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One of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ attorneys wants to quit his defense team

PEOPLE
Sean Combs

NEW YORK — One of the attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs in his sex trafficking case wants to quit the hip-hop mogul's defense team.

Defense lawyer Anthony Ricco filed notice on Thursday in Manhattan federal court that he no longer wants to represent Combs, writing “under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel.”

Ricco, one of six attorneys representing Combs, did not offer any details about the decision. The court must first sign off on his decision to leave the case.

Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges lodged against him after his September arrest. He remains incarcerated without bail, awaiting a May 5 trial.

Federal prosecutors say he used his wealth and influence to coerce female victims and male sex workers into drug-fueled sexual performances, and used blackmail and violence to intimidate and threaten his victims. Combs also faces several sexual assault lawsuits.

Ricco said he had discussed leaving the defense team with Combs' lead attorney and added that the move would not cause a delay in Combs' upcoming trial.

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Suzanne Somers

How Suzanne Somers’ widower honored her on Valentine’s Day

Suzanne Somers, who died in 2023, was remembered by her family on Valentine’s Day.

The widower, Alan Hamel, told me: “The family got together at my home and made the most creative Valentine’s Day cards, which we then delivered to Suzanne’s final resting spot in Palm Springs. She was my Valentine for over five beautiful decades. We never spent a night apart in 56 years.”

Hamel says he’s convinced Suzanne has visited him in the form of a hummingbird, which flew into their house and rested on top of their photo in their living room.

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Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin diagnosed with PTSD after ‘Rust’ shooting

NEW YORK — Alec Baldwin is opening up about the “surreal” experience of misfiring a prop gun and fatally shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the 2021 set of “Rust,” and the tragedy’s impact on the actor.

The 66-year-old Emmy winner — whose involuntary manslaughter case was dismissed last summer — revealed in the upcoming premiere of TLC’s “The Baldwins” that sometimes he “can’t get up” and is now “happier when I’m asleep than when I’m awake,” according to People.

“Everyone who is close to Alec has seen his mental health decline,” said wife Hilaria, with whom the actor shares seven children — aged 2 to 11.

That includes exacerbated obsessive compulsive disorder and a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the 41-year-old yoga instructor.

“He says in his darkest moments, ‘If an accident had to have happened this day, why am I still here? Why couldn’t it have been me?'” shared Hilaria.

Baldwin shares in the episode — premiering Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on TLC and then streaming on Max — that he has come to the realization they have seven children together “to help carry me and you through this situation.”

On Oct. 21, 2021, while on the set of the Western “Rust,” which starred and was produced by Baldwin, the actor misfired a prop weapon which mysteriously contained live rounds. The shooting fatally wounded 42-year-old Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.

Baldwin was twice charged with involuntary manslaughter, once in January 2023 and, after those charges were dropped, he was charged again a year later. In July, while in the midst of trial, a New Mexico judge dismissed the case, a decision she upheld in October.

Last spring, the film’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to the maximum of 18 months behind bars.

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Justin Bieber

Bieber, Roenick among those who skate in hockey benefit for LA fire relief fund

LOS ANGELES — Justin Bieber and Steve Carell laced up their skates along with Hockey Hall of Famers Rob Blake, Mark Messier, Cammi Granato and Jeremy Roenick on Sunday afternoon to support relief funds from the Los Angeles fires.

The Los Angeles Kings and National Hockey League held “Skate for LA Strong” at Crypto.com Arena to benefit recovery efforts from the devastating wildfires in Southern California. The Palisades Fire was the most destructive in Los Angeles’ history.

“We’re looking to have a good time and show when we come together, good things happen,” Bieber said.

The four-team exhibition tournament was the brainchild of Hockey Hall of Famer and Kings President Luc Robitaille.

The four teams had 15 skaters and one goaltender and included a mix of celebrities, former players and local first responders.

“We’ve all been touched by what happened last month. We all have friends, families or different (people) that have been impacted, so for us to be able to make a difference and to do something, we’re gonna raise as much as possible and make a difference,” Robitaille said.

The team coached by actors Vince Vaughn and Cobie Smulders won both of its games to take the exhibition tournament.

Roenick had two goals on the day and then playfully dropped the gloves with Bieber during one of the games.

“This was an amazing celebration of hockey and first responders. It was a lot of fun, seeing everyone that showed up and some of the LA firefighters playing was a good feeling,” Roenick said.

The other teams were coached by Will Ferrell and Snoop Dogg; Danny DeVito and Al Michaels; and Hannah Stocking and Andrew Whitworth.

“When the Kings asked me to do this, I was like, ‘Absolutely.’ I don’t care if I’d never thrown on a pair of skates before, this is where I want to be,” said actor Skylar Astin. “I’m a resident of Malibu, so I really have the firefighters to thank for even containing it as much as they were able to. I even took PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) over here for the first time, and it was the first time I actually saw all the destruction firsthand and it was really chilling. It’s going to be a while for us to really build back properly, but LA is a resilient community, and I think we’ll get it done.”

Besides the game being shown locally on television in Los Angeles, it aired nationally on ESPN2. Instead of tickets being sold, they were distributed to first responders and those who have been displaced by the fires.

The Kings said 12,167 fans attended.

From combined wire services

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