WC Resident Portrays ‘Diddy’ In ‘Diddy On Trial’ Docuseries On Hulu 

In a surprising twist, long-time Wesley Chapel resident, family man and entertainer Layne Harper has stepped into the spotlight by portraying Sean “Diddy” Combs on Hulu’s gripping hit new docuseries, “Diddy on Trial: As It Happened.” 

Layne’s involvement in the show has garnered national attention, especially considering the sensitive and sensational nature of the content. As the trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs continues to unfold in real life, with testimony from various witnesses, including rapper Kid Cudi, Diddy’s former longtime girlfriend Cassandra Ventura and “Jane,” an alleged sex trafficking victim, the series provides an alternative medium for audiences to engage with the case through reenactments and on-screen analysis. 

Produced by ABC News Studios, “Diddy on Trial” debuted on May 25 as the third most-watched show on Hulu (as of May 28), behind “A Handmaid’s Tale” and “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” according to FlixPatrol, a site that provides Video on Demand (VOD) charts and streaming statistics worldwide, and has continued to garner high ratings through its first four episodes as we went to press with this issue. 

Hulu’s website states that the docuseries, “takes you inside the criminal trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, one of the most salacious and hotly anticipated courtroom showdowns in decades. Watch bombshell moments and heart-wrenching testimony unfold in real time through meticulous actor reenactments sourced each week from courtroom transcripts. 

“Prosecutors allege the music icon and business mogul engaged in a dark underworld of sex trafficking and prostitution. Combs denies all accusations, maintaining his innocence. Join host Sunny Hostin [Senior Legal Correspondent for ABC News] as she breaks it all down with a rotating roster of legal and pop culture experts, giving you a front-row seat to this high-stakes legal battle.” 

Since cameras are not allowed in the federal courtroom, the actor reenactments allow viewers to more accurately, and emotionally, connect with what’s actually happening in a more natural way than just reading about it in news articles. The series is a “must watch” for those who like courtroom dramas, as well as, of course, pop culture fans. 

As of this writing, here are the four episodes of “Diddy on Trial” have been released: 

#1: “The Freak-Off” 

#2: “The Assault.” 

#3 “Secret Life of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs” 

#4: The Bribe & The Balcony” 

New episodes are being released every Sunday as the trial continues. 

The Man Playing The Monster 

Testimony in the trial so far has painted Diddy as a violent and controlling man that people feared. So, how does someone like Layne Harper — who’s known locally to be a genuinely nice guy — get to portray one of the most mocked and allegedly vile men in America? 

Layne says he is actually “really excited” about this opportunity and that one of his agents in New York City helped him land the lead role. “I’ve never been told that I resemble Diddy,” Layne says. “My agent in New York submitted me for the role because he had a strong feeling I could execute on the role as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.” 

He adds, “I’m not concerned at all because I’m playing the role of ‘Diddy.’ I’m my own person. I’m a husband and father of three and I choose to protect my peace and strongly believe in not entertaining negativity. One thing that cannot be erased from the entertainment industry is that Sean Combs will always be a music mogul.” 

He admits, however, that stepping into this unique role has been a wild ride for him. 

“Everything is happening so fast,” Layne says. “I’m flying back to New York again tomorrow night, and will be back and forth in Tampa for the next 4-6 weeks — maybe longer, depending on the trial, [since] I’m doing the entire season.” 

Assuming that Diddy is going to take the witness stand at some point, Layne says of that possibility, “I just pray. I don’t overthink it. That’s how I booked the role. I’m on the edge of my seat because no one knows if he will take the stand.” 

Layne Harper, Jr., 43, was born in Memphis, TN. Raised in a military family, he spent seven years in Darmstadt and Mannheim, Germany. After graduating from Millington (TN) Central High School in 2000, Layne moved to Brooklyn, NY, to pursue a music career. 

He later relocated to Nashville, TN, where Layne met his wife Jennifer. The couple moved to the Tampa Bay area in 2009, and has been living in Wesley Chapel since 2010 with their three children (l.-r. in top left photo on the next page) — Jaydon, Enyal and Xavier, the latter of whom is currently serving in the U.S. Navy. 

