Singer Casandra Ventura, aka Cassie, the ex-girlfriend of Sean Diddy Combs, is a key witness in the much-discussed case where the industry icon has been accused by several men and women of rape, prostitution and blackmail. Cassie tearfully testified to one of the fragments of the rape that Diddy committed against her, giving shocking details.
She spoke tearfully on the second day of her testimony on Wednesday, where she said that the psychological and physical abuse she suffered at the hands of Diddy lasted for about 11 years. She told the judges that she ended her relationship with Diddy when they met for a dinner for a "final conversation" to close the chapter of their relationship. During the dinner, she said Diddy was "gentle" and kind, but then, when he took her to her apartment, he raped her.
"He raped me in my living room. I remember crying, saying no, but it all happened very quickly," she said.
The rape issue first surfaced in 2023, when Ventura sued Combs in a civil lawsuit, accusing him of physical and sexual abuse. Diddy has denied the allegations. They later reached a settlement within a day. Ventura revealed during testimony that he had received $20 million in “damages” from Combs and his companies.
Cassie’s lawsuit sparked a flood of lawsuits, in which many women, and even men, accused Combs of rape or abuse. The lawsuit by the artist and others led to Diddy’s arrest in September of last year, following a federal investigation that also raided his homes. Among other things, 1,000 bottles of baby oil were found in the apartments, which were allegedly used as lubricant or to prevent girls from leaving the “white parties” that Diddy organized. The girls were allegedly drugged and when they tried to escape, they slipped on baby oil.
Combs faces charges of rape, blackmail, sex trafficking and transportation for the purpose of prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and denies all charges. If convicted, the music industry icon could face life in prison.
Ventura's lawsuit comes after decades of silence, and she brought up the issue during the trial. Asked why she reported the case and chose to testify against Combs, Ventura said:
"I can no longer bear the shame, the guilt, the way I was taught to treat people, as if they were worthless. Right is right, wrong is wrong. I'm here to do the right thing."
In other testimony, Cassie said Combs blackmailed her by threatening to release explicit videos of her from so-called “freak-offs,” drug- and gigolo-fueled sex parties that the singer said Combs organized and directed.
New photos were shown at the trial, showing bruises on Cassie’s face and body. Also shown were explicit footage from “crazy parties.”
Cassie said she also saw Combs being violent toward his employees and her friends, recalling one time he threatened to throw one of her friends off a balcony.
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