Diddy had his former personal assistant testify Friday (June 13) that he routinely prepared hotel rooms with libido-boosting honey, red lighting and baby oil for Diddy’s private encounters known as “King Nights,” as part of the ongoing federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan.

Jonathan Perez, who worked for Diddy from late 2021 to 2024, testified that he was responsible for setting up rooms for these evenings, which often involved both men and women and frequently ended with staff cleaning up afterward.

He described the aftermath as “in disarray,” with towels, sheets and oils needing to be collected.

Perez, testifying under an immunity order after invoking the Fifth Amendment, said he also made purchases at adult stores and sourced items like red lights from Target and Amazon.

He confirmed that honey was always part of the setup because it was believed to enhance male sexual performance. Perez said he was recruited for the assistant role by Kristina Khorram, Diddy’s chief of staff, after previously interviewing for the same position.

He said he learned about “King Nights” early on and was instructed to prepare hotel rooms for Diddy and female guests, including one referred to in court as “Jane.”

He described a typical evening setup: red lights, fruit, shakes, honey and sometimes wardrobe discussions with Jane. In one text exchange shown in court, Perez told Khorram he was heading to an adult store after finishing the room setup.

Perez later confirmed that staff, including himself, were responsible for cleaning the rooms after the encounters. He also testified that he obtained drugs such as Xanax, cocaine and Molly for Diddy “a handful of times” from individuals known only as “G####” and “Babygirl.”

During cross-examination, defense attorney Brian Steel asked whether Jane ever appeared uncomfortable or coerced. Perez replied that she never seemed unwilling and even asked him for fashion advice to impress Diddy.

He also agreed that these “King Nights” took place during Diddy’s personal time, not as part of his business operations.

Perez said he once saw a video of Jane having sex with a Black man while Diddy watched. He reported the video to Diddy and Khorram immediately.

The government alleges Diddy ran his entertainment empire as a criminal enterprise that exploited women through coercion and financial control. He faces five felony charges, including racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking by force or fraud.

The trial continues Monday (June 16) in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

Diddy lost a key juror Thursday (June 13) in his federal sex trafficking and racketeering case after the court removed a Black male panelist for misleading statements about where he lives.

The juror, identified as Juror #6, had told the court during jury selection that he lived in the Bronx with his fiancée and daughter.

However, during a private discussion with the judge, he later stated that he had moved to New Jersey with his girlfriend and had been there for several weeks.

When pressed again, he claimed to spend four to five days a week in New York. The conflicting accounts prompted the prosecution to request his removal, citing a “lack of candor.”

The judge agreed, saying the juror’s shifting story suggested he was trying to stay on the panel by shading the truth.

“There’s no reason to lie unless you’re trying to get onto the jury,” the judge said, adding that the inconsistencies were “inconsistent” and that the juror “should not return on Monday.”

The decision immediately drew pushback from Diddy’s defense team, who argued that the removal could damage the racial balance of the jury.

The main panel includes five Black jurors, four white jurors, two Hispanic jurors, and one Asian juror. Of the six alternates, four are white and two are Black.

Attorney Xavier Donaldson, representing Diddy, warned that removing Juror #6 could send the wrong message about diversity in the courtroom.

“There have been issues with the representation of African American and Hispanic jurors in this District,” Donaldson said. “We’ve taken a step with this jury; now we’re taking a step backward.”

Donaldson also argued that the juror’s living situation was not unusual and should not have been grounds for dismissal.

The judge, however, maintained that the removal was necessary to preserve the integrity of the trial and called on the use of one of the alternate jurors.

The prosecution declined to elaborate further but rejected the idea that race played a role in the decision.

Diddy is facing five federal charges, including racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution.

The trial, now in its fourth week, continues Monday (June 16) with the remaining jurors.