On Friday, June 13, Kanye West — or Ye Ye, as he now prefers — dropped by the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial, where he told reporters he was there to “offer support.” CNN reported late on Thursday, June 12, that this was a possibility: West both was in New York and has been working on music with Christian Combs, Diddy’s son, who has been very present at the trial. Press became aware of West’s presence when there was a loud commotion outside the courtroom and a figure in a white-on-white outfit was spotted entering the public entrance at the 500 Pearl Street Courthouse. Some reporters jetted downstairs to see if they could see West after passing through security; he told those reporters “yes” when asked if he was there to support Diddy. Some reporters went up to the main courtroom on the 26th floor, but West was not present. A source told Vulture that he was not on the official list of friends and family members permitted to sit in Diddy’s designated gallery rows.

West was instructed by the marshals to take a seat in the secondary room if he wanted to continue to watch the proceedings. He looked toward the handful of reporters in the 23rd-floor courtroom, but as more press started to trickle in, he got up with his mini-entourage and left. He lingered around the first-floor lobby for a few minutes and, rather than take the normal exit for trialgoers, walked down the hallway to the Worth Street exit. Whatever support he was there to provide was short-lived and silent.

West is the first major celebrity to show up in support of Diddy. Other well-known names to appear were Cassie Ventura, Combs’s ex, who successfully sued him for abuse and sexual assault; and Ventura’s ex-boyfriend Scott Mescudi — better known as Kid Cudi — who appeared in court on May 22 to corroborate Ventura’s account. Combs has now been in court for five weeks, having been accused of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking (by force, fraud, or coercion), and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.

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 He said he was there to support the rapper.