Who is 'Mia'? Why you won't see photos of Diddy's ex-personal assistant during trial
The sex-crimes trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs is well underway and, as a parade of ex-employees, law enforcement officials, and romantic partners take the stand, at least one witness will remain unnamed.
On May 29, when a former personal assistant for Combs began testifying, she was introduced simply as "Mia," a pseudonym given to protect her identity.
Jurors listened to her as she recounted a close friendship with Combs' former partner and star witness for the prosecution, Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine, and the alleged abuse both women faced at the hands of the music mogul. Jurors were not given her last name, and unlike the vivid sketches of Ventura Fine and Combs that have emerged from the courtroom, nothing detailed will be drawn of Mia.
The court was given explicit instructions May 29 not to document any aspects of her appearance and reminded that they would face severe consequences for violating the rule.
Her identity is being guarded in part, given the highly sensitive personal experiences she is sharing − on the stand, Mia alleged that Combs sexually assaulted her several times and could become violent, once slamming her into a wall and, on another occasion, throwing her into a pool.
An unwritten rule, abided by many in the media, precludes publications from publishing the names of anonymous accusers even if their identity is known. Especially in a high-profile case like that of Combs, who is accused of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution, a victim may choose to remain anonymous to protect themselves from retaliation or harassment.
How anonymity became a hot-button debate in Diddy lawsuits and beyond
Anonymity has emerged as a hot-button issue in recent years, particularly in the wake of the #MeToo movement, as one side argues that if a celebrity faces public allegations of assault, the accuser should be forced to come forward too.
On the other side, advocates argue that, given the public shame that can come from revealing one has been assaulted, anonymity provides a necessary sense of security, so victims choose to come forward.
"The reason the defense wants the victims to be identified is they think, and rightfully so, that that will discourage victims from coming forward," former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani previously told Paste BN.
"They've been victimized, (and) now they have to relive this trauma in a very public way," says Rahmani, president of personal injury law firm West Coast Trial Lawyers. "These cases draw a lot of attention. People on social media will call them liars. They'll say that this is just a money grab, that they're just seeking fame.