The Breakfast Club - Changeup in the juror’s box has the defense a bit pressed (or is this ammunition in appeals?)

Episode Date: June 17, 2025

Loren is back with some reflections about how wild it is that Diddy, a massive public/cultural/music figure, is on trial with so much history in context. The prosecution continues to move smart. Is this juror changeup a blow to the Diddy team? Or an opportunity in the appeals?YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an iHeart podcast. I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything and everybody. You hear that exclusive? You know if you don't lie about that, right? Lauren came in hot. Hey guys, it's Lauren LaRosa and this is The Latest with Lauren LaRosa. This is your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news, and the conversations

that shake the room. Now we do the behind the scenes of the grind check-in and I just left a private, very intimate listening party for the new Clips Pusha Tia Malice album. Let God sort them out. The album is coming on July 11, 2025, so of this year. And I got to say of this year and I gotta say of this year because I know you know the clips fans have been waiting for a while for the album but it is coming it is a thing and man when I tell y'all it is fire I'm like I left

there so inspired they had this private listening event at the Rock Nation offices here in New York. And they invited me and me and Brandon one of y'all know Brandon. Brandon needs to be on the podcast sometimes, but me and Brandon went and oh, like when I tell y'all I am so inspired. I feel like this last three weeks, two to three weeks, Charlamagne has been yelling at me so much just about like the quality of my work and making sure I stay up with things and you know, just like digging deeper

and just not slipping to be honest with you. Like there's a lot happening at once, a lot coming at me at once and things are moving. Things are going great, but you know, it's good to have like people on you, like even Envy, he's always like checking in like, are you good? You know what I mean? Sending me things and, you know, suggesting things.

And you know, they're really just, it's very much mentor-ish vibes, even though it's like, Unc, Big Bro. And tonight when I went to the Clips listening event, I was like, I get it. The longevity of their career and not even just the longevity of their career, but just the way that they are about their talent. It is so inspiring. So if I'm checking in right now, I'm feeling inspired.

I'm feeling, you know, intentional. I'm going to do a full breakdown on the Breakfast Club of the event. It wasn't even like an event. It was it was really like a private, like listening like there were people other people there, of course, but it wasn't like a full big major event. They're going to do an official release party. But this was just like a private listening prior to. So I'll be doing a full breakdown on a breakfast club of like what we experienced and you know, the amazing things that we heard

and what I can reveal we will talk about. But you know, if I'm doing a check in right now, me recording this podcast, I have to leave it at event inspired and intentional are the words. Okay. Leave it at that. No, you girl love to take y'all to court. Let us take y'all to court. But getting on into the latest, you know, there is always a lot going on in court with Diddy, you know, the trial of Sean Combs.

Can y'all believe that we have been reporting on this for six weeks now? We are two weeks away, just about two weeks away from finding out the fate of one of the biggest entertainers in the world, one of the biggest hip hop names in the world, one of the biggest, you know, music producers in the world. I would have never, I think about this every day when I'm in court and I see Diddy sitting in court, I would have never in a million years growing up as someone who was, you know, inspired by the lifestyle that he presented and the inspiration

he presented and the hustle and the career and the persona of of of Jean Combs and what that was and what that was to the culture. I would have never thought that I would be where I am today reporting on him being incarcerated and looking at like literally fighting for his life at this point in court. I never thought that. I thought about that today, like man, like this is wild. And I am like, you know, I'm not family.

I don't know, I'm personally, and I feel like that. I can't imagine how he feels. I can't imagine how his kids feel because they're in the courtroom every day as well It's just insane. But yes, we are, you know about two weeks away from you know finding out the fate of Sean Holmes and People ask me all the time like even when I was out at the the clips event today You know I had you know a few people come up to me and just talk to me

about the reporting and just being in the court because a lot of people, especially the people I'm meeting, they either know him personally because they've been in the industry as DJs or hosts or whatever they do for a long time, or they've either interacted with him because of business or they are fans of him as well, or were fans of the movement.

And people are just so invested because he's been such a narrator of our lives and of our culture for so long. And so many people were coming up to me and asking me what I thought was going to happen and what they can look out for. And most people wanna know just what the feeling is in court, whether you're in the overflow room,

whether you're in the main courtroom, people want to know like, yo, what is it like? What is that like? What is it like seeing? Like, you know, all of the things. And today I realized, I'm like, man, this trial is going to be talked about for decades to come because of things like that.