Playing Diddy is actually somewhat ironic for Layne, as he is also an experienced and talented rapper/musician with an amazing voice. His songs “A Thing Called Love,” “Hell Ride to Heaven” and “Medicine Cabinet” are his most popular originals with his message landing somewhere between faith and hope. “Hell Ride to Heaven” definitely has that New York sound. The music videos for Layne’s music can be streamed on Youtube under “Layne Harper” and his album “House of Blues” also can be streamed on Spotify. 

Layne also has ventured into fashion — he has launched his inspirational and faith-based urban clothing brand called Vctry (which Layne is wearing in the photo below right). The designs seem to resonate with customers who appreciate Vctry’s blend of style and functionality, offering pieces that are both fashion-forward and comfortable. 

As an actor, Layne has had a few roles in small, independent films, and he’s also done a few commercials, but most recently he scored a role as a reporter/member of the press in a major film — the upcoming and hotly anticipated Apple Original racing film called “F1,” starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris and Javier Bardem. The movie is about Formula 1 racing and is scheduled to be released in theaters on Friday, June 27. 

As for portraying the most ridiculed man in the world (at least currently), Layne says, “I actually turned the role down twice and prayed that someone else would be blessed with the opportunity rather than me. However, God had other plans for me. Yes, I feel I’m out of character, but there’s a difference between natural actors and method actors and for this role, I bounce between the two.” 

More Than Just A Role 

As Layne takes on the role of Diddy in “Diddy on Trial,” he isn’t just stepping into a role — he’s stepping into a cultural moment, one with lots and lots of baby oil. 

The show doesn’t shy away from controversy and neither does he. His performance captures the complexity of a man under intense public scrutiny, while also reflecting the broader questions regarding celebrity culture, justice and the role of the media. 

As the world watches the trial, Layne’s performance reminds us that storytelling — no matter the medium — has the power to challenge, provoke and, ultimately, inform. Whether or not this role also will make this Wesley Chapel family man a star in his own right remains to be seen. 

From Wesley Chapel to the world stage, Layne Harper is hoping to prove he’s more than ready for the spotlight. As his diverse background and creative endeavors continue to shape his multifaceted career, faith. hope and family continue to shape the man himself. 

New episodes of “Diddy on Trial: As It Happened” will be available for streaming on Hulu every Sunday through the conclusion of the trial. 

Jimmy John’s Hosts A North Tampa Bay Chamber Ribbon-Cutting 

Although this second Wesley Chapel location (at 5478 Post Oak Blvd., off Wesley Chapel Blvd.) has been open for more than six months, Jimmy John’s hosted a North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon-cutting event on May 20 to introduce Chamber members to this location, the sandwich chain’s “Freaky Fast” service and, of course, new “Freaky Fresh” toasted sandwich items like the chicken bacon ranch, Ultimate Italian and roast beef & cheddar subs. 

Jimmy John’s franchise owner Eric Edmonds said he was “excited to engage with the local community” at his location and he told the Chamber members in attendance that he is planning to open some additional Jimmy John’s locations, including one at nearby St. Leo University. 

Of course, Eric’s Jimmy John’s is one of more than 2,600 nationwide (including 140+ in Florida). The Jimmy John’s parent company was purchased in 2019 by Atlanta-based Inspire Brands, which also owns Arby’s, Sonic and Buffalo Wild Wings. 

For more info, call (813) 991-7700 or visit JimmyJohns.com. — GN 

Hangliter Residential — The Family Business For Your Remodeling Project 

Hangliter Residential is a true family-run business that includes (l.-r.) owner Ken Hangliter, his daughter & office manager Stephanie and his son & VP Jordan. Mascot Mishi is always smiling. (Photo by Charmaine George) 

The Hangliter family has been in the remodeling business for four generations. 

When Ken Hangliter came to Florida from the Washington, D.C./Maryland area to help his dad with a construction job at Macdill Air Force Base eight years ago, he decided he wanted to stay. 

So, Ken bought a home in Wesley Chapel and officially opened Hangliter Residential, LLC, in the Tampa Bay area. 

