freelance writer + editor | formerly @nymag's @thecut | words @gothamist @voguemagazine @GQMagazine etc.
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Articles by Claire Lampen
The 'Daisy Chain' Is One Of The Easiest Threesome Sex Positions To Pull Off
"Hearst Magazines and AOL may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." While some might stand by the old saying that “two's company; three's a crowd,” you know that three can be a magic number… especially in the bedroom. But whether it’s your first, second, or thousandth time having a threesome, you’re probably wondering how to make that ménage à trois magic happen so everyone leaves sexually satisfied.
How to Cope With School Shooting Trauma
Claire Lampen Sun, December 14, 2025 at 6:25 PM UTC 8 min read Over seven years ago, gun control became a renewed nationwide conversation after the February 14, 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, when this article was first published. Since then, there have been hundreds of school shootings in the U.S; CNN reports that there have been at least 75 school shootings in 2025 alone. On Dec.
Diddy Convicted of Transporting People for Prostitution
Photo: Broadimage/Shutterstock A Manhattan jury found Sean “Diddy” Combs not guilty of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy on Wednesday in a mixed verdict where it also convicted the rapper on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, pertaining to two of his ex-girlfriends. The verdict was reached after 13 hours of deliberation and more than six weeks of often wrenching testimony.
Will Diddy Be Found Guilty?
Photo: Jane Rosenberg/REUTERS After more than six weeks of graphic and often grueling testimony, the sex-trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is nearing its conclusion. Since proceedings opened in May, prosecutors have called more than 30 witnesses to the stand, their testimony painting a despicable picture of the mogul. His ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura described a pattern of alleged physical, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse sustained throughout their 11-year relationship.
Is She Guilty on Any Charges?
Photo: Greg Derr/AP Karen Read did not kill her former boyfriend, Boston-area cop John O’Keefe, a Massachusetts jury declared on Wednesday, June 18. The verdict came after four days of deliberation: not guilty on second-degree murder; not guilty on manslaughter while operating under the influence; and not guilty on leaving the scene of a fatal crash. Read has been sentenced to one year probation for operating a vehicle under the influence.
Here’s What J.K. Rowling Has Actually Said About Trans People
Photo: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images J.K. Rowling is, unfortunately, on a bit of a winning streak. For years now, she has been almost solely focused on being as transphobic as possible, and in April, she celebrated a ruling from the U.K. Supreme Court stating that transgender women cannot legally be recognized as women.
Who Is Jane? Diddy Ex Describes Hellish ‘Hotel Nights’
Photo: Jane Rosenberg/REUTERS The fifth week of the sex-trafficking case against Sean “Diddy” Combs introduced testimony from a third anonymous victim: “Jane,” a single mother who dated Combs between 2020 and 2024. Jane alleged that Combs used financial control over her life to secure her continued participation in the Freak Offs at the center of the trial.
Diddy’s Former Employees Detail Alleged Kidnapping, Sexual Assaults
Art: Jane Rosenberg/REUTERS This week, during the sex-trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, the court heard from several of the mogul’s former employees, who said they experienced his extreme, volatile temper firsthand. Capricorn Clark, a former personal assistant who went on to serve several other roles in his companies, alleged that Combs kidnapped her.
What We Learned From Week 3 of Diddy’s Trial
Illustration: Jane Rosenberg/REUTERS The biggest moment in week three of Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sex-trafficking trial arrived on Thursday when Scott Mescudi — known professionally as Kid Cudi — took the stand. Mescudi briefly dated Combs’s ex-girlfriend the singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in 2011 and believes the mogul blew up his car as payback. In addition to Mescudi, jurors heard from two of Combs’s former employees who spoke to painfully long workdays and their boss’s volatility.
Cassie, Diddy, and the Illusion of Choice
Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images One of the most surprising claims to surface in the sex-trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs came up in its earliest moments.
