Featured Image Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty
Topics: Cassie Ventura, Diddy, Domestic Abuse, Crime, Celebrity, Court
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Cassie Ventura, Diddy, Domestic Abuse, Crime, Celebrity, Court
Cassie Ventura is testifying against her ex-boyfriend Sean 'Diddy' Combs.
Combs was arrested in September 2024 and has since been hit with charges including racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
His ex-girlfriend Ventura, who is also in the music industry, dated the rapper for over a decade. With their long-term relationship in mind, she has been called to testify against Combs. She took to the stand today (May 13) where she detailed the alleged abuse she endured at the hands of Combs.
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On the stand, Ventura claimed she and Combs got in arguments that would 'result in violence, dragging', adding that he would 'stomp [her] in the head if I was down'.
The Honey 3 actress' testimony comes after she filed a civil suit against Combs in 2023 where she accused him of rape and physical abuse.
The matter was settled out of court shortly after her filing. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed at the time.
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Combs has denied the federal charges he's facing as well as Ventura's previous claims outlined in her 2023 civil suit.
Ventura has already been a pinnacle part of the case against Combs despite having settled her own civil suit some time ago. It was her claims that sparked a government investigation into Combs that led to his arrest in September, the New York Times reports.
Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra, comes to the stand as a key witness in prosectors' attempts to prove Combs exploited his status as a powerful executive to build an empire of exploitation, where he allegedly coerced women into abusive sex parties that he called 'freak-offs,' and became violent if they refused.
When asked how often Combs became violent with her, she responded: "Too frequently."
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She says Combs would 'bash on my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me.'
The former couple dated when she was 19 and he was 37.
A CCTV video also made public that went viral last year was also shown to jurors, which appeared to show Combs attacking her inside a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.
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She told the court the pair were having a 'freak-off' that day, which she said she was introduced to during the first year of their relationship.
Explaining 'freak-offs', she says they were 'sexual encounter[s] called voyeurism' where Combs would watch her have sex with another man.
The trial continues.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence 24 hours a day to the national domestic violence helpline on 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) 24/7. You can find a list of local resources here.