UMG spokesperson said. "We believe the courts will dismiss these claims." UMG has insisted that all promotional activities were conducted ethically and legally.

Drake also appeared on Canadian streamer xQc's Kick channel on Monday, where he accused Lamar of spreading "fairytales" through his diss tracks. During the stream, he also criticized Steve Lacy and The Weeknd, which generated considerable social media buzz.

Lamar's surprise album, "GNX," which dropped last week to widespread acclaim, features more not-so-subtle jabs at Drake. Reacting to Drake's recent accusations and online commentary, Lamar himself responded with a succinct "He trippin'?!", in a text exchange with rapper and producer Reli, shared on pgLang's Instagram.

Meanwhile, Wendy Williams is engaged in her own legal battle. On Nov. 12, her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, filed a lawsuit against Lifetime, A&E Television Networks, EOne Productions, Creature Films, and executive producer Mark Ford, accusing them of exploiting Williams' deteriorating health in the documentary "Where Is Wendy Williams?" According to Morrissey, Williams, now 60, suffers from primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, conditions that have left her "cognitively impaired, permanently disabled, and incapacitated." Since May 2022, Williams has been under court-ordered guardianship due to concerns about her well-being.

OH NO 🙏🏽| Wendy Williams’s legal guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, revealed in a recent court filing that the legendary talk show host is now “permanently incapacitated,” from her on-going battle with frontotemporal dementia and primary progressive aphasia. pic.twitter.com/E0BctPPtxK

— KenBarbie™ (@itsKenBarbie) November 26, 2024

The lawsuit contends that the documentary's producers took advantage of Williams' vulnerability when she was "clearly incapable of consenting to be filmed." Morrissey has also requested the court to redact details of Williams' health, familial relationships, and finances from the public record to protect her privacy. The defendants have denied the accusations, asserting that they had obtained Williams' consent prior to her decline in health and before the guardianship was in place. They claim Morrissey is attempting to deflect blame for her own alleged failures in protecting Williams. Both sides have requested a trial, which is expected to last between two to four weeks.

Williams, who hosted "The Wendy Williams Show" from 2008 to 2022, has faced numerous health issues, including Graves' disease, lymphedema, and struggles with substance addiction. The ongoing legal case has ignited debate about the ethics of exploiting vulnerable public figures for entertainment, drawing widespread attention within the industry.