Ken’s not the only Hangliter who came for a visit and decided not to go back to the cold Maryland winters. His son, Jordan, came down four years ago and decided to leave his business back home to join his dad here in the Sunshine State. 

“I’ve been working with my dad since I was 12 years old,” Jordan says. “As a family-owned business, we promise better quality, better customer service, and a better overall experience.” 

Jordan says when you call Hangliter for a remodeling job or to repair or restore something in your home, either he or his dad will come out to your house to provide a free estimate. Then, if you choose to hire Hangliter, they’ll return together to complete the work. 

If you want to modernize your bathroom, too, call the Hangliters! (Photos provided by Hangliter Residential) 

“We know it’s a nightmare for people to let strangers into their house,” Jordan says. “So we are careful to treat you like we would treat our grandmother if we went to her house. We’re at a client’s home every day, all day, so we get to know each other. It’s a personal experience.” 

The Hangliters are Florida-licensed contractors specializing in kitchen and bathroom remodeling, but they do all types of residential work. They have decades of experience in home remodeling, repairs and restoration. 

They have experience with “just about everything, A to Z,” says Jordan. 

“With the exception of projects that require heavy new electrical or plumbing installation, we can usually do it all,” he explains. “No need to work with five different contractors, like electricians or plumbers. We do everything ourselves, and we don’t sub out our work out to anyone else.” 

Beyond kitchen and bathroom work, the Hangliters can install custom windows, doors and flooring, repair lighting, HVACs and plumbing — and much more. 

Jordan emphasizes that regardless of the size of the project, it never hurts to contact Hangliter Residential. You might just hear of options — and pricing estimates — that competitors won’t offer. 

“We’ve definitely heard from customers with projects in which the big companies offer expensive estimates or flat out just say no,” Jordan says. “But we are comfortable with undertaking non-conventional solutions that other companies won’t even consider.” 

Jordan says that among the most popular jobs they have been busy doing are bathroom makeovers, including updating bathrooms in older homes, converting tubs and Jacuzzis into walk-in showers, and installing custom bathroom tile from floor to ceiling. 

Customers Are Raving! 

Tim and Lynn are Land O’Lakes residents who recently hired Hangliter Residential to update an older bathroom in their home. “It was a great overall experience,” says Tim. “You can’t go wrong with these guys. They were so personable and a pleasure to be around, and most important is that the work was fantastic.” 

Tim found the Hangliters after asking for a recommendation in an online neighborhood forum and that Ken was recommended by several people. He couldn’t have been more happy with his decision to hire the Hangliters. 

“They are a super father-and-son duo,” Tim says. “They were knowledgeable and professional. They were very punctual and always did exactly what they said they were going to do. What more could you ask for?” 

David and Debbie are another couple who hired Hangliter Residential when they needed an extensive door and window repair in their home. 

“Hangliter Residential LLC saved us over $15,000,” says David. “Ken did an amazing job on the remodel and restoration of our 50+-year-old Colonial-style home! We had an estimate from another company to replace eight windows and three exterior doors for over $34,000, due to rotten wood damage from to the wet Florida weather. Ken looked at all of the windows and assured me that he could REPAIR them all, and that a complete replacement would be a huge waste of money!” 

He adds, “Ken told us that his repair would preserve the original, classic look of our home. Our final cost came to less than half of our original estimate plus, he did three extra windows! Ken did an absolutely incredible job and the results have far exceeded my high expectations.” 

Hangliter Residential LLC is offering 10 percent off any full kitchen or bath remodel to readers of Neighborhood News who mention this story or the ad below. To schedule a free estimate, call (813) 460-4548 today. 

Wesley Chapel Nibbles — Rodizio Grill, Papichy’s, Cheesecake Factory & Swig 

Lots of new restaurants are beginning to build and/or are getting ready to open in and around the Wesley Chapel area and we have updates on many of them in this issue. On this page alone, we’ll tell you about the delayed (but finally happening) Grand Opening of the new Rodizio Grill, the first-ever brick-&-mortar location of Pastelitos Papichy’s, as well as the beginning of construction of both The Cheesecake Factory and Swig soda shop. 