Like people just being so invested because Diddy, Sean Combs, Puff Daddy, whatever you know him as, was literally one of the most integral parts of hip hop, of music, of entertainment, of motivation, of inspiration, of lifestyle, of marketing in the last like 20 years. Y'all like, it's crazy. It is so crazy to see. But you know, I keep it honest. When people ask me, I keep it honest. And what I've been saying for a while is that, you know, I think it is one to watch. You know, I have my own opinions about

what I think will happen and we'll talk more about that. As the prosecution, the government closes their arguments, which is set to happen by Friday of this week. They've already started, you know, gathering and doing the things that they're doing with their summary witnesses this week. And, you know, today was an interesting day in court because they played freak off videos for the jury, which I'm not even gonna lie to y'all. When I say that government has been moving smart, they've been moving, it's like they've been like,

it's like they're silent killers to be honest with y'all. Like I think the way that this was approached in the beginning with, you know, the the SWAT season at home and doing the searches by land and by sea and all those things, it felt so right there in your face. And then when you get in court, you realize, well, maybe it's not right there in your face, but the government is showing you these things were there. These, you know, these, these elements were there even if it was subtle, right?

But by them showing these freak off tapes at the end, because I already told y'all, I felt like Jane Doe as their last major, most recent girlfriend witness. I'm like homegirl is all over the place, right? I didn't say she doesn't speak to certain things that the government is trying to prove, but I just feel like the credibility of her, it wasn't the best taste to end off on in my opinion. Like if I'm just giving my opinion, right?

But then they follow up with playing these free golf tapes. And when they played them in court, it had already been decided from the first day, first week of official court that anything that was that sexual and content and demeaning to any parties involved or just anything like that, because they want to make sure these women can't be blackmailed or things don't circulate or things don't leak. It's very sensitive content. They had already said we were not going to play them in the courtroom out loud and they were like, we're going to make sure that everyone has on headphones who's able to listen to them. So the jury was able to listen to them, not even the gallery of attorneys or anything

like that. And from what I was told, you know, the jurors themselves, I mean, they have to watch it. It's a part of their job at this point, but you know, there's been reports of some jurors giggling. There's been reports of some jurors, you know, being really into it. I was told by a friend that was in the main courtroom today that the attorneys, you know, the defense attorney, Sean Combs' attorneys, Diddy's attorneys were annoyed. Like they were so mad that those videos were being played.

At this point in the case, they were visibly making facial expressions and, you know, just things of that nature. And I mean, I get it on their side. I get why they're annoyed because you got to think about it. You hear all these things about women saying, I didn't want to do it. Allegedly, I was made to do it. Allegedly, money caused me to do it. Allegedly, you know, the fear of what he might do to me caused me to do it allegedly, right? And then, and if you but you haven't seen it, you've just heard about it. And you've seen the alleged, you know, bruises from the violence and you've seen text messages about the alleged blackmailing and all of these things. And then one of the cherries on top is that you see video of what the physical act was because I don't think for a lot of us that like I think for me is different, right?

Like being in the courtroom is very different because I've experienced so much entertainment culture wise before coming into the courtroom. A lot of the you know, the people I'm meeting and the journalists I'm meeting, this is their first time interacting with, you know, a lot of the people that are being mentioned and brought on the stand. For me, it's a bit different because living in LA and working in entertainment

and being a person that's like out and about, I ain't never seen nothing crazy, but I've been to, you know, the parties. I've experienced and been around certain things and seen certain things. And again, I don't know people personally, but to have seen that and I've seen it multiple different times and over the eight years that I was in LA and then to not know the gravity of it, even if you heard rumors about certain things, I'm sitting in court every day like I cannot believe that this is real.

So to hear all of these stories, right? And then all of the allegations that surround the stories and you're building your thought process and you're, you know, all of these things around that. And then within the final few days that the government is speaking to you, they show you what literally the visual of, okay, now you've heard all of what the force allegedly and the here's why, right? But here's the what,

here is exactly what was made to go down. And you see it. I'm like, oh, baby, ate that to shade well played. Well played. Now, also, of course, we had talked a lot about your number six in whether that dismissal was going to happen or not. I've talked about it on the Breakfast Club. I mentioned it briefly here, but a little background,

Juror 6 had some issues. The judge really didn't like the fact that Juror number 6 had mentioned that he lived one place and then mentioned that he lived another. And there's like a whole jurisdiction thing of like living in New York because it's a Southern district of New York case

and just different things, right? But more importantly, cause the judge didn't even mention the jurisdiction thing. The judge, Marcelle was focused a lot on this juror said one thing and then said another. We wanna know if this juror is inconsistent, not telling the truth and not able to take direction because that matters.

