Diddy mouths 'how are you' to pregnant TV reporter in court as she calls him an 'observant' defendant
LOWER MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: As jury selection continues in Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ federal trafficking trial, the embattled music icon is making headlines not just for the accusations against him but for his 'observant' courtroom behavior.
Despite the gravity of the case, Combs has remained strikingly alert and personable during proceedings, even engaging with attendees in the gallery, reports Radar Online.
Pregnant reporter calls Sean Combs the most 'engaged defendant' she’s ever seen in court
One moment that stood out came on the third day of trial when Michelle Ross, a visibly pregnant journalist from Fox 5 New York, found herself on the receiving end of Combs' attention. According to Ross, Diddy caught sight of her baby bump and, without uttering a word aloud, mouthed a simple three-word question from across the courtroom, “How are you?”
Ross described Combs as one of the most “engaged” defendants she’s ever seen, noting, “Out of all the court cases I've covered over the years, I have to say that Diddy remains to be the most engaged defendant.”
“He walks into the courtroom, he greets every single person on his defense team either by handshake or a hug and then he'll scan the gallery part of the courtroom to see if he recognizes anyone. If he does, that's when he'll put his hand on his heart and kind-of nod in their direction.”
Ross noted that it’s been Diddy’s “charismatic personality” that’s quietly commanding the room during the trial.
During a tense courtroom appearance, Diddy briefly broke the formal atmosphere with a quiet and compassionate gesture that caught one reporter off guard.
According to journalist Ross, who is seven months pregnant, Combs took a moment to acknowledge her with a simple question.
Ross said Combs visibly noticed her baby bump and made deliberate eye contact. He then inquired, “How are you?”
The brief exchange left an impression. “It’s just another example of how observant he’s been throughout the trial,” Ross noted.
Sources say Diddy is 'enjoying' media attention during trial
Earlier this week, sources shared that Combs has been “enjoying” the spotlight in the courtroom, with him and his team reportedly feeling “ecstatic” about how the first day of the high-profile trial unfolded on Monday.
A courtroom insider shared with Hollywood journalist Rob Shuter on Substack that Combs made a positive impression during the trial. “He made a good impression. He was humble, vulnerable, even nervous at times which humanized him. The judge cracked a few jokes, and Diddy laughed along. It was surreal, but he actually enjoyed it.”
Despite admitting to being “a little nervous” and even requesting a bathroom break during jury selection, Combs was reportedly feeding off the buzz. “It sounds sick, but part of him is loving this,” a source said. “Diddy's always craved the spotlight. He used to say he wanted to be the most famous person in the world. Now, with this trial, he kind of is.”
Outside the courthouse, Diddy made a calculated style statement swapping prison attire for a tailored blue sweater over a crisp white shirt.
One observer noted, “He was eating it up. The attention, the cameras, the drama – it's familiar terrain for him. He knows the cameras are watching. And for Diddy, that’s exactly where he likes to be.”
