An exotic dancer nicknamed The Punisher who testified against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs during his trial has spoken out about the disgraced star’s charge
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P Diddy’s lawyers spoke out after the disgraced hip-hop star’s sentencing was handed down(Image: Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)
Disgraced music star Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs was jailed for four years and two months on Friday and one person who testified against him has made it clear how they feel about the decision. Combs, 55, was also fined $500,000 fine, which is the highest the judge could impose.
The sentence came as the rapper was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking in July. However, he was found guilty on two charges of transportation of former girlfriends for prostitution. During the trial, vile details emerged about Combs’ sex life and ‘freak off parties’ involving ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
Ventura was among those who testified against the Bad Boy Records founder. So too was Sharay Hayes. The exotic dancer, nicknamed The Punisher, spoke during the trial to give his recollection of events.
At the time, Hayes told the court about his encounters with the musician. He claimed to have had around eight to 12 encounters with Combs and his ex-girlfriend.
Now, Hayes has revealed he believes the sentence by Judge Arun Subramanian was handed out to send a clear message that he is trying to protect victims and deter others from such behaviour.
Hayes told TMZ he believes the star truly is remorseful after Combs revealed his sorrow at events during sentencing. Hayes added: “He was on top of the world and lost it all … and has no one to blame but himself — that changed him forever.”
However, another sex worker named in trial testimony told the publication they believe Combs got off lightly. The anonymous source explained they believed the disgraced star might have got 10 years behind bars.
Other famous faces to react to the sentencing included Combs’ long-term rival, 50 Cent. The rapper, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III, couldn’t help but take aim following the judge’s decision.
He wrote on social media: “Hey to whoever was booking Diddy for speaking engagement. I heard he won’t be able to make it, I’m available!”
Following the sentencing, Combs’ attorneys spoke outside of court to reveal they plan to appeal the sentence. His lawyers Marc Agnifilo and Brian Steel said: “We are planning to appeal, we are planning to appeal.
“We think we have strong basis to appeal – the strongest basis is that the jury reached a verdict on coercion, they found it was not coercion and I think that the judge said coercion today at least a dozen times. We think that is unconstitutional. We think that a jury verdict should mean more than our jury’s verdict seems to mean. So we are planning to appeal.”
Combs’ mother also reacted to the sentence outside of the court. As she stepped outside of the venue, she waved to the crowd that had gathered.
She had been supporting her son throughout the trial. . Upon hearing his sentence, Combs told her: “I’m sorry.” She wore a white suit and was joined by six of the star’s children on Friday.
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Finkelstein’s defense of Trump’s peace agreement, which he calls the weakest yet without a path to justice, is explained to Marc Lamont Hill.
A “Board of Peace” plan that President Trump chairs would apply to Gaza. Some in the international community have praised the decision, but others criticize how it bypasses Palestinians and provides no way for statehood. Will this agreement bring about real peace or cement the status quo, with Netanyahu promising to not completely leave Gaza?
Chris Robshaw’s wife Camilla Kerslake regrets making comments about other contestants’ prior dance training on the BBC show.
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Chris Robshaw’s wife shares regrets over her ‘big mouth’ after Strictly comment(Image: Dave Benett, Dave Benett/Getty Images for The Diamond Lab)
Chris Robshaw’s wife, Camilla Kerslake, has expressed regret over comments she made about the skill level of some Strictly Come Dancing contestants.
The 39-year-old former England rugby player struggled in the first live show, finishing second behind Nadiya Bychkova and Nadiya Bychkova, both of whom had 14 points.
This year’s line-up includes celebrities with prior dance training, such as Emmerdale’s Lewis Cope and Love Island’s Amber Davies, who joined after replacements were needed.
Following the episode, Love Island’s Amber Gill posted on Camilla’s Instagram: “Unpopular opinion: I think having people with so much dance experience is unfair.” Camilla responded: “The experience differences are absolutely wild. Definitely.”
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Camilla acknowledged in a statement to the Daily Mail that she now regrets keeping quiet. “I hope Chris won’t end up in the bottom two because of my big mouth.” Last week, I wanted to climb over the desk and apologize to Craig [Revel Horwood] for it because I was furious as a protective wife.
I keep my husband in such high regard. I am aware of his work ethic, how important this is to him, and how I responded, she continued.
The couple has also addressed the so-called Strictly curse, which is where alleged celebrity partners end up dating their professional partners.
According to sources, Camilla attempted to establish a friendship with Nadiya prior to the series.