The judge today decided to dismiss that juror. Now that juror was really important to Diddy and team because again, like I mentioned on the Breakfast Club, this is a black juror who is from, allegedly from the Bronx, grew up on 90s hip hop. Diddy's team is alleging, it's not really diverse up in here, y'all. Like we need this juror, right?

The judge pointed out today though, he said, listen, you know, some of these attorneys themselves have commended how diverse this jury is. So we're not about to do that. But no, that juror is not staying on. I listened to Sonny from the view, just give some remarks on juror number six being dismissed. And I've seen Sonny in court a couple of times, a lot actually. I've seen her in court a lot. And I thought her take was interesting.

Let's take a listen. The game changer that just happened is that they replaced one of the jurors with an alternate. Because he had a shady address history? Is that what it is? Explain what happened. This is a federal case and it's in the Southern District of New York. So you have to live in New York. This guy was, he said he lived in the Bronx and we prosecution found out and the government found out. And I think the defense also found out he was actually living in New Jersey. So this

is that disqualifying. And so that'd be a mistrial too or no? It's not a mistrial basis, I don't think, but the defense certainly tried to keep him. He was a black guy from the Bronx. I've been watching him. He is not buying what the prosecution is selling. Oh really? And so the defense really wanted to keep him. He was a fan of 90s hip hop, you know, knew about it. Who isn't?

Let's be clear. If that's the reason to get thrown off a jury, I will never serve. Exactly, same. But it's a significant loss, I think, to the defense in terms of the diversity of the jury. There's still eight men and four juror, four women, but now he was replaced by an older white man in his late 50s who is an architect from Westchester. Now the reason why I thought this was interesting because I'm like, you know, at the end of the day, there are other black jurors. It might not be full of black jurors, but there are other black jurors. But I thought that it was interesting because in court Diddy

himself physically waved his hand when the judge is that they're going to have to make sure that they have the right to appeal to the jury. And I think that's the biggest thing that I think is going to be a big thing for the jury is that they're going to have to make sure that they have the right to appeal to the jury. And I think that's the biggest thing that I think is going to be a big thing for the jury is that they're going to have to make sure that they have the right to appeal to the jury. And I think that's the biggest thing that I think is going to be a big They want every juror that might at any point have any sympathy or empathy for Diddy at

all. So her take was very interesting because I didn't look at juror number six being dismissed as such a deal breaker. To be honest with you guys, I feel like what will really make or break this case will be the way that did these team presents their defense. Because I do think the government has done a really good job at presenting their case, if even on a smaller level. When I say a smaller level, I mean, even if it's not him spending the rest of his life behind bars, they've shown elements of the crimes that they are

alleging. And I don't think that it's a race thing. I get where they're coming from, of course, and I understand that, you know, a black juror from the Bronx who listens to 90s hip hop is going to did he's going to have a lot more influence over that that juror, right? But. I think bigger picture here, whether white, black, 90s hip hop or not, if they're looking at the facts, so whether they should be,

I think that should be the focus. But I get it though, because I think it, I would hate to be a juror on this case as well, because, or any case, how do you just stay focused on the facts? If you are a person who grew up on Sean Combs and in the height of his heyday in New York and those things, like it is very hard

not to let personal bias or personal implications come into this. I've also been feeling like that from the beginning as well. It's like, how do you stay on social media? How do you not talk to anybody about this? How do you not let personal things come into this? I don't know the answer to that, but we will see. But from the feeling that I've been gathering just from being in the courtroom and watching

the jurors and those opening days that they did all the jury selection, I'm like, some of these people on this jury don't even know who Sean Combs is for real, for real. They know him a bit. They might know him, you know what I mean? In passing or maybe heard the name, but there were several people who weren't even truly familiar in a way that was influential. His celebrity is not influential on them. So you got to worry about winning over those because it's not like the majority of the

jury is black. And I get it. You want to keep about winning over those because it's not like the majority of the jury is black And I get it you want to keep what you can get take what you can get is the model to game when you fighting For your life. I totally understand but I just think that did he seem has so much bigger things to worry about when it comes to this jury and Making sure that they are thinking the way that they need them to think Now judge about this spoke to TMZ. He actually said something pretty interesting because at first, you know, and I mentioned to you guys

that Diddy had said that he was down to appeal his ability to, I'm sorry, he was down to waive his ability to appeal any decision that was made in court if this juror was dismissed. Now the juror, I mean, was not dismissed. Now this juror was dismissed. Now the juror, I mean, was not dismissed. Now the juror was dismissed. So, you know, that whole conversation goes out the window. So Judge Mathis said this about what he thinks an appeal could look like.

