How will jury selection affect Diddy’s trial? Dr. Phil says the rapper’s defense depends on open-mindedness of jurors

Sean Diddy Combs' trial on charges of alleged racketeering, s*x trafficking and conspiracy begins on May 5, 2025, and fans and media have speculated on the outcome of the highly-anticipated event.

TMZ aired a documentary titled The Downfall of Diddy: His Defense, where they assembled a mock jury and attempted a deep dive into the music mogul’s case.

TMZ recruited the expertise of renowned psychologist and TV personality Dr. Phil and Jo-Ellan Dimitrius, the defense jury consultant of the infamous O.J Simpson case, to analyze Sean Diddy Combs’ odds in a case riddled with media sensationalism and widespread speculation.

The experts concluded that the jury selection of the case plays an important role in determining whether Combs walks free or stays incarcerated. Dr. Phil emphasized that the open/mindedness of the jurors in the Diddy case was a determinant factor in his victory or loss.

TMZ’s documentary on Sean Diddy Combs explored

TMZ released the first part of their documentary of the Bad Boy label boss on April 30, 2024. The TV special promised to dig deep into Combs's “explosive case.” The second part focused on the upcoming legal proceedings with the objective of providing a legal standpoint for viewers.

A 12-member jury deliberated on Diddy’s fate based on evidence presented by the prosecution and defense. They gave the guilty verdict in the end. Some of the points raised by the jurors in the TMZ documentary include:

1) The issue of profit-making under the racketeering charge. Some jurors expressed that prosecutors needed to prove that Diddy profited off the alleged racketeering activities for the charge to stick.

2) Another point of discussion amongst jurors was the issue of race. As Marc Agnifilo, Diddy’s lawyer, claimed, the music executives' arrest and charges were an attempt to bring down a successful black man. And some jurors seemed to share the same sentiments.

3) Jurors argued on the issue of consent. Some noted that the It’s All About the Benjamins hitmaker’s accusers were his former lovers and were seemingly confused about how coercion could exist in a consensual relationship.

Dimitrius added that a jury favorable to Combs would be one that was open to discussing s*x and s**uality freely. Both experts stated that the diversity of the jury could change the trajectory of the case.

Dr. Phil and Dimitrius agreed that race was a key factor in the case, too. Another subject that the two experts converged on was the issue of gender selection. They advised the court to seek a balance on the number of female and male jurors.

In an interview with Extra TV, the founder of TMZ, Harvey Levin, aired his opinion on the upcoming case. When asked if he thought the executive could get a fair trial, he responded:

"Almost everybody has an opinion about this case. What the defense wants is people who are able to change their opinions, and you don’t just ask somebody that because everybody says yes, and half of them are lying."

He added:

"What you do is say to them, ‘Is there ever anything in your life where you really believed something and somebody convinced you to change your mind?’… That’s how you find the right juror.”

The TMZ documentary on Tubi is available to watch for free.

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