Sharay “Punisher” Hayes is just not a star, a politician, or an influence dealer. He was, nonetheless, a sex employee who had lived within the margins of Diddy/”>Sean “Diddy” Combs’ personal world. This existence was a world most individuals solely speculated about. A light-weight uncovered – in courtroom – what was as soon as at midnight. The United States vs. Sean Combs was one of many largest courtroom dramas the music trade has ever seen.  Hayes stepped into the highlight largely unexpectedly and unwillingly. As one of many figures who spent intimate time with Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie, he was a cornerstone within the case towards the mogul. But what he revealed was not what the prosecution anticipated. 

In one of the candid and emotionally charged conversations to emerge from the Sean “Diddy” Combs saga, Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur and DJ Thoro sit down with  “The Punisher,” who reshaped public notion of the case. Known publicly as an escort, Hayes opens up in regards to the scrutiny he confronted, the psychological toll of testifying earlier than Diddy, and the sophisticated actuality he fell into. What follows is an unfiltered dialog about worry, survival, stress, and the justice system. Moreover, how Hayes turned his surprising lemons into lemonade is sort of a miracle.

Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: Your new e book In Search of Freezer Meat is out now. What’s the web site?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: FreezerMeatEd.com.

THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING EXPOSED

Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: People know you as one of many prosecution’s witnesses within the Sean “Diddy” Combs case in New York. We first met exterior the courthouse the place you had been being interviewed by everybody. Now that the mud has settled a bit — how are you feeling?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: I’m good, man. Everything was a whirlwind. It put me in a melancholy I didn’t even understand at first. It’s heavy being launched to the world as a male prostitute. Even if issues went on behind closed doorways, that’s personal.

When it turns into public, your thoughts goes straight to wreck management. Now I’m simply attempting to determine: in the event you Google my title and that’s what comes up, how do you salvage that? How do folks see you now? What limits does it put in your life? What advantages? I’m nonetheless figuring it out.

Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: I noticed folks advocating for you…advocating for sex employees. And attempting to de-stigmatize it. Did that really feel actual?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: Some of it. There’s all the time going to be advocates, however we reside in a unfavorable world. Negative voices are louder.

This is uncharted territory for me. Even earlier than the trial, I used to be attempting to pivot into males’s well being and constructive content material. I’m nonetheless kicking the tires on that.

WHY HE TESTIFIED

DJ Thoro:

For individuals who may be naive to the state of affairs — why did you’re taking the stand? Were you subpoenaed? Forced? Was it voluntary?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes:

I didn’t let it get to the subpoena level. They stored it quiet that they had been going to make use of me.
People speak robust just like the mob films — “If the Feds call, I’m not saying anything.”
My man… once they knock? It’s completely different.

They advised me, “Don’t give us a hard time. You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re not at risk of jail. Just be honest.” So I cooperated. I didn’t need to p### them off.

Diddy-in-court”>FACING Diddy IN COURT

Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: How did it really feel being in entrance of Diddy in that courtroom? Being checked out by him and everybody else?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: Terrifying. I didn’t anticipate that in any respect. When I walked in, I used to be shook — trembling.

Courtrooms are constructed to intimidate on objective. This ain’t Judge Judy. It’s huge, overbearing, stuffed with stress.
And strolling in previous his household… you are feeling these eyeballs. It was intimidating.

DJ Thoro: Did you are feeling like your life was in danger for cooperating?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: That’s why I wished to testify — to get it over with.
What I needed to say would possibly’ve been embarrassing, but it surely wasn’t throwing him underneath the bus as a result of I didn’t see what they had been alleging.

I requested a retired FBI agent pal, “Could testifying put me in danger?” He mentioned, “Absolutely.” I felt safer after testifying. But main as much as it? I used to be shook. The means the Feds picked me up…two brokers in a automotive… felt like a sniper may take me out.

HOW WITNESSES ARE TREATED

Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: Did they provide you any facilities? Hotel, automotive, something?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: No. They deal with you want trash. Everything’s on their time. They take your telephone, put you in a room with no TV, no nothing. You sit for hours with an agent on the door.

It felt like testifying towards a mafia boss. I assumed I used to be going into witness safety.

DJ Thoro: Were they disenchanted with the end result?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: I assume so. They didn’t say a single phrase to me afterward. It was like I used to be by no means concerned.

Diddy-or-cassie”>LEANING TOWARD Diddy OR CASSIE?

Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: Did you are feeling compelled to lean towards Diddy? Toward Cassie? Did something you realized affect you?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: Not actually. I’ve been telling these particulars for a decade. Facts are information. I wasn’t going to alter what I noticed. The solely factor that threw me off was the primary man who testified. I knew of him. His story modified based mostly on emotion and out of doors stuff. People who knew him mentioned his personal tales didn’t match what he mentioned on the stand. That felt off.

THE BOOK + SUBPOENA

Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: Your e book chronicles a few of your expertise. Did they learn it?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: It got here out days earlier than I testified.

Prosecutors stored telling me to not publish it as a result of 200 pages offers the protection 200 pages to dissect.
But as soon as the protection subpoenaed it, I rushed to publish so it had copyright safety. Otherwise it could be public document.

CASSIE, COERCION, AND SENTENCING

Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: You appeared to really feel Cassie would possibly’ve been extra concerned than testified. True?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: I take a look at all the pieces intellectually. At sentencing, the decide gave [Diddy] time based mostly on coercion, however he was acquitted of something involving drive, fraud, or coercion. So how do you beat the cost however get sentenced for it? That’s not about Diddy. That’s a system challenge. What’s the purpose of a jury if the decide can override them?

DJ Thoro: Is that what the attraction relies on?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: Yes. Exactly. The decide gave a sentence that wasn’t too excessive or low so the appeals courtroom would possibly let it stand.

Diddy-today”>WHAT IF HE SAW Diddy TODAY?

Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: If you bumped into Diddy 5 years from now, how would that go?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: Honestly, I’d say, “My bad for the embarrassment — some of it was out of my control.” I repeated the story on speak exhibits, so I really feel some guilt. But I’d anticipate a handshake and a hug.

My testimony is claimed to be the rationale he was acquitted of the sex trafficking and RICO fees, fees with a minimal 15 years and asset forfeiture. If my testimony made the distinction? I’d anticipate a pound.

DJ Thoro: So principally he owes you a examine?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: I didn’t say that. But his personal legal professional mentioned on Piers Morgan that my testimony helped him. All I did was inform the reality.

WHAT ABOUT CASSIE?

DJ Thoro: If you noticed Cassie proper now, what would you say?

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: Everything I mentioned was the reality. I might by no means say what she claims she skilled wasn’t actual. But she hid it extraordinarily nicely. No indicators. After I testified, virtually all the opposite sex employees hit me up — like forming some “escort Avengers.”

None of them noticed something that instructed she was compelled. If she was going by way of one thing, she had a poker face.

Diddy-in-the-room”>DISCOVERING Diddy IN THE ROOM

Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: You didn’t even know for a very long time that it was Diddy within the nook bare with a burka on.

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: For half the time…yeah. This went on two and a half years, and I didn’t understand it was him till 15 months in.

sex-work-in-that-situation”>THE PRESSURE OF sex WORK IN THAT SITUATION

Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur: Just having another person within the room – after which discovering it was Diddy – should’ve been daunting.

Sharay “Punisher” Hayes: Yeah. sex is meant to be fulfilling, your vibe. Doing it underneath stress is completely different.

It’s like a buzzer-beater free throw.

But the cash was good.

Three days in a row, $2,000 a pop — $5,000 to $6,000 a weekend for 3 hours whole.

I wished to maintain the gig.

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