A representative from Justin Bieber’s team has finally given comment to the rumors suggesting that the pop superstar is among the alleged victims of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
Combs, 55, was indicted by a grand jury and arrested at the Park Hyatt hotel in Manhattan, New York in September of last year.
He was subsequently charged with racketeering conspiracy, two charges of sex trafficking and two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. The Bad Boys hitmaker has denied all charges against him.
Combs’ sex trafficking trial, which began earlier this week, has garnered the attention of the world’s media, if not for his long-cultivated celebrity status then for the magnitude of the charges leveled against him.
Another point of serious interest for the public is the potential other figures that may be involved. A host of celebrities – not accused of any wrongdoing – were named when the trial began on May 5, and it can be assumed more will feature as the case progresses.
One star who’s found his name in frequent headlines since the charges were first bought against Combs is Justin Bieber. When Combs was arrested and his LA house raided by authorities in March last year, footage resurfaced of the rapper and Bieber when the latter was 15 years old.
In one clip, Combs spoke about hanging out with the then-teenage Bieber, claiming that the pair were going to ‘go wild’.
“Where we’re hanging out and what we’re doing, we can’t really disclose, but it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream,” Combs said.
He continued: “For the next 48 hours, he’s with me. And we’re gonna go full. Buck full crazy.”
Meanwhile, another video, filmed two years later, revealed Diddy believed Bieber had ‘changed’ because he no longer wanted to hang out with the rapper.
In an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2011, Combs said: “[Bieber] knows better than to be talking about things that he does with Big Brother Puff on national television.”
Needless to say, rumors over Bieber being a potential victim of Combs have hit fever-pitch, forcing the 31-year-old to issue a statement regarding his relationship to the defendant.
A representative for Bieber told TMZ: “Although Justin is not among Sean Combs’ victims, there are individuals who were genuinely harmed by him.
“Shifting focus away from this reality detracts from the justice these victims rightfully deserve.”
What do you make of the ongoing trial? Let us know in the comments.
