Sex trafficking and threats: serious allegations have been made against rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Once a superstar, rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs is due to appear in court in New York today on sexual assault charges. The 55-year-old is expected to appear in person before Judge Arun Subramanian for the start of the highly anticipated trial.

Combs has been in custody since mid-September. Prosecutors have accused him of sex trafficking, organized crime, and other offenses. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment.

Combs has so far denied all charges and pleaded not guilty. His lawyers argued previously that Combs lived a "swinger lifestyle" and may have been under the influence of drugs, among other things.

The trial begins with jury selection, which can take several days. In this case, the prosecution and defense considered the selection so difficult given the high-profile defendant that they distributed questionnaires to potential jury candidates in advance.

The trial itself could then last several weeks or even months. The proceedings evoke memories of similar sexual offense trials against former superstars in recent years, including R. Kelly, Bill Cosby, and Harvey Weinstein.

Born in New York in 1969, Combs, who has used the pseudonyms "Puff Daddy" and "(P.) Diddy" throughout his career, has been one of the world's most successful rappers in recent decades, with hits like "I'll Be Missing You" and "Bad Boy For Life." The musician, who has been married three times and has seven children, also founded his own label and enjoyed success with a fashion brand.

In addition to the indictment by the New York District Attorney's Office, there are also numerous civil lawsuits against the rapper. Among them, a law firm in Houston, Texas, says it represents around 120 people with allegations against Combs.

While numerous celebrities have now distanced themselves from the musician, his mother and children continue to stand by him and have repeatedly appeared among the spectators at court hearings.