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Met Police took the “No Guidance” singer into custody around 2 a.m. Thursday at The Lowry Hotel on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm to Diaw during a February 2023 incident at Tape nightclub in Mayfair, London, according to The […]

Adriana Smith, 30, a mother and registered nurse at an Atlanta hospital, was about nine weeks pregnant in early February when she started experiencing intense headaches. Smith believed something was wrong and sought treatment for her symptoms. She was later […]

Ben Cohen, co-founder of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream franchise, was one of seven people arrested Wednesday for disrupting a hearing in which Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was testifying before a Senate committee. Cohen has been politically vocal on many issues throughout the years.

Cohen, others protest war in Gaza, Medicaid cuts

Several people, including Cohen himself, posted a video of the protest and arrest on social media. In the video, Kennedy appears startled as several protesters suddenly interrupt the hearing behind him, shouting from the audience before being physically removed by security. The video later cuts to a hallway, where Cohen is being taken away with his hands restrained behind his back. When asked by someone why he is being arrested, Cohen responds, “Congress kills poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs and pays for it by kicking kids off Medicaid in the U.S.”

I told Congress they’re killing poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs, and they’re paying for it by kicking poor kids off Medicaid in the US. This was the authorities’ response. pic.twitter.com/uOf7xrzzWM— Ben Cohen (@YoBenCohen) May 14, 2025

Seven people, including Cohen, were arrested for the protest and charged with a variety of offenses. Cohen and others were charged with the misdemeanor offense of “crowding, obstructing or incommoding,” a charge typically used against disruptive protesters. Some of the other people arrested with him face more serious charges, including resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.

History of Ben & Jerry’s political activism

Cohen and co-founder Jerry Greenfield started their eponymous ice cream chain in 1978. The two have long been publicly vocal about a variety of progressive causes, including LGBTQ+ rights and environmental issues. The duo sold the Ben & Jerry’s company to conglomerate Unilever in 2000. The deal between the two companies was structured to include safeguards for Ben & Jerry’s continued activism, but the chain’s co-founders have since clashed with the corporate giant over differences concerning political activism. In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s announced that it would no longer sell in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza, and the ice cream chain has been advocating for a ceasefire in the current war in Gaza. Ben & Jerry’s recently filed a lawsuit against Unilever, accusing the latter of firing the ice cream company’s CEO because of the chain’s continued political activism.

Contentious hearings for RFK Jr.

The protest disrupted a contentious day of hearings between Kennedy and members of Congress. The Health and Human Services secretary appeared before members of the House Appropriations and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees. Kennedy was questioned about mass layoffs within the department, part of a wider trend, as the Trump administration has been slashing the federal workforce and scaling back or eliminating programs and agencies across the government. Kennedy was also grilled over his long and controversial history of vaccine skepticism, particularly given notable measles outbreaks occurring in Texas and other states. In one telling exchange over whether he would vaccinate his own children for measles, Kennedy — the top health care public official in the country — stated, “I don’t think people should be taking advice, medical advice from me.”

WOW RFK Jr. finally says something intelligent:”I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me” pic.twitter.com/o3vwzZIOji— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) May 14, 2025

One person who Kennedy will probably not take advice from is Cohen, who made his opinion on the Trump administration clear during his protest. As Kennedy and other Trump officials continue to enact a host of controversial policies on everything from health care to foreign policy, it’s likely that more protests like Cohen’s will occur.

Video game company Valve is speaking out after rumors of a dark web data breach on its software caught fire on social media.

According to PC Gamer, a LinkedIn post claimed that a well-known dark web forum had breached Steam systems and was “offering a dataset of over 89 million user records for $5,000.”

Here’s everything we know about the claims, Valve’s response, and whether your Steam account is safe.

LinkedIn user Underdark.ai claims a hacker has “deeper access” to the Steam dataset

On Sunday, LinkedIn user Underdark.ai shared a lengthy post that claimed a “threat actor” by the name of Machine1337 had acquired the massive dataset as well as “A Telegram contact for purchase,” “A link to sample data hosted on Gofile,” and “Mentions of internal vendor data, indicating deeper access.”

