Spare a moment for the jurors serving on the biggest sex trafficking trial of the century, otherwise known as the trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Not only do those 12 individuals have a vast and culturally significant responsibility – one that stands to open the floodgates of misconduct in the music industry – but they will spend the next three months combing through more than 20 years’ worth of horrendous allegations.

Combs’ trial began on 5 May and the music mogul faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He was arrested last September following a federal investigation and has been denied bail three times. As well as his criminal charges, Combs faces dozens of sexual assault, abuse and drugging civil allegations that range from the ‘90s to the past year. He denies all allegations and has pleaded not guilty in court.

The opening statements have not even been presented yet – they are scheduled for the 12 May – but the magnitude of the trial has been made clear. Judge Arun Subramanian, who is overseeing the case, has described the extensive list of famous names that might come up in court.

The unpublished list was put to more than 600 potential jurors who were required to fill out a questionnaire to decipher whether they know those included. The judge joked, ‘I read through the people and places list, which is several pages long. I felt like I was reading an appendix from, like, The Lord of the Rings.’

Those questioned were asked about their knowledge of celebrities including Kanye West, Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers, Kid Cudi, actress Lauren London, producers Dallas Ausitn and Harve Pierre, director Laurieann Gibson, former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard and former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams.

Also on the list was Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Cassandra Ventura, better known as Cassie, who filed her own lawsuit against Combs at the end of 2023 alleging that he subjected her to a pattern of abuse and control over a decade. Combs vehemently denied the allegations at the time, but last May CCTV footage of him violently kicking and beating her outside their hotel room in 2016 was leaked online. The following day, Combs issued an apology and said his actions were ‘inexcusable’ and that he has since sought help. ‘I was disgusted then when I did it,’ he added. ‘I’m disgusted now.’

It is unclear in what context or for what reason any of the aforementioned names might be included in the case, but it’s important to note that they have not been accused of any wrongdoing. Nor does their inclusion guarantee they will be called as witnesses or named throughout the proceedings, with the exception of Ventura who is set to testify under her name in court. A source has since told People that in Ventura’s complaint she claims to have begun a ‘flirtatious relationship with an actor’ and alleges that Combs ‘called the actor and threatened him’. According to the source, that actor is Jordan, which is why his name has been included.

On the first day of the trial, one juror reportedly told the court he was familiar with a few of the names on the elusive list, mentioning Jordan and Myers in particular. Another said they recognised Jordan and Cudi, but both contended they could still impartially evaluate the evidence.

From the reported scope of potential witnesses, it would be challenging to find 12 individuals who have never so much as heard of the celebrities. They are, after all, likely to include global stars and household names. Then there’s the fact the ‘Diddy List’ has been speculated about since Combs’ arrest back in September. The judge’s Lord of the Rings quip is, if nothing else, likely to refuel those rumours and add to the media frenzy that already surrounds the trial.

As one of the most powerful and successful artists in the industry, Combs has worked with almost every big name in music. Not only that, but he was famed for hosting elite, A-list parties, which read as a who’s who in entertainment. Save for Kanye West’s erratic social media tirades defending Combs, most of the Hollywood stars once close with Combs have avoided or declined to comment on his legal proceedings. While it’s not difficult to understand why, if they are called as witnesses then they will not have that luxury.

Nevertheless, Combs’ defence team has maintained that he is innocent and that ‘the truth will prevail in court’. Days before the trial began, Combs rejected a final plea offer from the prosecution and pleaded not guilty.

If he is convicted, however, Combs faces up to life imprisonment. A far cry from the fast-paced life of luxury and hedonism that he was once used to, for the past six months Combs has had a taste of life behind bars while living in the notoriously dangerous and unhygienic Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, New York. He has taken great pains to escape, allegedly attempting to contact witnesses using other inmates’ phone calls and appealing to move to house arrest on bail on three occasions. All of which were denied – once by Subramanian himself.

If it wasn’t already a blockbuster trial with huge implications for the music industry, it is likely to blow up even more once names from the elusive list of A-listers are mentioned in court.