Why everyone’s livestreaming the Sean ‘Diddy’ trial? Influencers turns court drama into cash

Washington: The criminal trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is in full swing in New York, and it’s not just legacy media covering the action. A new kind of journalist is dominating the courthouse steps: influencers and content creators.

These creators are flooding platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, setting up tripods and phones to deliver real-time updates and dramatic retellings of the day's events, all without access to cameras inside the courtroom.

No cameras inside? No problem

Because federal court bans phones, laptops, and even wireless headphones, these influencers have had to get creative. They shuffle in and out of the courthouse throughout the day, dropping off and picking up their devices to keep their followers in the loop.

One TikToker known as KealoHalika said she gained over 10,000 followers in just two days of trial coverage. She now boasts more than 40,000 followers, all thanks to her courtroom commentary.

“It was like craziness,” she said “It’s definitely changed my life.”

Celebrity drama, courtroom chaos

While Combs himself remains out of the public eye, the high-profile witnesses are drawing attention. Rapper Kid Cudi testified about his car being torched. Superstar Ye (Kanye West) made a brief visit to show support for Combs, adding fuel to the internet frenzy.

These surprise appearances are social media gold, and content creators are racing to capture every moment, sometimes turning them into mini soap operas for their followers.

Turning views into dollars

For many, this isn't just a passion, it’s a paycheck.

Donat Ricketts, an LA-based artist and regular at celebrity trials, said he earns between $8,000 and $10,000 a month through YouTube ads and fan donations. This is his first out-of-state case, and he's treating it like a working vacation.

“It feels like vacation, plus I’m being able to work and make money from YouTube,” he said.

Ricketts doesn’t have a journalism degree, just what he calls a “big personality” and the ability to connect with his audience. And it’s working.

Journalism, but make it personal

Other creators, like Emilie Hagen, do have journalism backgrounds but are embracing more personal, freewheeling coverage styles. Hagen, who posts on Substack, TikTok, and Instagram, uses humor and behind-the-scenes commentary to attract followers, including stories about the “wild” characters who show up at court every day.

Since the trial began, Hagen has gained 12,000 new Instagram followers and 10,000 more on TikTok. Fan donations even helped her hire a linesitter, someone who waits overnight to save a seat inside the courtroom.

Why the hype? It’s more than just a trial

Experts say this trial has all the ingredients that make it irresistible to internet culture: celebrity, scandal, crime, and drama.

“It’s sex, it’s violence, and it’s celebrity,” said Reece Peck, a professor of journalism and political communication.

And in a world where 1 in 5 Americans now get their news from influencers, that combination is powerful. For people under 30, that number rises to 37%, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center study.

For some, the interest goes beyond content or clicks. Val Solit, a teacher from LA visiting New York, stopped by the courthouse after lunch nearby.

“I like crime and dramas,” she said. “It was kind of fascinating to come and see it. It’s history in the making.”

(AFP inputs)