Rodizio Grill 

Clearly, the opening of the Wesley Chapel area’s first-ever Brazilian steakhouse is big news for our community, as the announcement on our “Neighborhood News” Facebook page that the opening of Rodizio Grill (2802 Grand Cypress Dr., Lutz, behind Costco and in front of Kohl’s by the Tampa Premium Outlets) was delayed from its originally announced opening date of May 28 to Tuesday, June 10, was viewed (at our press time) by a record-breaking (for us) 327,816 people, with more than 1,000 likes and 109 shares! We’ve had a couple of previous posts that reached more than 200,000 people, but this post — without being boosted — has far surpassed our previous record. In other words, you can expect big crowds at Rodizio Grill as this issue is reaching your mailbox. In the meantime, we have a sneak peek first look inside this beautiful, new restaurant (top photo) on this page. We wish franchisee Charlie Haney and his crew lots of luck. 

For reservations & more info, call (813) 996-3880, visit Rodizio.com or search “Rodizio Grill – Wesley Chapel” on Facebook. 

Pastelitos Papichy’s 

Although the Venezuelan food truck Pastelitos Papichy’s (above left) has been stationed near the LA Fitness and Five Guys Burgers & Fries (just south of County Line Rd.& west of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in New Tampa) a for some time, a sign recently went up at the Grand Oaks Plaza on the under-construction Wesley Chapel Blvd. in Lutz (above right) announcing that Papichy’s will be opening its first-ever brick-&-mortar location in the space previously occupied by the also-Venezuelan Arepa Mia, which sadly closed at the end of 2024. 

We haven’t yet been able to speak to anyone who could tell us when the new Papichy’s is expected to open, but you can expect a similar selection of Venezuelan-style empanadas, pastelitos (similar to empanadas, but round wheat dough filled with sweet guava or savory meats and cheeses), tequeños (fried cheese) and more. 

For more info, call (813) 576-9970. 

The Cheesecake Factory 

If our post about Rodizio Grill is record-setting, there’s little doubt that if we’re able to break the story of when The Cheesecake Factory will finally open in the parking lot at the Tampa Premium Outlets, that post could double or even quadruple the traffic Rodizio Grill has generated. 

But, while some rumors had Cheesecake Factory opening before the end of this year, that seems pretty ambitious, considering that the area that will one day be home to the full-service restaurant chain and cheesecake bakery (which currently has more than 200 U.S. locations) has only recently been fenced off near the mall’s main entrance. There is some heavy equipment on the site, but the parking lot hasn’t yet been leveled so that the restaurant can actually go vertical. 

Swig

This rapidly-growing drive-through “dirty soda” chain featuring seasonal favorites and concoct-your-own sodas, revivers and refreshers, as well as frozen hot chocolate, sugar cookies and pretzel bites, is starting to go vertical just east of PopStroke and west of Academy Sports + Outdoors (photo above), across from the outlet mall. 

Wesley Chapel/Lutz will be only the third Florida location for Swig, a Utah-based company which currently has more than 100 locations in 14 states, with agreements for 500 franchise units and plans for more corporate-owned stores. For more info, visit SwigDrinks.com.

Pasco County Breaks Ground On Fire Rescue Station No. 2 On S.R. 54 

Although the Wesley Chapel area already has three Pasco Fire Rescue (PFR) stations in operation — Station No. 13 on Old Pasco Rd. in the Quail Hollow area, No. 26 on Aronwood Blvd. in Meadow Pointe and Station No. 38 on Overpass Rd. in Watergrass — there’s no doubt that the explosive growth of Wesley Chapel has created a desperate need for additional stations in and around zip codes 33543, 33544 and 33545. 

Pasco County has had a sign announcing that PFR Station No. 2 is planned on a piece of property on S.R. 54 less than a mile east of the new AdventHealth Meadow Pointe Emergency Room (as we reported about last issue) for several years, but now, construction has begun on Station No. 2, and the official groundbreaking for the new, state-of-the art fire station was held at the site at 32134 S.R. 54 on May 13. 

Pasco Fire Chief Ryan Guynn, who only got the job as chief six months ago but has had a 25-year career with PFR, was clearly thrilled to be able to talk about the official beginning of construction on the new station (which actually had been under construction for several weeks before the actual groundbreaking event). 

