Rhianna Benson
**Warning: Contains mention of violence, abuse and rape.**
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyer has hit back at accusations that the rapper's decision to settle the rape and abuse lawsuit with ex-girlfriend Cassie implies guilt on his part.
R&B singer and dancer Cassie - real name Casandra Ventura - filed the case against Diddy on Thursday (16 November).
The pair began a professional relationship in 2005, when she was 19 and he was 37 years old, after he signed her to his label Bad Boy Records.
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She went on to date the musician for over a decade.
In the lawsuit, she alleged that her former boss had committed rape, as well as physical abuse.
Cassie alleged in the lawsuit that her ex was 'prone to uncontrollable rage'.
The lawsuit also claimed that Diddy had 'frequently beat Ms. Ventura savagely' throughout the duration of their relationship.
"Over the years that Mr. Combs abused Ms. Ventura physically and sexually, she again and again tried to escape his tight hold over her life," the lawsuit alleged.
"Every time she hid, Mr. Combs’s vast network of corporations and affiliated entities found her, and those who worked for Mr. Combs’s companies implored her to return to him."
It continued: "Many went as far as to explicitly state that her failure to return to Mr. Combs would hinder her success in the entertainment industry."
Cassie also claimed that Diddy had allegedly raped her in her apartment back in 2018, insisting she 'told him to stop and attempted to push him away'.
The rapper, however, 'vehemently' denied all the allegations against him, via his attorney.
Combs' lawyer, Ben Brafman, told UNILAD: "Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations.
"For the past 6 months, Mr. Combs, has been subjected to Ms. Ventura's persistent demand of $30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail.
"Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs' reputation and seeking a pay day."
On 17 November, Diddy and Cassie announced they'd reached a settlement, just a day after the lawsuit was filed.
The pair revealed they've resolved the claims in the lawsuit to their 'mutual satisfaction'.
In a statement, Cassie explained her decision to accept the settlement, saying: "I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control.
"I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support."
Diddy also spoke out, insisting that they had opted to 'resolve this matter amicably'.
The 54-year-old went on to claim: "I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love."
Now, his attorney, Ben Brafman, has said that the settlement is in 'no way an admission of wrongdoing'.
In a statement made to Page Six this week, the lawyer said: "Mr. Combs' decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims.
"He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best."
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800.656.HOPE (4673) available 24/7. Or you can chat online via online.rainn.org