Category Entertainment News

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces trial on charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex ­trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution. He denies the allegations

The trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is under way, with jury selection taking place this week. However, it’s already faced a delay with selection having been postponed until Monday due to concerns that jurors might drop out over the weekend if the panel was finalised on Friday as originally planned.

Combs’s defense team had requested the delay, but prosecutors had opposed the postponement. Now, a US legal expert has revealed the “significant complexity” to the case.

Potential jurors in the trial had to answer written questions in a test to see what they knew and heard about the case and whether they could be fair. They were also asked if they could handle a two-month trial which may feature sexually explicit evidence.

The rapper, 55, is accused of a number of charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex ­trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has continued to deny all allegations since he was charged and put behind bars, with his multiple bail pleas rejected.

Legal expert and Managing Partner of Sweet James, Bobby Taghavi, admits Combs’ case is “absolutely” more complex due to the accused being such a prominent figure in the public eye.

Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Taghavi said: “When a defendant is a high-profile public figure like Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, it adds significant complexity to a criminal case—especially during jury selection.”

He went on: “Public notoriety means that most potential jurors have already heard about the allegations, and many may have formed opinions based not on evidence, but on media reports, social media, or the defendant’s public persona.

“Some jurors may feel a sense of admiration or loyalty to the figure, while others may harbour skepticism or bias due to prior controversies. This creates a minefield of implicit and explicit biases that both sides must navigate carefully.”

Taghavi said that when the charges involve sexual assault, there is a greater difficulty in picking a fair and impartial jury. “Sexual assault is a uniquely personal and emotionally charged issue,” he said.

“Many jurors bring deeply rooted beliefs or lived experiences to the courtroom—whether they’ve survived assault themselves or know someone who has. These experiences can shape how they view credibility, power dynamics, and trauma. As a former Sexual Assault Prosecutor, navigating these topics with potential jurors was extremely complex in and of itself.”

He continued: “The intersection of celebrity status and the emotionally complex nature of sexual assault allegations makes every stage of the trial—particularly jury selection—extraordinarily challenging.

“Both the defense and prosecution must work diligently to seat jurors who can genuinely put aside personal views and public perceptions, and decide the case solely on the facts and the law.”

Combs believes the jury will clear him of the devastating accusations made against him. The 12 people on the jury are set to hear shocking evidence that could put him away for life with allegations that he drugged and abused a number of victims during drug-fuelled sex parties dubbed “freak-offs”.

Federal prosecutors in New York alleged the rapper “abused, threatened and coerced women” into long, drug-fuelled orgies with male prostitutes he called “freak offs” and even threatened them into silence.

The indictment against Combs said: “After Freak Offs, Combs and the victims typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use.”

Combs has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution charges, which is five counts in all. His defence attorneys, who include Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, claim his sexual encounters were all consensual and said Combs is a swinger who occasionally invited people into his bedroom.

Ant McPartlin’s ex-wife has bought a new house in Oxford as she builds an impressive property portfolio in the wake of her divorce from the TV star

Lisa Armstrong has splashed out on another house – as she builds an impressive property portfolio in the wake of her divorce from Ant McPartlin.

The make-up artist, who was said to have been awarded £31million in a settlement from the TV star, snapped up a four-bed house near Oxford last year for more than £700,000.

She already has the former family home, a £2.3million five-bedroom west London mansion, which she kept as part of the divorce. Lisa then bought a £3.8million house in west London in 2020, two years following her split from Ant after 11 years of marriage.

She is expected to undertake extensive renovations of her latest purchase. It is not known if she is set to live there but she grew up in Oxford and knows the area well.

Lisa is fast becoming a savvy property developer. She completely renovated her 2020 house purchase installing a pool, a gym, outhouse and gazebo.

However she has less luck with the former marital home after it suffered a fire in September 2023, causing £1million worth of damage. Lisa had been renting the property to a family of six, it was reported at the time.

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The Mirror told last year how she was looking to move on after a “topsyturvy few years to say the least.” “She is very much focused on the future and is in a really good place after what was a difficult period,” our source said.

Lisa and Ant announced they were to divorce in January 2018, two months before he crashed into two other cars while more than twice the drink-drive limit.

He later admitted drink-driving and was fined £86,000 and given a 20-month ban.

He went into rehab after the crash and took a 10-month break from TV presenting. The presenter went on to marry his former personal assistant, Anne-Marie Corbett, in 2021 and the pair welcomed their first child together, son Wilder Patrick McPartlin in May.

Lisa then went on to date Sky electrician James Green in 2020 but their split came ‘out of the blue’ in August 2023.

Speaking at the time a friend said that the end of their three-year relationship had been amicable and that the former couple would remain friends.

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Step up your patio, decking or garden this spring with a stylish wicker loveseat that can be used three different ways – and right now, it’s got a massive £150 saving up for grabs

Elevate your outdoor seating set up this spring with a covetable rattan loveseat. This 2-seater sofa promises to be the perfect place to relax on long summer evenings or curl up with your favourite book.

