Megan Basham

Yeah, I would say no doubt. I mean, it's obviously been a shot in the arm for an industry that's been struggling. The 2025 domestic box office is projected to hit 9.5 billion. That's up from 8.7 billion last year. And theater owners are being pretty vocal about needing to get these consistent releases of big franchise films, big blockbusters, in order to see these audiences return to theaters.

Of course, my pleasure.

Of course, my pleasure.

You know, Georgia, what I can tell you is that the atmosphere so far at the Combs trial has been explosive. Some of the details that have been offered are extremely not safe for work. I think I could safely say that this is the most X-rated trial that I've ever followed.

You know, Georgia, what I can tell you is that the atmosphere so far at the Combs trial has been explosive. Some of the details that have been offered are extremely not safe for work. I think I could safely say that this is the most X-rated trial that I've ever followed.

So, you know, I do want to warn parents, if you have kids in earshot right now, you might want to put the show on pause before I get into it. But just some details. Inside the courtroom, these prosecutors painted a very dark picture. They alleged that Combs used his fame, his wealth, his multimedia empire.

So, you know, I do want to warn parents, if you have kids in earshot right now, you might want to put the show on pause before I get into it. But just some details. Inside the courtroom, these prosecutors painted a very dark picture. They alleged that Combs used his fame, his wealth, his multimedia empire.

to coerce and threaten women and prostitutes into this decade-long scheme involving sex trafficking and violence. They claim that he lured these women with promises of romance or career opportunities, only to then force them into what the prosecutors are calling freak-offs.

to coerce and threaten women and prostitutes into this decade-long scheme involving sex trafficking and violence. They claim that he lured these women with promises of romance or career opportunities, only to then force them into what the prosecutors are calling freak-offs.

And essentially what they are is sexual performances that are drug-fueled involving male prostitutes, sometimes recorded in order to blackmail the people who participated in it. And they say that it was particularly during these freak offs when Combs would abuse the women in his life, including his former girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura.

And essentially what they are is sexual performances that are drug-fueled involving male prostitutes, sometimes recorded in order to blackmail the people who participated in it. And they say that it was particularly during these freak offs when Combs would abuse the women in his life, including his former girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura.

Yeah, so Combs is facing five felony counts. He has one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of transportation for prostitution. So if convicted, he could face life in prison, but he will at least face a minimum of 15 years for those sex trafficking charges alone.

Yeah, so Combs is facing five felony counts. He has one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of transportation for prostitution. So if convicted, he could face life in prison, but he will at least face a minimum of 15 years for those sex trafficking charges alone.

And the prosecutors are presenting, I would call it, a very compelling argument so far. On Monday, they played the full video of that viral 2016 tape that was leaked that showed Combs beating up and dragging Ventura by the hair in a hotel hallway in LA, hitting, kicking her.

And the prosecutors are presenting, I would call it, a very compelling argument so far. On Monday, they played the full video of that viral 2016 tape that was leaked that showed Combs beating up and dragging Ventura by the hair in a hotel hallway in LA, hitting, kicking her.

The security guard who took that footage while trying to de-escalate the situation testified that he found Ventura with a black eye. and that Combs offered him a bribe to stay silent. And then on Tuesday, Binger herself, in a pretty explosive moment, took the stand. And she said that Combs too frequently mashed in her head, dragged her along the floor, kicked her, stomped on her head.

The security guard who took that footage while trying to de-escalate the situation testified that he found Ventura with a black eye. and that Combs offered him a bribe to stay silent. And then on Tuesday, Binger herself, in a pretty explosive moment, took the stand. And she said that Combs too frequently mashed in her head, dragged her along the floor, kicked her, stomped on her head.

She also said he characterized these drug and alcohol-fueled freak-offs as a part of her quote-unquote job.

She also said he characterized these drug and alcohol-fueled freak-offs as a part of her quote-unquote job.

And she said that they increased in frequency over the course of their relationship so that in the final years that she was with Combs, she said these sex sessions became all-consuming and she spent most of her time either engaging in these freak-offs or recovering from them while simultaneously enduring Combs' abuse.