EXCLUSIVE: DIDDY “THRILLED” BY FIRST DAY OF TRIAL — ENJOYS SPOTLIGHT AS SEX TRAFFICKING CASE BEGINS
“He’s always wanted to be the most famous man in the world — and now he is,” says insider
Sean “Diddy” Combs may be facing the fight of his life in a federal courtroom — but insiders say the embattled music mogul is secretly relishing the attention.
Sources close to the hip-hop icon tell #ShuterScoop that Diddy and his team were “thrilled” with how the first day of his high-profile sex trafficking and racketeering trial played out in Manhattan on Monday.
“He made a good impression,” a courtroom source reveals. “He was humble, vulnerable, even nervous at times — which humanized him. The judge cracked a few jokes, and Diddy laughed along. It was surreal, but he actually enjoyed it.”
While Diddy, 55, admitted in court he was “a little nervous” and asked for a bathroom break during jury selection, those closest to him say he was energized by the media frenzy outside and the swarm of press coverage surrounding the trial.
“It sounds sick, but part of him is loving this,” one insider tells #ShuterScoop. “Diddy’s always craved the spotlight. He used to say he wanted to be the most famous person in the world. Now, with this trial, he kind of is.”
Outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan courthouse, photographers and fans gathered in droves, trying to snap photos as the music mogul arrived dressed in business casual — ditching jail-issued garb for a crisp blue sweater and white button-down shirt.
“He was eating it up,” the source adds. “The attention, the cameras, the drama — it’s familiar terrain for him.”
Still, make no mistake: the charges are no performance. Diddy faces five serious counts, including sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy — all of which could bring devastating consequences if convicted.
But for now, the mogul seems focused on one thing: owning the moment.
“He knows the cameras are watching,” the insider says. “And for Diddy, that’s exactly where he likes to be.”
#ShuterScoop