Its luxe design ensures it will step up any area, whether it’s beside the pool, on the porch, patio, or in the garden. And what’s more, adding a stylish piece of furniture to your garden won’t break the bank, as this beauty is currently offering shoppers a chance to save £150 thanks to Debenhams’ spring sale.

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This patio loveseat sofa set will satisfy any demands you may have for outdoor relaxation. Boasting multifunctionality, this loveseat isn’t just your average sofa. The rattan set includes a loveseat sofa and a multipurpose ottoman, which can be stored under the sofa to save space, used as a side table for your summer beverages, or used as a double chaise lounge to transform the sofa into a comfy and indulgent loveseat.

Featuring a four-position backrest, the loveseat allows you to sit, recline, or even lie flat on it, making it the ideal choice for sunbathing through summer afternoons and holding company after the sun’s gone down. Coming with three cushions and two pillows that are filled with elastic sponge, making the seat super comfortable to relax on, this set is for easy removal and maintenance of the cushion covers.

The ottoman can also be used as a storage box, a side table, or an extra seat, boasting plenty of potential and convenience for reclining in sunny weather. With two retractable side trays, drinks and snacks will be easy to reach as you sit back and relax. This two-piece patio sofa and ottoman set is the perfect addition to any outdoor space that promises comfort and style.

Normally retailing for £449.95 at Debenhams, shoppers seeking this must-have seating set up without splashing too much cash can pick one up for £299.95 while this spring deal lasts.

The alleged stalker of Jennifer Aniston believed that he was Jesus Christ and the Friends star was his queen according to his wife who claims that he is “going through a lot”

The wife of Jennifer Aniston’s alleged stalker has claimed that he pursued the Friends star in the hope that she would become his “queen”. Jimmy Carwyle, 48 was arrested last week after he drove his vehicle into the actress’ security gates at her Bel Air home on May 5.

Jimmy was seen at his arraignment hearing at Los Angeles Superior Court three days later, half naked while wrapped in a anti-suicide blanket. He appeared dishevelled in his appearance as prosecutors stated that Jimmy, who resides in the south of America in Mississippi, had allegedly harassed Jennifer between March 2023 and May this year. This was carried out by allegedly sending the Hollywood star a string of “unwanted social media, voicemail and email messages”.

And now, in an interview with the Daily Mail, his wife Julia Carwyle has claimed that her husband is struggling but maintains he is a “great guy”.

She also said that he had made three trips to meet Jennifer, who he became infatuated with.

Julia told the publication that she last saw her husband in September, which was the day he drove to California in the hope of meeting the film and TV star.

Jennifer was at home on the day he drove his car into her security gates but he did not get to meet the star.

Julia told the Mail: “He went to California six months ago. He left in September and went and I haven’t seen him since he left. He was leaving that day to go.”

She added that Carwyle went to California in hopes of meeting Jennifer and had the impression that they were going to “talk and meet”.

She revealed that her husband believed he was Jesus Christ and that he’s “going through a lot right now”. The social media posts that emerged following the crash, allegedly from Jimmy, have not been confirmed to have come from Jennifer’s alleged stalker.

Some of the posts claimed Jennifer was his “bride”, as one post sent in October alleged that he referred to her as “Jennifer Aniston Carwyle”.

Another post allegedly from Jimmy said he and Jennifer would be “mended together” and likened the pair to Adam and Eve.

At the time of the crash, Jennifer’s security held Jimmy at “gunpoint” while waiting for police to arrive, according to court records.

Following the crash, her alleged stalker mentioned he was suffering from back pain and was then taken to hospital.

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Lou Sanders took part in Prime Video smash hit Last One Laughing after her debut on Dancing On Ice back in 2024, where she was the fifth celebrity to be eliminated

Last One Laughing star Lou Sanders has admitted that she “had to choose” between alcohol and her career amid her addiction troubles. The comedienne has explained that she decided to choose her career when one moment in particular gave her a wake up call.

She said she realised that she “can’t have a career and be an alcoholic” which is what led her to give up drinking. The Dancing On Ice star noticed that during one gig in particular that it would be better for her to not drink and has now noticed that there’s “quite a bit of distance” between her now and who she was when she drank.

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Speaking to the Daily Mail, Lou said: “I was too obstreperous when I drank and I had to choose my career or drinking. I chose my career.” However, she then revealed what her hangover dish was when she did drink, adding: “But when I did drink, and was veggie, eggy bread covered in salt was my hangover dish.”

Lou has opened up about the moment she decided to give up drinking. She explained that it was during a gig that she realised she couldn’t carry on anymore.

Lou wrote about her journey in her memoir What’s That Lady Doing? False Starts And Happy Endings where she said she had a heavy drinking habit in her teens. She carried on binge drinking for decades before giving up altogether.

The 45-year-old wrote: “I threw an empty bottle of wine at the audience and called Ed Gamble some horrible stuff that is so far from the truth. He’s the nicest, nicest guy ever. And then I pulled Arthur Smith’s trousers down. When I threw that bottle, I could have seriously damaged someone.