In an interview with The Sun, Chris joked about the curse, “Surely if people think there’s something going on between us, we must be doing something right.”
“Nadiya and I are a team, both totally focused on the dancing and giving it our full attention each week.” The couple, who have two sons, Wilding and Hunter, have been married for ten years.
Regarding the contestants with dance backgrounds, Lewis Cope won Got to Dance and Amber Davies did it on the West End.
Amber fought back against accusations that she had been unfairly disadvantaged: “I feel like I know they will be like, “She’s trained.” Yes, I studied musical theater, but I’m just learning ballroom Latin dancing.
So I feel like I’ll be reversing my course. I’ll give it my all, I mean.
Continue reading the article.
Strictly Come Dancing returns tonight at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
According to US political scientist Stephen Walt, the US is planning a “half-hearted” intervention that won’t bring about peace.
According to Stephen Walt, professor of international relations at Harvard University, the US plan to end Israel’s occupation of Gaza is designed, supervised, and administered by “people who are very firmly pro-Israel.”
Walt tells Steve Clemons on the program, “We’ve seen this movie before.” Israel can assert at any time that the Palestinian side isn’t fulfilling its obligations in accordance with the terms that US President Donald Trump has announced, leading to the resumption of the conflict.
Newcastle Red Bulls began life without Steve Diamond with a 38-15 Prem loss at Exeter.
Two tries from England’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, plus scores from Ross Vintcent and Joseph Dweba saw a dominant home side lead 24-10 at the break.
Newcastle, who dispensed with director of rugby Diamond’s services on Wednesday, struggled to threaten the side that finished one place above the bottom-placed Red Bulls last season during a first half where they were largely second best.
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Having lost to Saracens in their opening league game of the 2025-26 campaign, new owners Red Bull dispensed with Diamond’s services.
But despite Diamond’s departure there was no change of form as Newcastle hardly landed a glove on their opponents on their longest away trip of the season.
Wing Feyi-Waboso forced his way over for an unconverted try four phases after a five-metre line-out to put Exeter ahead in the ninth minute, but Brett Connon cut the gap with a penalty soon after.
Just two minutes later Vintcent put Exeter two tries in front when two Newcastle players clashed as they went to claim a box kick and the Italy forward took advantage to sprint in from 30 metres.
Exeter’s set piece was impressive and laid the groundwork for a dominant spell before the break, and but for some handling errors, would have added to their score.
Newcastle hardly ventured into Exeter’s 22 and went further behind 12 minutes from the break when a period of pressure under their posts was ended with a long pass to the wide open Feyi-Waboso on the right wing who cantered in before South African hooker Dweba was mauled over for the bonus-point try five minutes from the break on his home debut.
But in a rare foray into Exeter territory Newcastle did add seven points to the scoreboard as George McGuigan bundled over from a five-metre line-out just before the break.
Exeter continued to boss the game after the interval and were rewarded with a fifth try 15 minutes into the half when Feyi-Waboso hauled in Harvey Skinner’s crossfield kick before racing in under the posts for his hat-trick.
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told BBC Sport:
“This is a bit like what we want to see, what we’re a bit about when we play here.
“We’re not always scoring, we’re not making every single thing perfect, but look how hard we’re working, and sooner or later that has an effect at some stage in the game if you stick at it and you don’t get distracted by the odd bits and pieces that come against you, and for me, that was probably the really pleasing bit.
“Then obviously the second pleasing bit was that we had our little wobble, but we let it stay a little wobble.
“Seven minutes into the second half we hadn’t let Newcastle out of their half and I think then you kind of go ‘right, we’re seizing control of the game here’.”
Newcastle Red Bulls head coach Alan Dickens told BBC Sport:
“I am disappointed. At the end George McGuigan spoke to the players about the frustration that we let them in through our errors.
“There’s a couple of the line-outs where we got the opportunity to put them under pressure and we just allowed Exeter to win the ball and clear their lines.
After two previous marriages showbiz whizz Ross King is building a new life in Los Angeles with his successful girlfriend Bridget Siegel while competing on Strictly Come Dancing
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Strictly star Ross King’s love life with stunning girlfriend after two failed marriages(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Strictly Come Dancing star Ross King’s private life has often drawn as much attention as his career. Now, the 63-year-old TV presenter and showbiz correspondent is in a new chapter as he’s head over heels with girlfriend and American executive Bridget Siegel.
