Cassie Ventura is currently providing testimony against her former partner Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
In September 2024, Combs was taken into custody and subsequently charged with crimes such as racketeering, sex trafficking, and transporting individuals for the purpose of engaging in prostitution.
Ventura, who shares the music industry spotlight, was in a relationship with the rapper for over ten years. Due to their extensive history together, she has been summoned to testify against him. Today (May 13), she appeared in court and recounted the alleged abuse she suffered during their relationship.
While on the stand, Ventura described how arguments with Combs often ‘resulted in violence, dragging,’ and mentioned that he would ‘stomp [her] in the head if I was down’.
This testimony follows her previous legal action against Combs in 2023, where she accused him of rape and physical assault.
That lawsuit was resolved outside of court shortly after it was filed, though the details of the settlement remain undisclosed.
Combs has denied the federal charges as well as Ventura’s earlier allegations from her 2023 civil lawsuit.
Despite having settled her own legal battle, Ventura’s testimony is central to the current case against Combs. Her allegations prompted a government inquiry leading to his arrest in September, as reported by the New York Times.
Cassie, whose official name is Casandra, takes the stand as a crucial witness for prosecutors who aim to demonstrate that Combs misused his position as a prominent executive. He is accused of establishing a network of exploitation, allegedly forcing women into abusive sexual encounters that he referred to as ‘freak-offs,’ and resorting to violence if they did not comply.
When questioned about the frequency of Combs’ violent behavior towards her, she answered: “Too frequently.”
She detailed incidents where Combs would ‘bash on my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me.’
The relationship began when she was 19 and he was 37.
A publicly circulated CCTV video, which went viral last year, was also presented to the jury, seemingly capturing Combs assaulting her in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.
She testified that the incident occurred during a ‘freak-off’, a practice she was introduced to in the first year of their relationship.
Describing ‘freak-offs,’ she explained they involved ‘sexual encounter[s] called voyeurism’ where Combs would observe her engaging in sexual acts with another man.
The trial is ongoing.
If you are facing domestic violence, please understand you are not alone. The national domestic violence helpline is available 24/7 at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) for confidential support. You can also find local resources listed here.