As two of the biggest names in entertainment face serious legal battles, one expert is preparing to take the stand in both cases — Dr. Dawn Hughes, a well-known forensic psychologist who has become a key voice in high-profile sexual misconduct trials.
Hughes will testify in separate Manhattan courtrooms in the coming weeks: one for film mogul Harvey Weinstein, the other for music icon Sean “Diddy” Combs. Both men are facing serious charges involving sexual abuse and have pleaded not guilty.
This isn’t new territory for Hughes. Over the past few years, she’s taken the stand in some of the most talked-about cases of the post-#MeToo era.
She helped explain the psychology behind abuse in the NXIVM sex cult trial, as well as R. Kelly’s 2021 racketeering case.
Most famously, she testified for actress Amber Heard in the defamation battle with ex-husband Johnny Depp — a case that turned into a media storm.
According to prosecutors, Hughes will explain how abusers often use power and control to manipulate victims and why victims might not report abuse right away — topics she’s built her career around.
She specializes in interpersonal violence, trauma, and anxiety, and teaches at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital – Weill Cornell Medical College.
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Not everyone wants to hear from her. Combs’ lawyers are pushing to block her testimony, calling it biased and “advocacy masquerading as expertise.” A judge will decide soon how much of her input will be allowed in court.
Despite the backlash Hughes has received — including online attacks after the Depp-Heard trial — legal experts say she brings real value to juries.
Former federal prosecutor Elizabeth Geddes says Hughes helps explain victim behavior that might otherwise be misunderstood.
Whether testifying about trauma or confronting backlash outside the courtroom, Hughes continues to be a go-to expert when high-profile abuse cases hit the spotlight.