Ross’ new relationship with the high-flying brunette comes after his two previous marriages with Charley King and Brianna Deutsch – both of which ended in divorce.
The ITV star made headlines last weekend when Bridget flew more than 5,000 miles from Los Angeles to London to watch his first Strictly performance. He danced the cha-cha-cha with professional partner Jowita Przystał to Katy Perry’s California Gurls.
Despite receiving just 10 out of 40 points, Ross was delighted and used the moment to acknowledge his stunning new girlfriend’s support. “It’s so lovely that my girlfriend Bridget flew over 5,000 miles to come watch,” he said.
Acknowledging that his stint might be short, he joked: “I said to her, ‘You have to come because there might not be many of these.’” Cameras then showed Bridget beaming in the audience as she stunned in a black dress and simple necklace.
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Who is Ross’ girlfriend Bridget Siegel?
Bridget, 43, is a senior executive in the food and hospitality industry. She currently works with R3 Venture Studios, a company specialising in developing consumer brands. Her CV includes serving as chief operating officer at Kevin Hart’s vegan fast-food venture Hart House, and previously at &Pizza in New York.
The couple were reportedly introduced through mutual friends two years ago and began dating last year. Since then, they have shared their time between Los Angeles and London, with Bridget being based in the US and Ross continuing his media work on both sides of the Atlantic.
An insider told The Sun: “When Ross was confirmed for Strictly, Bridget immediately said she would be with him every step of the way.
“True to her word, she flew over from Los Angeles to support Ross and will remain in the UK throughout his time in the competition. She’s extremely successful in her own right, which is one of the things that attracted Ross to her.”
Previous marriages
Ross has walked down the aisle twice before. His first marriage came in 1999, when he wed actress Charley King. Charley built her career in theatre, appearing in major productions such as Chicago, The Producers, and Controlled Chaos.
The couple’s relationship lasted seven years before they eventually separated in 2006. Despite the split, the pair are said to have maintained a strong friendship. In January 2023, Ross and Charley were seen posing together at the BAFTA Annual Burns Bash and their cosy pictures suggested at the time that any past tensions had long been forgotten.
Almost a decade after his split from Charley, in 2015, Ross married for a second time. His relationship with actress and producer Brianna Deutsch was a high-profile affair and it highlighted his close ties in Hollywood with some of the biggest A-list names in the industry.
Their wedding guest list read like a roll call of A-list names including Gerard Butler, Vinnie Jones, Gary Barlow, Jackie Collins and Patsy Palmer, who were just a few names on the star-studded invite list.
The pair spent much of their marriage based in Los Angeles, where Ross had built his stellar career as a showbiz correspondent and writer. However, by 2022, after seven years together, the relationship had come to an end. The former couple confirmed their divorce that year, however, their close friends described the separation as ‘amicable’.
A source told The Sun at the time: “The pair have remained amicable and still run in the same circles, they just realised they weren’t on the same page romantically any more. Ross loves living in Hollywood and has been throwing himself into work and writing novels.”
The end of showbiz whizz’s marriage to Deutsch marked another major turning point in Ross’ personal life, but unlike many high-profile breakups, the split appeared to be handled quietly and without any public drama.
Both of Ross’s ex wives, Charley and Brianna, remain part of the wider social circles he continues to move in.
Building a new life with Bridget
Ross has described Los Angeles as his long-term base, where he lives in a three-storey Beverly Hills property he calls his “Scottish Castle.” Bridget has been spending more time there with him, and the relationship has quickly become a central part of his life, according to reports.
On the How To Be 60 podcast with Kaye Adams, Ross was recently asked if he planned to return to the UK permanently. He replied: “Oh yeah, I love LA. Who knows what happens in the future, but it would take a lot to take me away from LA.
“I love the place. I’ve got a great life there. I’ve got a beautiful, lovely girlfriend Bridget. We have a great time there. So it’s very much home.”
Looking ahead
Strictly Come Dancing may be his latest adventure, but Ross has made it clear that his girlfriend’s presence is equally as important to him right now. From her decision to fly across the world to his sweet gesture of acknowledging her during his mega dance debut, the relationship appears to mark a new phase for the presenter.
After two divorces and a career largely spent in the public eye, Ross’s romance with Bridget seems like it’s going in all the right directions. Whether his time on Strictly lasts weeks or ends early as he has already predicted, it’s clear that his personal and romantic life is also taking centre stage.
Strictly Come Dancing continues at 7pm on Saturday night on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