“The last [gig where I drank] was a snowboarding trip and I was with loads of people that love a drink, yet I was the biggest problem. I got so drunk and started heckling the other acts – the worst thing you could do ever. I don’t understand how that’s even in me to do that when I’m drunk. So then I did stop drinking because I thought, ‘I can’t have a career and be an alcoholic.’ Some people manage, but it’s increasingly going out of fashion.”

Despite this, Lou has said she has now moved on from who she was back then, adding: “I’ve got quite a bit of distance between me now and me when I was drinking. So it’s good to draw a line under all of that and just think, ‘Oh, I’m not that person now.'”

The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 is being held in Basel and Miriana Conte – who is representing Malta with the song Serving, once known as Kant – is among the acts taking part

Miriana Conte has revealed how she now feels about the lyric change to her Eurovision Song Contest entry. The singer spoke about the decision in an exclusive interview with the Mirror ahead of representing Malta next week.

There was controversy earlier this year after Miriana, 24, was chosen to represent her country with the song Kant – which shared its title with a Maltese word for ‘singing’. The track attracted much attention after she won Malta’s national final in February, which included a jury and a public vote.

The majority of the song – now called Serving – is performed in English, but the original chorus included the title. Miriana’s pronounciation drew comparisons to the word “c***” and the lyric “serving kant” was perceived to be a reference to the phrase “serving c***,” which can be used to represent someone expressing themselves in a bold or powerful way.

She sang: “Why should we let other people decide when we could be having the time of our lives? Let down your walls come and dance to my vibe. I do it all the time, yeah, I do it all the time. Serving kant. Do, re, mi, fa, s-s-serving kant.”

Although fans embraced the song, other listeners weren’t impressed by the lyrics, which proved controversial. As reported at the time, Scott Mills suggested that he couldn’t air the entry on his BBC Radio 2 show. He said at the time: “We definitely can’t play a clip of it … ever, on the BBC.”

Amid the controversy over Kant, Miriana told fans in March that she had been notified that the European Broadcasting Union – which organises Eurovision – had “decided against” the use of ‘kant’ in the song. The news came just days before the deadline for acts to formally submit their entries.

Miriana later unveiled the new version of the song, Serving, which no longer features ‘kant’ in the chorus. And despite speculation that she would replace the word with another, she instead opted to leave a space where it had once been.

Ahead of competing in the second semi-final next Thursday, Miriana recently opened up to us about the situation and preparations for this year’s Eurovision. She also teased what to expect from her upcoming performance in the contest.

During the interview, it was mentioned that she’s now had time to process the lyric change and the controversy surrounding the song. Asked how she feels about it now and the end product of the change, Miriana told us: “Honestly, I quite love it! So I love both the versions [of the song].”

Miriana – who was a co-writer on the song – added: “If you had to tell me like to choose one from the other, I wouldn’t because I love them both so much.” She teased: “I mean, one leaves space for people to shout whatever they want to shout. The other, people are serving kant, they’re singing.”

She told us last week: “I didn’t have time to process back then when I found out, however then when I actually sat down, like even during the tours and everything, and I saw people singing out loud to it, they know word by word which is crazy, I was like ‘it had to happen’. And thank God it did!”

Explaining why she feels that way, she said: “It got much more popularity and got much more people watching it. People were on the tips of their toes to find out what the word change was, when there wasn’t [one].”

Miriana continued: “It was all very exciting.” And then sharing that she wouldn’t change how everything has unfolded, she said: “So if I had like relive the process and choose what to happen, I would still choose for this to happen.”

Asked if she had considered replacing ‘kant’ in the chorus, she revealed: “I never wanted to replace the word because that is what made the song gain its popularity. It is what means so much to me, so the only way that the word could be replaced is without it being replaced basically.”

The singer-songwriter went on to share that she was not concerned about the message of the song being lost in the controversy. She said in our interview: “When it boils down to people listening to it, everyone got the gist that it is about being bold and unapologetically yourself. With or without the word, it will still be what it is. That is why it really does not affect me. I love both versions so much.”

Miriana – who had competed four times before to represent Malta at Eurovision – also gave us an insight into the inspiration for the song. She said: “I’m such a bubbly ball of energy. I’m all over the place. I’m the clown of the group. I’m the loudest person in the room and I wanted to write exactly about that. How growing up I always felt like I needed to wind myself down to match other people’s energies.”

In the interview – which was prior to Miriana arriving in Basel, Switzerland, for the contest – she said that rehearsals were in “full swing”. She said: “Vocal lessons. We’re trying it out in a big space. Trying out the outfits to see how everything is going to work. So yeah, preparations are at full swing.”

And teasing what to expect from her performance, she told us last week: “It’s gonna be shocking!” After some laughter, she went on to share: “It’s gonna be exactly what I am like bold and loud and fun and beautiful. I love absolutely everything that’s gonna be happening on stage.”

The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel opens with its first semi-final on Tuesday from 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The second semi-final will be on Thursday before the grand final is broadcast next Satuday.

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