Controversial rapper Kanye West was unexpectedly mentioned during jury selection for Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan, causing a stir in the courtroom.

According to Mail Online, West’s name surfaced when a potential juror, a scientist in his 40s, said he recognized the rapper from a list of individuals who may be referenced during the proceedings. The man clarified that his knowledge of West would not affect his impartiality in the case.

West is one of several high-profile figures named on the list presented during jury selection on Monday. Others include comedian Mike Myers, actor Michael B. Jordan, Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams, actress Lauren London, and rapper Kid Cudi. The specific relevance of these individuals to the case remains unclear.

Judge Arun Subramanian noted that the list of names and locations spans multiple pages, joking that it resembled "an appendix from The Lord of the Rings." To streamline the selection process, jurors were instructed to review the list before individual questioning began. The goal is to seat a final panel of 12 jurors and six alternates.

Diddy, 55, appeared in court wearing a sweater over a white collared shirt and gray slacks—an exception granted by the judge in lieu of standard jail attire. The music mogul has been held in federal custody in Brooklyn since his arrest in September. His hair and goatee appeared nearly fully gray, a consequence of jail rules prohibiting hair dye.

Judge Subramanian briefed potential jurors on the charges, which include sex trafficking and racketeering. He emphasized that Combs has pleaded not guilty and remains presumed innocent.

Several jurors indicated prior exposure to a widely circulated video from 2016, allegedly showing Combs physically assaulting singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway. One woman who described a still image from the footage as "damning" was dismissed from consideration. Another juror was also excused shortly before Combs requested a break, telling the judge, “I’m sorry, Your Honor, I’m a little nervous today.”

The 17-page indictment portrays Combs as the orchestrator of a two-decade-long pattern of abuse involving coercion, violence, and manipulation. Prosecutors allege that women were pressured into drug-fueled sexual acts known as “Freak Offs,” with Combs leveraging promises of fame and threats of violence to control them. The document details disturbing claims of beatings, kidnapping, arson, and even an incident in which Combs allegedly dangled a person from a balcony.

Combs’ legal team has denied all allegations, maintaining that any group sexual activity was consensual and that no criminal enterprise existed.

The trial is expected to last at least eight weeks. If convicted, Combs could face decades behind bars.