Fame Under Fire

• Playboy Bunnies and a sex dungeon: allegations against US trader

  Retired New York financier Howard Rubin has been charged with sex trafficking multiple women, including Playboy models.Prosecutors allege the women were sexually and physically assaulted in a Manhattan penthouse in a soundproofed room described as “The Dungeon”.Rubin’s former assistant Jennifer Powers is charged as a co-conspirator.They have both pleaded not guilty to all charges.Host Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty and resident trial attorney Shaun Kent assess the case and discuss why the prosecution have revealed the more shocking allegations in a letter recommending Rubin be denied bail.This episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual and physical violence. If you are affected by anything in the programme, details of help and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.Got questions? Send us a Whatsapp message on 0330 678 111 4.Subscribe to Fame Under Fire on BBC Sounds and turn on push notifications so you never miss an episode. We’ll let you know as soon as new episodes are available.Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Vicky Farncombe Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Production Coordinator: Tammy Snow Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

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• Jason Derulo: Sexual allegations and goat sacrifice

  A singer who claims platinum-selling artist Jason Derulo sabotaged her career after she denied his sexual advances has refiled her lawsuit against him. Emaza Gibson first sued Derulo and Atlantic Records in October 2023 in Los Angeles but the original case was dismissed last year after a California judge determined her contracts contained clauses requiring any legal disputes to be heard in New York. The new 49-page lawsuit has been refiled in New York. It includes an allegation that Derulo told her she would be required to take part in a sex ritual called "goat skin and fish scales" - which involved sacrificing a goat and taking cocaine. He has denied the allegations and said he is “deeply offended by the defamatory claims”. Host Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty and resident trial attorney Shaun Kent consider the case and discuss how crucial the plaintiff’s credibility will be. Got questions? Send us a Whatsapp message on 0330 678 111 4. Subscribe to Fame Under Fire on BBC Sounds and turn on push notifications so you never miss an episode. We’ll let you know as soon as new episodes are available. Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Vicky Farncombe Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Production Coordinator: Tammy Snow Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

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• Diddy given more than four years in jail

  Sean "Diddy" Combs has been sentenced to more than four years in prison on prostitution charges.He was convicted of flying girlfriends and male sex workers across the US for sexual encounters which he called “freak offs”. He was cleared of the more serious counts of sex trafficking and racketeering.In addition to the prison time, Judge Arun Subramanian also imposed a $500,000 fine. He told Combs he used his power to subjugate and abuse two women. "This is the reality of what happened," he said.Host Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty from the Diddy on Trial podcast brings you all the news from inside the courtroom with New York reporter Nada Tawfik.Got questions? Send us a Whatsapp message on 0330 678 111 4. Subscribe to Fame Under Fire on BBC Sounds and turn on push notifications so you never miss an episode. We’ll let you know as soon as new episodes are available. Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Vicky Farncombe Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Production Coordinator: Tammy Snow Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

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• Cassie Ventura: I still have Diddy nightmares

  Cassie Ventura has said she is worried for her family’s safety ahead of Sean "Diddy" Combs sentencing this week."I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution towards me and others who spoke up,” the R&B singer, who is Combs' ex-girlfriend, wrote in a victim impact statement to the judge.Combs was found guilty in July of transportation for prostitution of Ms Ventura and another ex-girlfriend "Jane", but was cleared on the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.Prosecutors have recommended 11 years, while the defence seeks 14 months, which including time served would mean an almost immediate release. His attorneys say he has changed his ways while being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.Presenter Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty look ahead to the sentencing with BBC reporter Sakshi Venkatraman and resident trial attorney Shaun Kent.Plus, another update in the legal battle between right-wing influencer Candace Owens and the Macrons.The French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte are suing Owens for defamation. She has repeatedly told her millions of followers that Brigitte was born a man.Now Owens’ team are accusing the Macrons of breaking US federal law by hiring investigators, publicists and others to work on their behalf in the United States without registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).Passed in 1938 to counter Nazi propaganda, this law says, if you’re working in the US on behalf of a foreign government, you have to inform the US government what you’re doing.Anoushka and Shaun consider the strategy behind this move and discuss whether it will affect the lawsuit.Got questions? Send us a Whatsapp message on 0330 678 111 4. Subscribe to Fame Under Fire on BBC Sounds and turn on push notifications so you never miss an episode. We’ll let you know as soon as new episodes are available. Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Vicky Farncombe Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Production Coordinator: Tammy Snow Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

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• Candace Owens hits out at Macrons plus Diddy is "a good man"

  Candace Owens claims she is being “hounded” by the media to distract her from investigating the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.The right-wing influencer was responding to Fame Under Fire’s exclusive story last week that Brigitte Macron is planning to present “scientific evidence” in the Macrons’ lawsuit against Owens.The French president and his wife are suing the podcaster for defamation including over her allegation that Brigitte Macron was born a biological man.Last week, the Macrons’ lawyer Tom Clare told Fame Under Fire how they plan to support the case with scientific and photographic evidence.On her podcast, Candace Owens told her followers: “I don't know what this is, just like we're just gonna all hound Candace to try to distract her from looking into Charlie Kirk's murder and assassination.”In a statement to Fame Under Fire, she added: “Brigitte's claim that she will offer scientific evidence regarding her gender in court is an obvious and pathetic public relations ploy.”Presenter Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty unpacks Owens’ response with resident trial attorney Shaun Kent and looks at why the location of the lawsuit is so important.Plus, could Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs walk free? The hip hop megastar is due to be sentenced on 3 October after being convicted for two counts of transportation for prostitution.Anoushka and Shaun look at his glowing character reference from rapper Yung Miami and assess how the sentencing hearing may play out.Got questions? Send us a Whatsapp message on 0330 678 111 4.Subscribe to Fame Under Fire on BBC Sounds and turn on push notifications so you never miss an episode. We’ll let you know as soon as new episodes are available.Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Vicky Farncombe Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Production Coordinator: Tammy Snow Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

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