Diddy's Assistant Had a Nightmare She Was Trapped in an Elevator with R. Kelly — and Diddy Saved Her

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former assistant told a Manhattan jury that she used to look at him as her “protector” — and once had a dream he was saving her from disgraced R&B star R. Kelly.

The witness, who is testifying under the pseudonym “Mia,” was in court for the third day on Monday, June 2, as Combs’ high-profile trial entered its fourth week.

Mia’s testimony, which began the previous Thursday, has included allegations that Combs sexually assaulted her multiple times during her tenure with him, and that he physically and verbally abused her during her employment.

On Monday, Mia said during cross-examination that even after she stopped working for Combs, she remained in touch with him, especially following the 2018 death of his former girlfriend Kim Porter, with whom Combs shared three children.

In mid-January 2019, a few weeks after Porter’s passing, Mia wrote to Combs in a text exchange that she had a nightmare where she was stuck in an elevator with R. Kelly — and was saved by Combs. The bombshell docuseries Surviving R. Kelly, which followed years of sexual abuse allegations against the rapper, had just been released a few days prior.

On the witness stand on Monday, Mia went on to say she considered Combs her “protector” at times. The “protector” comment came when defense attorney Brian Steel questioned Mia about why she would reach out to someone she claimed had traumatized her. 

Mia said it was because she was “brainwashed,” explaining that when she worked for Combs, “nobody acted like what was happening to me was wrong.” She said Combs’ threat that he would tell his then-girlfriend Casandra Ventura about their sexual encounters caused her to “internalize, blame and shame.” 

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Steel’s line of questioning reflected the defense’s broader strategy: challenging Mia over her public — and at times private — expressions of care for Combs during the same period she alleges he was abusing her, and years after she stopped working for him.

Mia testified, several times, that she was stuck in a cycle of “highs” and “lows” during her employment with Combs, which she alleges created a confusing cycle of abuse in the workplace.

Combs is on trial on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.