Rapper Kid Cudi, legal name Scott Mescudi, stepped into Judge Subramanian’s Manhattan courtroom in May 2025, delivering a testimony in hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial. He recounted the chilling moment in 2011 when Combs allegedly broke into his Hollywood Hills home, locking up his dog and rifling through Christmas presents. Weeks later, he described returning to find his Porsche 911 convertible ablaze in his driveway. Now that the trial has ended, Mescudi is speaking out about his experience on the stand. Here’s what he said about why he didn’t dress up for his testimony.

Kid Cudi explained why he didn’t dress up for his testimony in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial

Kid Cudi’s testimony in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial painted a vivid, unsettling picture of the intimidation he says he endured more than a decade ago. Speaking carefully but with visible emotion, the rapper described how what began as a bizarre home invasion spiraled into an act of targeted destruction, culminating in the firebombing of his luxury sports car. On the stand, Scott Mescudi acknowledged that reliving those events was “miserable” but said it was important to tell the truth, framing his appearance as a stand for accountability rather than revenge. Most importantly, Mescudi wanted to stand strong for Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who also testified against Combs.

Mescudi sat down on Call Her Daddy to discuss his experience testifying. He said when he was asked to testify in the trial, he repeatedly said no. Then, he was subpoenaed. “And I was like, ‘F***,’” he said, laughing.

“And then I’m thinking, like, what do I wear, man? Do I have to be, like, in a suit or something? I was like, man, f*** this s***, this is what I’m wearing today. … I’m not dressing up for this s***.”

Mescudi noted that he planned to head to court in Levi’s, Solomon shoes, and a leather jacket, and “that’s it.”

Kid Cudi said helping Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura gave him ‘peace’

Kid Cudi said on Call Her Daddy that he “hated every minute” of testifying in the trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs. But he wanted to help his friend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura.

“I thought about, you know, when I was up there, you know, I’m here to support Cassie,” Mescudi noted. “And, you know, Cassie is my friend. And I love her, and I want to see her do well. When I saw her get married, I was so happy for her that she found someone, her person. When I saw she was having kids, I was like, ‘Oh, this is so awesome.’ You know what I mean? I’ve always just wanted to see her thrive and do well and be happy, because I know she was living a nightmare.”

Mescudi noted that helping Ventura gave him “peace” despite hating his participation in the trial.

The rapper said the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial made him more ‘standoffish’ with the music industry

While speaking on Call Her Daddy, Kid Cudi noted that he already felt “standoffish” from the entertainment industry. And what he saw during Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial made him feel even worse.

“I was like, man, this s*** is crazy, you know?” Mescudi continued. “I was already kind of sheltered in my own little space with my small group of friends. And that’s kind of the thing about LA. It’s like, if you see me somewhere, it’s like they’re seeing a monk that they haven’t seen in 100 years. … Like, you don’t see me. I’m not out in these streets. I don’t go out.”

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