“The implications here are serious — Steam isn’t just a game platform; it’s a treasure trove of personal and financial data tied to users worldwide,” the post noted. “If this breach is verified, it could lead to widespread phishing, account takeovers, and targeted attacks across the gaming community.”

The post encouraged Steam users to change their passwords on the platform, keep an eye on their email for “suspicious activity,” and stay away from “phishing attempts disguised as game promotions or support messages.”

Later, Underdark.ai provided an update on the breach, saying it had obtained “new evidence” from a leaked sample that “contains real-time 2FA SMS logs routed via Twilio,” a U.S.-based cloud company.

“The data includes message contents, delivery status, metadata, and routing costs — suggesting backend access to a vendor dashboard or API, not Steam directly,” the post added.

Underdark.ai said the new findings stress an increased security risk “via phishing or session hijacking.”

An independent games journalist then tweeted the warning message on X, formerly Twitter, where it went viral.

Yesterday, an alleged major @Steam data breach occurred, compromising over 89 million user records (roughly two-thirds of all Steam accounts).These datasets are being sold for over $5,000 on what appears to be a site akin to Mipped.Mipped alongside their sister sites is a…— Mellow_Online1 (@MellowOnline1) May 11, 2025

Valve assures users that their information is safe after investigating the breach

According to Polygon, Valve shared a post in response to the rumors. In it, the company explains that an investigation regarding the leaked data occurred and confirmed that Steam had not been breached and users do not need to change their passwords or phone numbers.

Valve said the leaked information consisted of old text messages that included now-expired one-time authentication codes. The codes were connected to the phone numbers that obtained them, but the phone numbers themselves were not included in the leak.

“The leaked data did not associate the phone numbers with a Steam account, password information, payment information or other personal data,” the video game company explained. “Old text messages cannot be used to breach the security of your Steam account, and whenever a code is used to change your Steam email or password using SMS, you will receive a confirmation via email and/or Steam secure messages.

Valve stressed, “You do not need to change your passwords or phone numbers as a result of this event. It is a good reminder to treat any account security messages that you have not explicitly requested as suspicious.”

The video game company said it has not identified the source of the leak. It also explained that the text messages leaked were likely unencrypted and ran through multiple providers.

Tips for keeping your Steam account protected

Though Valve confirmed users’ information is safe, the gaming company recommends taking measures to ensure your accounts are secure. It suggests reviewing Steam’s authorized devices page regularly to make sure you know who has access to your account and to set up the Steam Mobile Authenticator app if you haven’t already.

PC Gamer also suggests getting “a password manager like 1Password.”

“It’s worth it for the security of having complex passwords and the convenience of not having to type ‘6Zm#vR&LUVH%#B’ from memory,” according to the outlet.

CNBC reported that the state of Washington said Tuesday that the tech giant would reduce its overall headcount tied to its Redmond headquarters by 1,985 people, which includes 1,510 in office. At the end of June, the company had 228,000 […]

Casandra “Cassie” Ventura revealed disturbing allegations as she testified against Sean “Diddy” Combs during his sex trafficking trial on Wednesday. Ventura, who was in a relationship with Combs for 11 years before they split, spoke about the physical abuse she allegedly faced from the singer and presented graphic photos of her injuries to the court. Combs stood in front of his family members in court while his ex-girlfriend gave her testimony, Variety reported.

What did Cassie Ventura say about the injuries she allegedly sustained from Sean Combs?

Ventura said she sustained a swollen lip after being attacked by Combs at the InterContinental in Century City in Los Angeles. The jury, which is already reviewing surveillance video of the altercation from the hotel room, is also now looking at the photos Ventura presented in court on Wednesday. Ventura told the court that she went to her apartment after the altercation and showed her injuries to her friend Kerry Morgan. The singer said she spoke to police at that time, but she didn’t press charges or reveal Combs’ identity.

“I didn’t want to hurt him in that way,” Ventura said in court, per Variety. “I wasn’t ready.”

