Diddy’s legal woes deepen

SEAN “DIDDY” COMBS (54) has had his third bail application refused.

The rapper is behind bars at a notoriously brutal New York jail after being arrested on September 16 on federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

So far, he has launched appeals to be released on a US$50 million bond.

Combs’ latest bail bid was denied after a hearing on Wednesday, headed by federal judge Arun Subramanian. This followed a bail bid launched by the performer during a court appearance on November 22.

While refusing Combs’ latest bail application, the judge said: “The court finds that the government has shown by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community.”

Prosecutors have argued Combs would potentially tamper with witnesses if released, alleging that the Bad Boy Records founder has tried to intimidate witnesses from behind bars.

In a court filing, they claimed the “defendant’s goal is to blackmail victims and witnesses either into silence or providing testimony helpful to his defence”.

Combs’ defence team has claimed the prosecution’s case was “thin” and have proposed a US$50 million bail package with strict release conditions that would limit Combs’ ability to contact others beyond his attorneys and would require around-the-clock monitoring.

Combs denies all charges against him.

The bail denial came after Combs was hit with accusations he abused his staff members.

New accusations have now been brought forward by prosecutors in a letter to Subramanian, which alleges Combs targeted his staff and women with violence and threats to share sex tapes.

As part of court documents obtained by the Daily Mirror, the note states: “Often behind closed doors, the defendant engaged in acts of violence against women, including throwing them to the ground, dragging them by their hair, kicking, shoving, punching and slapping them.

“He manipulated, coerced and extorted women, including by plying them with drugs, threatening to withhold financial support and threatening to disseminate sex tapes that the defendant had made of their sexual encounters.

“He (intimidated) women, including by displaying firearms, threatening them, showing up at their homes unannounced and attempting to beat down the door — on one occasion with a hammer.”

Prosecutors added Combs’ staff members have “described the defendant threatening to kill them” and “throwing objects at them”, as well as being “struck, punched and shoved” by the rapper.

According to the media, the letter stated that Combs has a “history of obstructive conduct”, which they say is “part and parcel” of his “decades-long pattern of violence”.

Along with the federal indictment on which he was arrested, Combs has been accused of sexual assaults on more than 100 victims, all of which he also denies. — Wires

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Mzansi singer Tyla makes history

South African multi-award-winning musician Tyla is riding a wave of extraordinary success, having made history yet again with her hit song “Water”.

According to Chart Beat by Billboard, “Water” has become the first solo song in history to spend 52 weeks at No 1 on the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs chart.

“Water”, which was released on July 28, 2023, peaked at number 11 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50.

Later, the song entered the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs chart at number 37 on September 9, 2023, before debuting at number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on October 14, 2023.

In total “Water” has been on the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs chart for 65 weeks.

Tyla’s tygers took to the comments to congratulate the “pretty girl from Joburg” on her success.

@Karel410575 wrote: “For 52 weeks there wasn’t an Afrobeats song that could take it down?? Well done.”

“Truth or Dare” is at No 3; “Art” is at No 4; “No 1”, featuring Tems, is at No 5; “Jump” is at the No 6 spot; “Safer” is at No 8; and “On My Body” at No 10.

Rema and Selena Gomez’s “Calm Down”, “Me & U” by Tems and “Tshwala Bam” by TitoM and Yuppe have secured the second, seventh and ninth spots, consecutively.

In other news, tygers are preparing to welcome their favourite Afrobeats star home this week.

Tyla is set to perform in her hometown, South Africa, for the first time on December 5 at the GrandWest Grand Arena in Cape Town and on December 7 at the SunBet Arena at Time Square Casino. — Wires