Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2023; a cheeseburger (stock image). Credit : Prince Williams/WireImage; Getty
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ ex-employees revealed an eccentric list of food demands he had while traveling, during his ongoing trial.
Among these peculiar choices are applesauce on cheeseburgers and a notable obsession with ketchup.
Combs is currently embroiled in a legal battle facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and facilitating prostitution. According to testimonies from former employees, the rapper required his aides to source specific — and often outlandish — food items wherever he traveled globally.
During Combs’ sex trafficking trial on Thursday, May 22, former staffer George Kaplan revealed the team used a Black Amex card for everything from baby oil to yacht rentals, lavish villas — and, of course, his eccentric food preferences.
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo questioned Kaplan about the unusual condiment:
“Applesauce?”
Kaplan replied: “Mr. Combs has a penchant for applesauce and enjoys it on various dishes.”
“Cheeseburgers?” Agnifilo pressed.
“Cheeseburgers are indeed included,” Kaplan confirmed.
The trial also highlighted Combs’ peculiar fixation on ketchup.
David James, who assisted the mogul from 2007 to 2009, testified on Tuesday, May 20 that “Ketchup was a staple necessity for him… it was about maintaining consistency in every setting.”
When traveling to the U.K., James always carried Heinz ketchup, as no other tomato sauce met Combs’ expectations. He also confirmed that applesauce was always packed, describing it as one of the artist’s beloved must-haves.
When asked if he knew Combs put applesauce on cheeseburgers, James admitted,
“I was not aware, but I was aware of his fondness for applesauce.”
These bizarre dietary details add a curious layer to the courtroom as prosecutors piece together the larger case.
In a 2024 raid on Combs’ $48 million Miami estate, federal agents uncovered:
- AR-15-style rifles with obliterated serial numbers
- Illicit drugs including MDMA and Xanax
- Sex paraphernalia
- 25 bottles of Johnson’s Baby Oil
- A single rubber duck
Combs’ trial began May 12 following his September 2024 arrest.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The jury has so far heard from ex-staffers Kaplan and James, as well as former partner Cassie Ventura, her mother, a makeup artist, and musician Kid Cudi.
Judge Arun Subramanian stated the trial is expected to conclude before July 4, while Combs remains detained without bail at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
If convicted on all charges, Combs faces a possible life sentence.