What We’ve Learned From Diddy’s Sex-Trafficking Trial So Far
Illustration: Jane Rosenberg/REUTERS As the second week of Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sex-trafficking trial nears its close, his ex-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, has been on the stand for four days, fielding questioning that has been equal parts emotional and tedious. Prosecutors got Ventura to establish a pattern of alleged abuse: She fell in love with Combs as a 19-year-old, but was unprepared for his lifestyle and sexual demands.
Cassie Says Diddy’s ‘Freak Offs Became a Job’
Photo: Jane Rosenberg/REUTERS On Tuesday, the second day of testimony in the sex-trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, his ex-girlfriend Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura took the stand. The 38-year-old singer spoke to a pattern of physical abuse and recounted her experience with what prosecutors have called “Freak Offs,” the multiday drug-fueled orgies in which Combs allegedly forced multiple partners to participate.
Jury Selection Has Been Delayed in Diddy’s Sex-Trafficking Trial
Photo: Kristin Callahan/Shutterstock The criminal sex-trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is officially underway. Jury selection began on May 5 in Manhattan, but we won’t have a full panel until next week — attorneys will seat their 12 jurors on Monday, in line with a decision by the presiding judge in the case.
Where Is Diddy Now? What to Know Before Trial Begins
Photo: Prince Williams/WireImage On May 5, Sean “Diddy” Combs is set to stand trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Prosecutors allege that over the course of many years, the rap mogul used his power and influence in the music industry like a cudgel, forcing the women in his orbit into “elaborate and produced sex performances” through violence and intimidation.
What We Know About the Kilmar Abrego Garcia Deportation Fiasco
Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP In mid-March, Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security sent a Maryland father of three to an El Salvadoran super prison — a deportation initially described as an “oversight” that the administration is now calling deliberate. “He was not mistakenly sent to El Salvador,” deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told Fox News on April 14.
Is Everybody Just Living Beyond Their Means?
Illustration: Olivier Heiligers When Sarah first entered the workforce at 21, she was already in debt. Her sophomore year of college, one of her parents suddenly lost their job, and because her school used the family’s now-outdated financial information to calculate her “need,” she was denied financial aid.
What We Know About Mohsen Mahdawi, Students Targeted by ICE
In the early days of his second administration, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at suppressing criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza. In a purported bid to “combat antisemitism” on college campuses, the order gave the Department of Homeland Security the green light to identify and remove any “alien students” it deems to have engaged in discrimination against their Jewish peers.
Why Tim Walz Has a Bad Case of ‘Main Character’ Syndrome
Tim Walz was a dud as vice presidential pick. He added zero to the ticket. In his one big moment—the vice-presidential debate with J.D. Vance—he got beat. Badly. And looked hopelessly out of his depth. None of this is to say that if Kamala Harris had picked someone other than Walz she would be president right now. History tells us that VP picks almost never make any real difference. And I think that’s true this time too. Had Harris picked, say, Josh Shapiro, she still would have lost.
Jay-Z Sues His Rape Accuser After She Dropped Her Case
Photo: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images Rapper Jay-Z has filed a lawsuit against the woman who accused him and Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping her as a teen. The Jane Doe voluntarily dismissed her complaint last month, and now, Jay-Z — whose given name is Shawn Carter — claims she and her lawyers orchestrated an “evil conspiracy” that was “soullessly motivated by greed,” according to Deadline. The Cut has contacted Carter’s attorney for comment.
Lara Trump Tries and Fails to Paint Donald As Pro-Feminist Prez in New Fox News Show
Lara Trump, wife of Eric Trump and daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump, debuted her new Fox News show Saturday night, simply titled My View with Lara Trump. The show opened with Trump laying out the hour-long program’s objectives: to restore common sense, to explore new frontiers, and to talk to those the liberal media will only talk about.
Woman Who Said Jay-Z and Diddy Raped Her at 13 Drops Lawsuit
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Getty Images One of the most high-profile lawsuits against disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was dropped on Friday as the woman behind it — a Jane Doe who had accused Combs and Jay-Z of raping her at an after-party for the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000 when she was 13 — filed to voluntarily dismiss her suit with prejudice. This means she will not be able to bring the case again.