Continuing with her testimony, Ventura said Combs had another violent outburst shortly before the premiere of her 2016 movie, The Perfect Match. Presenting photos to the court, Ventura said she had a black eye, as well as bruises on her face and body, after being beaten by Combs at that time. The “Me & U” singer said she covered her injuries with makeup during her movie premiere and made sure her dress hid the bruises on her legs.

Ventura said Combs also abused her in 2013 before she performed at Drake’s OVO Fest in Canada. Combs allegedly forced his way into Ventura’s Los Angeles apartment the night before she left for the performance and abused her, leaving her with a gruesome eye injury that required stitches. Ventura said she still went to the performance after being attacked and covered her bruised eye with her hair.

What did Cassie Ventura say about the threats Combs allegedly made against her and Kid Cudi?

During her testimony, Ventura said Combs threatened her and Kid Cudi after learning about their relationship. Ventura said she started dating Cudi in 2011 while her relationship with Combs was falling apart. According to Ventura, Combs found out about her relationship with Cudi during a “freak-off,” a sex party that continues for days. After finding out about the relationship during the party, which was taking place at a hotel, Combs allegedly placed a wine corkscrew between his fingers and lunged at Ventura, saying his “eyes blacked out” and he was “super angry.”

As ABC reported, “Ventura told jurors that the freak-off sessions she participated in transformed into private pornography shoots for Combs, who would use the material as ‘blackmail’ if she disobeyed him.”

Per Variety, Ventura said she ran from the hotel at that point and called Cudi on a burner phone. After Cudi picked her up and took her to his house, Ventura said she went back to Combs’ home that night, hoping to resolve their issues. That’s when Combs allegedly threatened to hurt Ventura and Cudi. According to Ventura, Combs threatened to release the freak-off videos involving her. In a lawsuit she filed in 2023, Ventura added that Combs also threatened to “blow up Cudi’s car.”

What did Cassie Ventura say about the rape allegations she made against Sean Combs?

Ventura told the court that Combs raped her after they went out for dinner in 2018. The dinner, according to Ventura, was supposed to be closure after the pair decided to split up. According to Variety, Ventura said they had an enjoyable dinner, but Combs turned aggressive after taking her back to her Hollywood apartment.

“He raped me in my living room,” Ventura told the court. “I remember crying, saying no, but it was very fast.”

Ventura said she yelled “no,” but Combs ejaculated inside her, then got up and left. After Ventura confirmed to the court that she still had sex with Combs after the alleged rape, prosecutors asked her why she would do that.

“We had been together for over 10 years. You don’t just turn feelings off that way,” Ventura responded.

Although Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs in 2023, accusing him of rape and physical abuse, the case was settled 24 hours later. On Wednesday, Ventura revealed that she received $20 million from the settlement.

She recounted how she began “spinning out” that February, admitting, “I didn’t want to be alive anymore.” During a night of severe PTSD flashbacks, she told her husband he “could do it” without her and attempted to walk into traffic, but he stopped her. Ventura sought trauma therapy and addiction rehab, eventually writing a book to process her pain and confront Combs, hoping he would “understand” the damage caused by his alleged abuse. After her attempt to share the book was dismissed, she filed a civil lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, accusing him of rape and physical violence, which was settled within 24 hours for $20 million.

Explaining why she chose to testify publicly, Ventura told the court, “I’m here to do the right thing. I can’t carry this anymore … the shame, the guilt.”

If you’ve been tuned into the news at all in the last two years, you’re likely already aware of the looming trial of rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. The Bad Boy Records founder is currently being held in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center amid his trial on federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. As discovery and pre-trial motions have played out, hundreds of alleged victims have come forward to share their own private tales of encounters with Diddy, painting a picture of a serial abuser. The rapper has been denied bail on numerous occasions, and deemed a potential flight risk in the months leading up to the trial, while his incarceration has served as a near-constant source of tabloid news.

Those curious about the status of Diddy’s trial should be sure to read ahead, as we’ll outline all of the key information in the massive legal case. It should be noted that Combs has denied any and all wrongdoing and has not yet faced a conviction for any of the alleged misconduct. With no further preamble, let’s dive right in and parse through the latest updates on Diddy’s ongoing legal battles.