I think that certainly there could have been another residence that he was staying with his girlfriend. Right. So he's going back and forth. That's frequent. And so in that sense, he could still be living within the jurisdiction of the jury pool. But additionally, I think the fact that they did not give a full hearing to the defense to be able to bring in affidavits, to be able to bring in utility bills, things of that nature that would prove that he's a resident of the Bronx. I think that's what should have occurred

before removing him, and in fact, I think they should make a motion now to revisit it. You think that this is a good grounds for appeal? Yes, I think it would be because you haven't allowed a proper opportunity to prove residency. And on the other juror getting this text message. Let's be real. Those folks on the jury, they tell someone,

their loved one, whomever that they're on the jury, and then the word gets out. Am I gonna lie to y'all? I was literally telling someone today at the clips, the private listening that we went to, I said, because someone asked me, like, do you think Diddy is just going to walk free? I was like, to be honest with you, I do not, I am not an attorney. But just from what I've been watching and listening to based on the elements of the crime that the government has to prove,

I do not think he is going to walk free. However, if he does, it'll be on technicalities or appeals of things that are very like, you wouldn't even think about them. Something like this, like what Judge Mathis is saying. Right, because if you can prove all of that in a post conversation at like, hey, based on the facts, because everything in court, and that's what people don't think about,

it's like everything in court is based on fact, right? So based on fact, if I can prove that my residence is where I told you I was in the beginning, and I was dismissed for no reason, and Diddy's team is able to make the point that they feel like the jury was a bit less diverse and more prejudiced because of that dismissal, he got something there.

I really think that's gonna be hard for him to do that though because his lawyers have come out of their own mouth and talked about how diverse the jury was and how grateful they were for that. But if he can do it, he got it. And I'm like, hey, you're fighting for your life. You're doing whatever by any means necessary, by any means necessary.

Now, I like to stay very optimistic until the very end of things. And I've been trying to do that within this case. But it may be also to one of the things I was thinking about today as well as like as the government wraps their case. One of the things we got to think about is we've really only heard from the government, even though Diddy's team has got up and cross examined and all of that, we haven't seen them lay out their case. When I tell y'all they got to lay out their case, the show they got to put on got to be better than Beyonce on the run in Renaissance. I'm trying to tell y'all it is lights, camera action for them. Because the y'all.

Listen, let me know how y'all are feeling. I want to know if you guys agree with Sonny, right? Like I want to take it to the streets. Take it to the tweets, right? Every other page. If you guys agree with Sonny that juror number six, this black juror being dismissed is a huge loss for Diddy's team, but also a game changer because of the fact that he can do the appeal.

Let me know if you feel like it's incremental. It's nothing to focus on. Let me know. Tweet me, Instagram, all of the things I want to know because as we go throughout this next, literally this week, because did his team wrote a letter and said they are going to request a mistrial if that happens. So we're going to see that happen. I don't believe that he'll be granted a mistrial whatsoever. I do think that he'll be able to be heard on appeal because of this matter. Just again, because of like the because of checks and

balances right because of the logistics because of the way things go. I think he can be heard on appeal because of this but I don't see a mistrial happening because of this but you know they're gonna go for it. So let me know what y'all think. Y'all agree with Judge Mathis. Is this worth Diddy's team appealing and winning an appeal on something as small as this? Y'all agree with Judge Mathis. Is this worth Diddy's team appealing and winning an appeal on? Something as small as this. Y'all gotta remember, people like a lot of, not comparing the two, completely separate,

but Bill Cosby. Bill Cosby came home on a technicality. Not because he was proved not guilty. He came home because somebody didn't cross their T and dot their I. I'm Lauren LaRosa and at the end of the day, there is a lot to talk about and y'all know I want to hear from y'all. Today's episode is definitely one of the ones where I want y'all to chime on in.

Tweet me at laurenlarosa, Instagram, you know, y'all be posting in your Insta stories, low riders, I really appreciate it. At laurenlarosa as well. At the end of the day, there's always a lot to talk about. Y'all can be anywhere, with anybody talking about it, but y'all choose to be right here with me and I appreciate y'all for it. I will see you guys in my next episode.