The Most Chilling Takeaways From the New Diddy Docuseries
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photo: Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images More or less as soon as federal agents arrested Sean “Diddy” Combs in September 2024, the wheels started turning at the networks and streamers. At least nine investigative projects were announced, promising to probe the federal sex-trafficking charges against the music mogul and deliver new insight into the abuse that prosecutors say underpinned his business empire.
Making Sense of Every Executive Order Trump Has Signed
Photo: Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images Just hours into his second term as president, Donald Trump was hard at work signing dozens of executive orders aimed at ushering in his “golden age of America.” That’s how he described his plans in his inauguration speech, anyway, promising policies that would allow the United States to “flourish and be respected.” In reality, much of his agenda seemed engineered to settle old scores and nail down the framework for his ultraconservative vision.
Experts say there are at least 11 ‘types’ of orgasm. Here’s how to have them all
Jump to: 1. Clitoral orgasm 2. G-spot orgasm 3. Blended orgasm 4. Anal orgasm 5. Cervical orgasm 6. Nipple orgasm 7. Coregasm 8. Skin orgasm 9. Breath orgasm 10. Fantasy orgasm 11. Sleep orgasm You might have the art of (your own) orgasm down to a science: you know your favourite vibrator, your preferred position, the one technique that always gets you there.
Experts Say There Are At Least 11 ‘Types’ Of Orgasm. Here’s How To Have Them All.
You might have the art of (your own) orgasm down to a science: You know your favorite vibrator, your preferred position, the one technique that *always* gets you there. But people with vulvas have erectile tissue spread throughout the clitoris and vestibular bulbs of the labia minora, meaning there are many, many different erogenous zones to enjoy—and even more routes to O-town than you might have thought.
The Year the Royals Narrative Went Off the Rails
Queen Elizabeth II’s annus horribilis arrived in 1992, a year of relentless disappointment and disaster. First, her favorite child (Prince Andrew) separated from his wife in the wake of a toe-sucking tabloid scandal; then her second child, Princess Anne, filed for divorce; next came Andrew Morton’s covertly authorized biography of Princess Diana, with all its unflattering anecdotes about Prince Charles, and that couple’s separation; and finally, to top it all off, a fire torched Windsor Castle.
The Gisèle Pelicot Case Shows How Little Men Think of Women
The crime at the center of the Mazan rape case is almost too big to fathom: Over the course of nearly a decade, a man drugged his wife and invited at least 70 strangers to rape her in her own bed. The woman, 72-year-old Gisèle Pelicot, found out about the operation when police showed her the more than 20,000 videos and images saved to her now-ex-husband Dominique’s devices.
Execs’ Names Wiped From Other Insurer Sites After CEO’s Murder
After a masked gunman fatally shot United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan this week, the company and several of its competitors have been wiping the leadership pages of their websites. 404 Media reports that UnitedHealthcare’s “About Us” page has been redirecting to the homepage since Thursday, whereas the day before, it displayed Thompson’s bio alongside bios for each of its top officers.
Cops Fear Grandma Didn’t Survive After Falling into a Sinkhole While Looking for Her Missing Cat
After two days of excavation, Pennsylvania state police say the grandmother believed to have fallen into a 30-foot sinkhole probably didn’t survive. “Unless it’s a miracle, mostly likely this is recovery,” Trooper Steve Limani, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Police, said at a press conference on Wednesday night, according to The New York Times.
‘You Wanna F*** With Me’: Judge Mathis Allegedly Threatened to Shoot Municipal Worker
TV’s Judge Greg Mathis allegedly berated a Los Angeles municipal worker who blocked his driveway, threatening to shoot the man if he did not move his “f****** truck out of the way.” That’s according to a forthcoming lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, from L.A. Department of Power and Water employee Ricardo Acosta. The Daily Beast has contacted Mathis’s attorney for comment. According to TMZ, Acosta says he was doing work outside Mathis’s home in July 2023 when the judge confronted him.