Combs’ reign in the entertainment industry took a sharp turn in late 2023

(Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Though Diddy has been a massive public name for decades, his legal troubles didn’t begin until late 2023. In November of that year, the rapper’s former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, filed a lawsuit in a New York court, accusing him of physical abuse and sexual assault. The case was settled privately just a day after it was filed, though many onlookers consider it to be the beginning of the end for the mogul’s illustrious career.

Shortly after this suit was thrown out, Diddy was accused of sexual assault, racketeering and breach of contract by his producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones. Jones’ filing stemmed from Diddy’s apparent failure to compensate him for work done on the latter’s 2023 project The Love Album: Off The Grid. Jones also alleged that Diddy had coerced him into helping to procure sex workers for a series of off-shore yacht parties, including one where Diddy and others allegedly groped and sexually harassed the producer.

From there, Diddy’s luck continued to run thin. Homeland Security agents raided Combs’ properties along both coasts in March of 2024, citing an ongoing investigation into an alleged sex trafficking operation. In doing so, the federal agents uncovered multiple firearms, including a pair of AR-15 rifles with defaced serial numbers, per the New York Times. They also found a now-infamous stockpile of more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil. These supplies, and others, are said to have been utilized during Diddy’s so-called “freak-off” events. Such events are rumored to have included live sex shows, illicit prostitution and attendance from some of the entertainment industry’s biggest names.

Following Cassie’s bombshell allegations, when was Diddy arrested?

Just two months after the coordinated Homeland Security raid, a shocking surveillance video was released, which seemed to show Combs punching, kicking and dragging Cassie Ventura through the halls of the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. Per CNN, Diddy publicly apologized for his actions in the video, originally filmed in 2016.

In a now-deleted social media post, the rapper stated, “My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now… But I’m committed to be a better man each and every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”

Unfortunately for Combs, it seems that federal agents were not convinced that his misconduct was relegated to the past, as the rapper was arrested on Sept. 16, 2024 in connection with the raids from the spring. Since then, Diddy has been incarcerated while awaiting trial. During his incarceration, Combs became the subject of a series of additional civil and criminal suits dating back to the early 1990s.

An attorney by the name of Tony Buzbee has taken on numerous clients as part of a growing case against Diddy, and claims to have received thousands of calls from other potential victims. If Buzbee is to be taken at his word, the total number of civil suits to be brought against Diddy could clock in at over 300 victims, not counting those allegedly assaulted by the mogul in states where the statute of limitations has expired.

What is racketeering?

After Diddy was arrested, a number of fans took to the net to question the federal charges levied against him. While most understood the sex trafficking offenses as they relate to the freak-off events, many people took issue with the racketeering charges. Generally speaking, racketeering is defined as a set of multiple illegal activities, carried out with the intent of generating a commercial profit, which have been disguised as legitimate business deals.

This typically might refer to the kind of mob activity you might see in an episode of The Sopranos. In the case of Diddy specifically, these charges refer to his alleged use of his record label and other business deals to transfer cash for violent crimes, fraud, bribery and extortion.

The primary law which regulates these crimes is known as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, or RICO for short. RICO charges are often brought against numerous parties at once for their involvement in a sweeping criminal conspiracy. This makes the charges against Diddy fairly unusual, as the federal government has not arrested anyone else in connection with Diddy’s case.

What was the embattled mogul’s plea deal?

As reported by NBC, Diddy rejected a plea deal from federal prosecutors before his trial. Though the exact details of the plea deal have not been released to the public, accepting the deal would have resulted in a marginally lighter sentence. Crucially, this deal would require Diddy to plead guilty to some number of charges, despite his firmly-held stance that he is an innocent man. Had he accepted the terms, the rapper could have effectively skipped the entire trial by jury process and accepted a direct sentence of prison time, parole or added community service. Given the nature of his alleged offenses, however, it seems likely that he would remain behind bars for some years no matter what terms the plea bargain contained.

What’s happening in Diddy’s courtroom so far?

