In a stunning twist, long-time Wesley Chapel resident, household man and entertainer Layne Harper has stepped into the highlight by portraying Sean “Diddy” Combs on Hulu’s gripping hit new docuseries, “Diddy on Trial: As It Occurred.”
Layne’s involvement within the present has garnered nationwide consideration, particularly contemplating the delicate and sensational nature of the content material. Because the trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs continues to unfold in actual life, with testimony from numerous witnesses, together with rapper Child Cudi, Diddy’s former longtime girlfriend Cassandra Ventura and “Jane,” an alleged intercourse trafficking sufferer, the collection gives another medium for audiences to have interaction with the case by means of reenactments and on-screen evaluation.
Produced by ABC Information Studios, “Diddy on Trial” debuted on Could 25 because the third most-watched present on Hulu (as of Could 28), behind “A Handmaid’s Story” and “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” based on FlixPatrol, a web site that gives Video on Demand (VOD) charts and streaming statistics worldwide, and has continued to garner excessive rankings by means of its first 4 episodes as we went to press with this subject.
Hulu’s web site states that the docuseries, “takes you contained in the legal trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, some of the salacious and hotly anticipated courtroom showdowns in a long time. Watch bombshell moments and heart-wrenching testimony unfold in actual time by means of meticulous actor reenactments sourced every week from courtroom transcripts.
“Prosecutors allege the music icon and enterprise mogul engaged in a darkish underworld of intercourse trafficking and prostitution. Combs denies all accusations, sustaining his innocence. Be a part of host Sunny Hostin [Senior Legal Correspondent for ABC News] as she breaks all of it down with a rotating roster of authorized and popular culture consultants, supplying you with a front-row seat to this high-stakes authorized battle.”
Since cameras aren’t allowed within the federal courtroom, the actor reenactments permit viewers to extra precisely, and emotionally, join with what’s really occurring in a extra pure means than simply studying about it in information articles. The collection is a “should watch” for many who like courtroom dramas, in addition to, in fact, popular culture followers.
As of this writing, listed here are the 4 episodes of “Diddy on Trial” have been launched:
#1: “The Freak-Off”
#2: “The Assault.”
#3 “Secret Lifetime of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs”
#4: The Bribe & The Balcony”
New episodes are being launched each Sunday because the trial continues.
The Man Taking part in The Monster
Testimony within the trial up to now has painted Diddy as a violent and controlling man that folks feared. So, how does somebody like Layne Harper — who’s recognized domestically to be a genuinely good man — get to painting some of the mocked and allegedly vile males in America?
Layne says he’s really “actually excited” about this chance and that one among his brokers in New York Metropolis helped him land the lead function. “I’ve by no means been instructed that I resemble Diddy,” Layne says. “My agent in New York submitted me for the function as a result of he had a powerful feeling I may execute on the function as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.”
He provides, “I’m not involved in any respect as a result of I’m taking part in the function of ‘Diddy.’ I’m my very own individual. I’m a husband and father of three and I select to guard my peace and strongly consider in not entertaining negativity. One factor that can’t be erased from the leisure trade is that Sean Combs will all the time be a music mogul.”
He admits, nevertheless, that moving into this distinctive function has been a wild journey for him.
“All the pieces is occurring so quick,” Layne says. “I’m flying again to New York once more tomorrow evening, and can be forwards and backwards in Tampa for the following 4-6 weeks — perhaps longer, relying on the trial, [since] I’m doing all the season.”
Assuming that Diddy goes to take the witness stand in some unspecified time in the future, Layne says of that risk, “I simply pray. I don’t overthink it. That’s how I booked the function. I’m on the sting of my seat as a result of nobody is aware of if he’ll take the stand.”
Layne Harper, Jr., 43, was born in Memphis, TN. Raised in a navy household, he spent seven years in Darmstadt and Mannheim, Germany. After graduating from Millington (TN) Central Excessive Faculty in 2000, Layne moved to Brooklyn, NY, to pursue a music profession.
He later relocated to Nashville, TN, the place Layne met his spouse Jennifer. The couple moved to the Tampa Bay space in 2009, and has been dwelling in Wesley Chapel since 2010 with their three kids (l.-r. in prime left picture on the following web page) — Jaydon, Enyal and Xavier, the latter of whom is presently serving within the U.S. Navy.
Taking part in Diddy is definitely considerably ironic for Layne, as he’s additionally an skilled and proficient rapper/musician with an incredible voice. His songs “A Factor Known as Love,” “Hell Journey to Heaven” and “Medication Cupboard” are his hottest originals along with his message touchdown someplace between religion and hope. “Hell Journey to Heaven” undoubtedly has that New York sound. The music movies for Layne’s music could be streamed on Youtube underneath “Layne Harper” and his album “Home of Blues” additionally could be streamed on Spotify.
Layne additionally has ventured into style — he has launched his inspirational and faith-based city clothes model referred to as Vctry (which Layne is carrying within the picture under proper). The designs appear to resonate with clients who admire Vctry’s mix of fashion and performance, providing items which are each fashion-forward and cozy.
As an actor, Layne has had a couple of roles in small, unbiased movies, and he’s additionally performed a couple of commercials, however most lately he scored a task as a reporter/member of the press in a serious movie — the upcoming and hotly anticipated Apple Unique racing movie referred to as “F1,” starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris and Javier Bardem. The film is about Method 1 racing and is scheduled to be launched in theaters on Friday, June 27.
As for portraying probably the most ridiculed man on this planet (a minimum of presently), Layne says, “I really turned the function down twice and prayed that another person could be blessed with the chance fairly than me. Nevertheless, God had different plans for me. Sure, I really feel I’m out of character, however there’s a distinction between pure actors and methodology actors and for this function, I bounce between the 2.”
Extra Than Simply A Function
As Layne takes on the function of Diddy in “Diddy on Trial,” he isn’t simply moving into a task — he’s stepping right into a cultural second, one with heaps and many child oil.
The present doesn’t draw back from controversy and neither does he. His efficiency captures the complexity of a person underneath intense public scrutiny, whereas additionally reflecting the broader questions concerning movie star tradition, justice and the function of the media.
Because the world watches the trial, Layne’s efficiency reminds us that storytelling — regardless of the medium — has the facility to problem, provoke and, finally, inform. Whether or not or not this function additionally will make this Wesley Chapel household man a star in his personal proper stays to be seen.
From Wesley Chapel to the world stage, Layne Harper is hoping to show he’s greater than prepared for the highlight. As his numerous background and inventive endeavors proceed to form his multifaceted profession, religion. hope and household proceed to form the person himself.
New episodes of “Diddy on Trial: As It Occurred” can be accessible for streaming on Hulu each Sunday by means of the conclusion of the trial.