Mystery of Deer in High-Visibility Vest Captivates Small Town
The tables have turned in a tiny Canadian town, where a local deer has been spotted hopping around in a high-visibility vest—the kind a hunter or a road worker might wear. Deer are “not predisposed to wearing clothes,” Sgt. Eamonn McArthur of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service observed to CTV News. “I don’t even want to speculate on how that might have happened.” A local reporter spotted the deer on Sunday while driving through the approximately 600-person village of McBride in British Columbia.
‘He’s Losing It’: Courtroom Sketch Artist Weighs in on Rudy Giuliani’s Tantrum
A courtroom artist who’s been drawing Rudy Giuliani in court for more than 40 years says the former New York mayor is “losing it.” Donald Trump’s former personal attorney had a meltdown in court on Tuesday, screaming and ranting at a federal judge—the tantrum captured in pastel by veteran courtroom artist Jane Rosenberg. “His decorum has certainly changed from when I sketched him 44 years ago as a prosecutor,” Rosenberg told CNN.
Joe Rogan Ups the Ante on His ‘View’ Feud With ‘Evidence’ That Dragons Existed
Joe Rogan is doubling down on his belief in dragons, tweeting a steady stream of reptile content after being called out by The View. This is not a sentence that makes much sense on its face, but we will do our best to understand. On Thursday, Joy Behar, one of the hosts of ABC’s daytime talk show, complained about people these days getting their news from unvetted, unreliable sources. “I think that that’s why people like our show, because they know that we are checked by ABC News,” Behar said.
You Can Go to the Menendez Brothers Court Hearing-if You Win the Lottery
Those looking to watch in court as the Menendez brothers appear for a hearing on Monday will have to take a number. The Los Angeles Superior Court will be holding a lottery for 16 seats that are open to the public, requiring interested parties to show up outside the courthouse between 8-9 a.m. on Monday, November 25.
Jonathan Majors’ Ex Drops Her Defamation Lawsuit
Claire Lampen 22 November 2024 at 5:01 am·2-min read Grace Jabbari has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against her ex, the former Marvel star Jonathan Majors, Variety reports. “The lawsuit was successfully resolved,” Brad Edwards, a partner at Edwards Henderson, the firm that represented Jabbari, said in an email to The Daily Beast. “It took tremendous courage for Grace to pursue this case.
Jonathan Majors’ Ex Drops Her Defamation Lawsuit
Grace Jabbari has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against her ex, the former Marvel star Jonathan Majors, Variety reports. Jabbari accused Majors of defamation after his conviction on two counts of misdemeanor assault and noncriminal harassment in December 2023. In the criminal complaint, Jabbari said she and Majors had gotten into an argument in the back of a chauffeured car in March 2023.
‘Morning Joe’ Hosts Reportedly ‘Petrified of Retribution’ by Matt Gaetz
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski recently took a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, billing it as regular, run-of-the-mill journalism. But behind the scenes, some say the Morning Joe co-hosts are “petrified of retribution,” as Puck reporter Dylan Byers’ sources put it.
Trump Pick Linda McMahon Is Facing Her Own Sex Scandal
Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon left the spectacle of televised wrestling more than a decade ago, but her new appointment to Donald Trump‘s administration has brought fresh scrutiny to her time presiding over the testosterone-charged industry. McMahon on Tuesday was tapped to lead the Department of Education as she and her husband, the embattled Vince McMahon, are embroiled in a sex scandal, something of a developing trend in the second Trump administration.
King Charles May Start Taking Valuables From Prince Andrew’s Home
King Charles may be reduced to plundering Prince Andrew’s rental home, the latter having refused to obey his older brother’s orders to vacate the Royal Lodge. “The Royal Collection, which owns quite a lot of the treasures inside there, may say, ‘Well, we can’t be confident that this place is safe anymore,’“ Robert Hardman, a biographer of the king, said on the Palace Confidential podcast, according to the New York Post.