After Combs’ initial arrest back in September 2024, his trial was scheduled to kick off the following May. This allowed both sides to prepare their statements, parse through a mountain of discovery data and establish arguments that align with court precedents. On Monday, May 12, jury selection finally concluded, allowing the courts to proceed with the trial. The jury panel is composed of a 12-member grouping with eight men and four women.

Opening statements also took place on May 12, with the prosecution leaning heavily on the infamous InterContinental video and discussing the terms of Diddy’s relationship with Cassie over the years. According to the previously mentioned report in the New York Times, the state’s case will rest on the notion that Combs has constructed an elaborate web of criminal conspiracies over the past two decades, which include kidnapping, trafficking, forced labor, bribery, witness intimidation and even arson.

Combs’ on-camera abuse of Cassie is the first of many examples prosecutors plan to employ in order to outline an ongoing pattern of behavior. If convicted, Diddy could spend the rest of his life behind bars. Although the soon-to-be mother of three has been called as a witness for the state, Diddy’s legal team aims to negate any connection between their tumultuous relationship and the other charges the rapper is facing.

Multiple employees and former employees of Combs have also been tapped to appear as witnesses, though the full state witness list has not been publicly released. Los Angeles Police Officer Israel Florez took the stand as the state’s first witness, according to CNN, before testifying that he responded to a “woman in distress” call during the 2016 InterContinental incident.

Unpacking the trial’s opening statements

As stated, most of the opening statements made by the prosecution were focused on convincing the jury that Diddy has built a carefully constructed criminal empire over the course of the last several decades. Per a report from CNN, Assistant US Attorney Emily Johnson argued that Combs instructed his employees to carry out a series of illegal acts on his behalf, tantamount to criminal racketeering.

In court, Johnson articulated, “Together they agreed to commit different crimes, kidnapping, arson, distributing drugs to other people, exploiting employees for labor.” While presenting these arguments, Johnson highlighted dozens of text messages exchanged by Diddy and his staff, as well as a number of explicit videos from the multi-day freak-off events. She concluded that Diddy “called himself the king and expected to be treated like one.”

In contrast to the state’s damning testimony, Diddy’s defense team argued that the music mogul is a complicated, emotional and flawed man. However, as attorney Teny Geragos stated in response to the InterContinental footage, “Domestic violence is not sex trafficking.” Geragos conceded that the freak-off video footage contained uncomfortable-to-watch material. However, she argued that the sex acts caught on camera were all consensual in nature, and “not based on coercion.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Diddy ever propose to Cassie?

Outside of the now-infamous Intercontinental Hotel video, Diddy and Cassie’s relationship was a known fixture in the entertainment industry for a number of years. The couple, who first began seeing each other in 2007, had an on-again, off-again romance through to 2018. Throughout that time, they collaborated on songs, appeared arm-in-arm at numerous red carpet events, and sparked a number of engagement rumors. Despite these rumors, there is no concrete evidence ever to suggest that Diddy ever proposed to Cassie Ventura. Just a year after their eventual break-up, Cassie married personal trainer Alex Fine.

How many kids does Cassie have?

Cassie and Diddy never had any children together. Still, Cassie is a mother of two, and has a third child on the way, according to a February 2025 Instagram post. All three of Cassie’s children have been fathered by her husband, Alex Fine. The couple share two daughters, Frankie and Sunny. The name and gender of their next addition have not yet been revealed to the public.

How much is Diddy worth now?

As you can imagine, the entire legal saga Combs has faced over the last two years has been extremely taxing on his finances. Diddy has lost numerous business deals due to the fallout from these controversies and has been forced to sell off some assets to protect the reputation of his brand partners. The rapper was once rumored to have a net worth of over $1 billion, though today, he touts an estimated $400 million in total, per Newsweek. While this number is still quite impressive, it’s expected that his ongoing legal defenses and upcoming civil suits will put a heavy drain on Diddy’s funds.

Casandra “Cassie” Ventura took the stand Tuesday morning to testify against her ex-boyfriend, Sean “Diddy” Combs, in his sex trafficking trial in New York. In her explosive testimony, she described years of physical and psychological abuse during their on-and-off 10-year relationship.