Male exotic dancer Sharay “The Punisher” Hayes is standing by the jury’s decision in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial, telling TMZ he believes they got it right.
“I think the verdict is actually the right one, in my opinion,” Hayes said. “I always saw it as more of a domestic violence scenario.”
While Combs was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution, he was acquitted on the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Hayes, who took the stand in May, noted that from a juror’s perspective, the evidence pointed more toward a complex, consensual relationship between Combs and Cassie Ventura than a trafficking operation.
“Taking myself out of the situation, and just trying to look at it from an individual, like a juror would, when you see this long-term, loving relationship with—this is his girlfriend,” Hayes explained. “Also, multiple scenarios where the sexual lifestyle was consented. It was just hard for me to shift—this is just a domestic violence different type of relationship to a criminal sex trafficking scenario.”
During his testimony, Hayes said he participated in “between eight and twelve” intimate sessions involving himself and Cassie, where they used large amounts of baby oil on each other. He recalled Diddy occasionally entering the room, observing from a distance and giving Cassie subtle instructions regarding lighting, positioning, and other sexual details.
Hayes told TMZ he believes his testimony may have been a key factor in Combs’ acquittal on the trafficking charge. “I feel like if the deciding factor of the sex trafficking charge was gonna be based on consent or lack thereof, I definitely feel like my testimony could’ve possibly influenced the way it was viewed,” he said.
Despite supporting the verdict, Hayes expressed sympathy for Cassie and Jane Doe, saying he feels “terribly” that the trial forced them to publicly reveal personal details about their sex lives.
Combs remains in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3, after Judge Arun Subramanian denied his request for bail.
