Who is Cassie Ventura? Star witness at trial of P Diddy to take stand
The music mogul was indicted last March on several charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking, with his case before the courts in New York — as Cassie, who was in a relationship with him for over a decade, and who brought the allegations to light, set to be the prosecution's star witness. Cassie Ventura will take the stand at the 'Diddy Trial' on Tuesday. Pic:Casandra Ventura was born in New London, Connecticut, and began her musical career after meeting with producer Ryan Leslie, who signed her.
Her career really took off when she signed with Combs' Bad Boy Records, with her debut album peaking at number 4 on the Billboard 200. She also had several high charting singles, including Long Way 2 Go, Must Be Love with Combs, and Let's Get Crazy.
However, her relationship with Combs was what drew headlines — particularly in later years when she accused Combs of heinous crimes surrounding her, including physical, mental and emotional abuse. Diddy and Cassie were in an on-off relationship from 2007 to 2018, where, she alleged, he subjected her to a 'cycle of abuse, violence and sex trafficking.' Pic:for The Hollywood Reporter
**THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS DETAILS OF ALLEGED DOMESTIC ABUSE AND PHYSICAL ABUSE, WHICH SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTURBING**
From 2007 to 2018, Cassie and Combs were in an on-off relationship that, the singer later said in 2023, was marred by a 'cycle of abuse, violence and sex trafficking,' which included her allegedly being used 'as a toy' in the rapper's now infamous 'freak offs' that he would host during his parties. She alleged that he pursued her from 2005, when she was 19 and he 37.
In 2023, she filed a lawsuit against Combs under the Adult Survivors Act — which allowed for civil lawsuits to be filed by victims of sexual assault after the statute of limitations expired — with the case being immediately settled out of court one day later.
Some of the allegations in Cassie's lawsuit detailed alongside her being allegedly raped and assaulted in the 'freak offs' also included his alleged involvement in the explosion of rapper Kid Cudi's car, with whom Cassie was also in a relationship. The rapper and music mogul is currently on trial, charged with racketeering and sexual trafficking. Pic:for Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Two months after his homes in New York and Miami were raided, and before he was arrested and indicted on racketeering charges, CNN shared CCTV footage of an altercation between Combs and Cassie, which showed the rapper chasing after her in a hotel room before throwing her to the ground and repeatedly kicking her.
Combs admitted full responsibility for the 2016 incident, but following his arrest in September 2024, Cassie has since taken to the stand as the star witness for the prosecution.
Some of the alleged incidents included her being coerced into participating in the 'freak offs,' which would include her having sex with male escorts while Combs watched and 'directed' them, as well as being physically abusive toward her.
When asked about the alleged physical abuse, Cassie said that Combs would 'bash on my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me,' and said that the alleged abuse happened 'too frequently.'
As for the 'freak offs,' Cassie said that she remembers 'her stomach falling to my butt,' when she was asked to first participate, adding 'just the nervousness and confusion… I'd just turned 22.'
She added that she didn't want to participate in the 'freak offs' but did so because she 'loved [Combs] very much,' and 'wanted to make him happy.'
She added that she was afraid of what he would do, also alleging that he would blackmail her into doing more things, and that the violence was in the back of her mind.
The trial continues.
Anyone who is affected by this story can contact Women's Aid on 1800 341 900.
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