Kid Cudi Testifies to Car Explosion at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Trial

The rapper Kid Cudi said his Porsche was set ablaze after Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs learned Cudi was dating Combs’ girlfriend, testimony prosecutors sought Thursday in an effort to prove their claims that Combs ran a criminal enterprise.

“I knew he had something to do with it,” the rapper, whose name is Scott Mescudi, told jurors, referring to Combs, before the judge sustained a defense objection to the witness stand remark.

Federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York had said in their opening statements that Combs committed arson as part of the racketeering conspiracy they’ve charged him with. Mescudi is a key witness for the government, with testimony that offers the trial’s first evidence of such arson. The music mogul could face life in prison if convicted of all charges, which also include sex trafficking. He’s pleaded not guilty.

Mescudi described a tense series of events beginning in December 2011 when Cassandra Ventura, the music artist known as Cassie, told Mescudi that Combs had discovered their relationship. Mescudi then called Combs, who told him, “‘I’m over here waiting,’” Cudi testified.

When Mescudi got to his Los Angeles home, Combs wasn’t there, but the home had been broken into, Mescudi testified, with security cameras moved, Mescudi’s dog locked in the bathroom, and Chanel gifts rummaged through. Mescudi said he reported the incident to the police.

In the weeks afterward, Combs sought a meeting with Mescudi, but Mescudi rebuffed him, the witness testified. “I told him, ‘You broke into my house, you messed with my dog,’” Mescudi said.

In January 2012, Mescudi learned from an employee that his Porsche was on fire.

When he got home, Mescudi said he found the ingredients for a Molotov cocktail, including a burnt bottle, by the badly damaged car. The government showed jurors a photo of what they said was the car at the time, with a hole in the roof and damage throughout. Mescudi said he reported the incident to police.

Asked by assistant US Attorney Emily Johnson to describe his reaction at the time, Mescudi recalled thinking, “‘What the f—,’” drawing laughs in the courtroom. “It was intentional,” Cudi added during his testimony.

The two men subsequently met at the Soho House, where Combs was acting like a “Marvel supervillain,” Mescudi testified, looking out a window with his arms behind his back. “‘What are we going to do about my car?’” Mescudi testified that he asked Combs. “‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’' Mescudi recalled Combs replying.

During cross-examination, Combs’ defense attorney Brian Steel sought to show there wasn’t proof linking Combs to the alleged car explosion. Mescudi said he wasn’t aware of eyewitnesses placing Combs or a known Combs affiliate at the scene.

The testimony comes after Ventura testified to being abused by Combs during a time she said she was engaging in drug-fueled sex parties with him. Combs’ defense has said the domestic abuse doesn’t prove sex trafficking and that Combs wasn’t involved in any arson. The trial is expected to last another six weeks.