“This is something monumental, something that’s been a long time coming for the people in this area,” Guynn said before introducing Tim Sewell, the regional director for Florida of Ajax Building Company, which is doing the actual construction of the new fire station. 

Ajax is excited to be part of this fire station and this is the second of the package that we have coming out that we’re constructing (for PFR Station No. 19 in New Port Richey), so having our people tied into the community here and really working to build this facility for the county is extra special.” 

Chief Guynn also thanked Fleischman Garcia Maslowski, the architectural firm that designed the new station (as well as the new Mary W. Sierra Family YMCA in Wesley Chapel), and PFR’s own facilities team “for all of your hard work putting this together.” 

Next up was District 2 Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman, since the new station is located in his district. 

Weightman said, “The hard work for this station was done back in 2019, and the credit really goes to the voters who passed the GO (general obligation) bonds back then to help fund these stations. So, it’s a tremendous honor to be on the board and see one of the last remaining GO bond projects come out of the ground. 

He added, “Station 2 has been desperately needed and longed for by the residents of Wesley Chapel for many years and I’m just excited and happy to be in office as this is coming to life.” 

Comm. Weightman (above right) also introduced Dist. 5 Commissioner Jack Mariano, who told a little bit about the evolution of PFR during his 21-year tenure on the Board. 

“When I first started,” Mariano said, “there were a bunch of things that needed to get improved on and I think from my inception of getting on the Board, every board has supported the fire and EMS (emergency medical services) team that we have in this county and we appreciate the team getting these things coming out of the ground. And, the word out there on the street, is that Pasco County safest and best place to work [for fire and EMS personnel].” 

Chief Guynn (above left) admitted that he can’t take too much credit for the new station, “because a lot of the work done on this was way before my time. A lot of the deputy chiefs here had a lot more input into this station than I did, so thank you. I have to give you credit as well. The health and safety of our men and women has always been at the forefront. And your commitment to that [safety] and our commissioners commitment to bring that to fruition is always evident and we’re never going to forget that.” 

Truly State-Of-The Art! 

Following the ceremony, Chief Guynn gave more information about the new Fire Station No. 2 (the site plan for it is shown below) itself. 

Site plan source: Pasco County

“We have what we call our Hot, Warm and Cold zones, which are isolated areas inside the building, where you need to help separate some of the carcinogens from our living quarters, which helps keep our employees healthier and cancer free. That’s not a new concept and we certainly didn’t invent it, but we’re taking it to the next level, and our commissioners have gotten behind us. We take our employees’ health and wellness very serious, so just being able to provide them with a living quarters and a fire station workout of that design, keep them healthy, is a big deal.” 

Chief Guynn also noted that the new Station No. 2 will have, “our typical fire truck and ambulance package, but we’re looking at moving in some aerial apparatus as well. We have some specialized equipment that we like to keep close to the interstate. But, you know, a lot of those decisions will be made in the near future because, you know, by the time this station is built, we’ll have operational needs that are going to change as well.” 

The 13,840-sq.-ft. Station 2, which is expected to be open by the winter of 2026, also will be a three-bay station, which Chief Guynn called “medium-sized, but it will give us plenty of room to grow. We’ll be able to add additional units inside of here and we’ll, be able to house dozens of employees, especially during hurricanes and natural disasters.” 

And, those additional units — and additional fire stations in the area between Morris Bridge Rd. and Meadow Pointe Blvd. (Station No. 31), and just south of the Harley Davidson dealership on Wesley Chapel Blvd. in Land O’Lakes (No. 5) — are already needed and will continue to be even more needed as more homes are built in our area and traffic continues to increase. Even so, Chief Guynn said that response times in the Wesley Chapel area, “are currently within the acceptable range,” but added that the new station will definitely improve those times, especially for the Avalon Park/New River community and Meadow Pointe Areas III & IV. 


Editor’s Note – Unfortunately, the groundbreaking for this new fire station in Wesley Chapel was held the week after we went to press with our May 13 issue, so this news is almost a month old as this issue is reaching you, but I felt it was still too important to not include it in this issue. I apologize for any inconvenience that the delay in getting this info to you may have caused. — GN