King Charles May Start Plundering Prince Andrew’s Rental Estate
Poise, prestige, and power in one list. These names are built for legacy.
U.S. Embassy Closed After Putin’s Retaliation Threats
The State Department announced on Wednesday that the U.S. embassy in Kyiv would close after receiving “specific information” that Russia was planning a “potential significant air attack.” The department further advised all U.S. citizens in Ukraine’s capital to be “prepared to immediately shelter [in place] in the event an air alert is announced.” As reported on Monday, Ukraine struck a Russian ammunition depot using long-range, American ATACM missiles, after U.S. President Joe Biden gave...
Gothamist: New York City Local News, Food, Arts & Events
The powerful freight train industry has prevented federal and local governments from penalizing companies that park across roads for hours or days. “I was wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt.
TV Star Says She’s Alive and Preparing Tell-All Interview
Despite conflicting reports over the past couple of days, actress Chanel Maya Banks insists she is “NOT MISSING,” according to her Instagram bio. “As you can see, I am alive,” the Gossip Girl actor said in a YouTube video recently posted to her channel. “Interview loading.” She also appeared to be mic’d up and getting her makeup done, suggesting a possible tell-all to come. On Instagram, the same clip appears in a carousel captioned, “I heard you were looking for me, now what?
Once Aspiring Clown ‘Deeply Regrets’ Golden Gun Smuggling: Lawyer
A Floridian who flew into Australia with a golden gun in her luggage “deeply regrets“ the arms smuggling, her lawyer told a Sydney court on Friday. “It’s taken her a while to get to this point but she’s here and she is sorry she packed the gun and shipped off the ammunition to this country,“ Liliana Goodson’s attorney, Chris Davis, said at a hearing, according to The Guardian.
American Tourist Busted for Gross Desecration of Tokyo Shrine
5 hours ago Trump's Pick of Rubio as America's Top Diplomat Jolts Latin America, long Accustomed to US Neglect MIAMI (AP) — Growing up in Miami among Cuban exiles who fled Fidel Castro's revolution, Sen. Marco Rubio developed a deep hatred of communism. Now as … Now The treaty between Russia and North Korea signals a new era on 2 continents SEOUL, South Korea – This week saw North Korea and Russia sign a major treaty, as their forces joined in battle against Ukrainian troops.
Cash App Founder’s Alleged Killer Claims a ‘Bad Joke’ Led to Fatal Fight
The man accused of fatally stabbing Cash App founder Bob Lee claims a “bad joke” led to a violent argument just before the tech boss died. At his trial, Nima Momeni testified that he and Lee had been hanging out at the apartment of Momeni’s sister—Khazar Elyassnia—on the night in question. Lee and Elyassnia are rumored to have been partying and sleeping together, though she’s married to a prominent San Francisco plastic surgeon.
Lara Trump Is All in on the Idea of Becoming a Senator
Lara Trump is ready for Congress. She claims. Amid chatter that she should be the one to fill Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s seat as he joins Donald Trump’s Cabinet, Trump’s daughter-in-law confirmed to Fox News that she “would love to serve the people of Florida” if she’s able. “This is my home state now and has been for three years,” she added in an interview with Sean Hannity on Wednesday. Lara, whose credentials include television producer and nepotism, is married to Trump’s second son, Eric.
Diddy Is Renting Out His Private Jet as His Legal Woes Spiral
While Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sitting in jail for alleged sex crimes, his private plane has been jetting all over the map. According to Business Insider, it has been to French Polynesia, New Zealand, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Mexico since the disgraced mogul‘s September arrest. This is because Diddy has been renting out the jet in an apparent effort to make some money via one of his last remaining assets.
The Pope Keeps Accidentally Offering Prayers to an NFL Team
So far, it’s been a tough football season for the New Orleans Saints, who have suffered seven consecutive losses and also lost their head coach. But now, at least, they have the thoughts and prayers of Pope Francis behind them. The Washington Post notes that the pope has been intently blessing the Saints, likely without meaning to do so.
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