At Diddy Trial, Ex Cassie Reveals $20M Settlement While Detailing Decade of His Alleged Violence

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Sean “Diddy” Combs’ alleged “freak-offs” regularly left his longtime girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, with injuries such as bruises and abrasions, according to her testimony in federal court on Wednesday. She claimed that these injuries were the result of being punched, kicked, and dragged during their relationship, which she described as often violent. Furthermore, she stated that the antibiotic she used following these encounters became ineffective due to its overuse.

Ventura disclosed that her civil lawsuit against the hip-hop mogul, following what she claimed as a decade of mistreatment that hindered her career and caused severe emotional distress, was settled for $20 million. This settlement followed shortly after Ventura filed the case, paving the way for numerous similar civil lawsuits against Combs. Additionally, Ventura shared that she had been working on a book detailing her encounters with Combs prior to this revelation.

She expressed to the court that she sought fair reimbursement for the time, the hardship, and the long decades spent attempting to rectify her life’s circumstances. She conveyed that she could no longer bear the burden of the shame and the regret.

Authorities allege that the 55-year-old rapper, producer, and fashion entrepreneur, Diddy, was involved in criminal activities such as sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, obstruction of justice, and numerous other offenses over a period of two decades. Despite being arrested in September, Diddy has maintained his innocence by pleading not guilty to all charges outlined in the five-count indictment.

Ventura provided testimony detailing numerous alleged acts of crime and violence inflicted upon her by Combs during their long-term relationship that spanned over a decade. In her statement, Ventura claimed that in 2018, while they were ending their relationship, Combs raped her in her living room. They had initially planned an amicable dinner to resolve their relationship issues, she explained to the court, and because he appeared friendly, she invited him to her apartment. It is important to note that at this time Ventura was dating the man who would later become her husband.

In the court, I shared my harrowing experience: he violated me in my very own living room, on the cold floor beneath us. After this horrific encounter, we ended up having sex one more time. It’s challenging to disengage from a long-term bond when you’ve formed a connection with someone. I’ve had a few interactions with him since 2018, I admitted.

Additionally, Ventura explained that Combs found out about his girlfriend Kid Cudi through a heated argument over phone messages. Upon this discovery, Combs threatened to release explicit videos of her and promised to hire someone to harm both her and Cudi; she further testified that he had threatened to bomb Cudi’s car in its driveway. In another instance, Ventura attended a party at Prince’s house with friends, hoping to watch him perform. However, Combs arrived at the party, causing Ventura to panic and fall into some bushes. Later on, she claimed that he showed up at her apartment and hurled luggage at her, prompting her to escape to a friend’s residence.

For a significant part of their relationship, Ventura often felt anxious due to the possibility that Combs might share explicit videos showcasing her participating in public sexual acts without her consent.

Ventura expressed concern about his career and family, finding the situation humiliating. He worried that it might undo all he had accomplished and damage his reputation, potentially making him appear promiscuous.

In a precursor to events outlined by the federal prosecutors, Ventura recounted an instance where Combs physically assaulted her in a vehicle, resulting in injuries to her face. Subsequently, Combs reportedly commanded her to stay at a hotel for a week. She explained this to the court, stating that his security personnel would visit to confirm her presence and ensure she remained indoors. Furthermore, Ventura testified about a confrontation at her residence that is currently the focus of a civil lawsuit filed by one of her friends, Briana “Bana” Bongolan. In the sexual battery lawsuit against Combs, Bongolan claims that in September 2016, he allegedly picked her up off the balcony’s edge, which was 17 stories high, and then violently threw her onto the patio furniture on the balcony.

The morning hearing at the lower Manhattan courthouse primarily focused on Ventura’s allegations against Combs, where she claimed he coerced her into instances she referred to as “freak-offs”. These incidents reportedly involved sexual encounters with male sex workers while Combs watched and masturbated. Ventura expressed feeling trapped in a series of distressing situations with Combs, who had previously signed her to his Bad Boy Records label before their romantic involvement. It’s worth noting that Ventura only released one album through this label following the relationship.

At the court hearing, Ventura clarified that an unexpected incident resulted in her losing consciousness, and when she regained awareness, she found herself in a hotel bathtub with Combs and an employed companion standing near her, looking distressed and unsure about what to do next. During a journey to the Cannes Film Festival, she stated, an argument ensued which led to her switching seats on the return flight; Combs also switched seats and, according to her, he proceeded to play recordings of two such incidents on the plane, with other passengers in view.

On a Wednesday morning, Ventura disclosed to the court that the couple had occasionally visited adult entertainment venues in New York City and Los Angeles. During these visits, they sometimes employed the services of professional companions, an initiative always taken by Combs; Ventura emphasized that this was not her preference, as she testified.

“I was always terrified, and would drink quite a bit,” she told the court.

At some stage, she mentioned that she fell into an addiction to opiates as a way to dull her feelings after the intense “arguments” or “disagreements.

On Wednesday afternoon, Ventura’s direct questioning concluded. She is expected to be back on the stand for cross-examination on Thursday.

 

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2025-05-15 02:24