Four-word message Diddy said to trial audience after Cassie's mom's testimony
Diddy had a simple four-word statement to the audience at his trial after the heartbreaking testimony of Cassie's mom.
It's almost the end of week two in the rapper's high-profile sex trafficking trial, during which some of his former assistants and ex-girlfriends have dropped some bombshells in their testimonies.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs stands accused of exploiting his celebrity status to create a sex crime ring involving drug-fueled sex parties dubbed 'freak offs' through the use of force, threats and violence, all of which he denies.
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Cassandra 'Cassie' Ventura, who dated Diddy for more than a decade, took to the stand last week with her version of events, alleging that the rapper was physically abusive, addicted to drugs and coerced her participation in 'freak offs' which involved her having sex with male escorts.
Among her litany of allegations, she said Combs threatened to release video footage of her engaging in sexual acts to the public on more than one occasion.
Her mom Regina Ventura also accused the Bad Boy Records founder of blackmailing the family on the stand.
She said she frantically wired $20,000 to the music mogul after taking a home equity loan to satisfy his demands.
Regina claimed she sent the cash after he threatened to release sexually explicit footage of her daughter as he apparently became jealous Cassie was dating another rapper Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, at the time.
And shortly after her shocking testimony, Combs appeared to make a strange four-word statement to the court.
He said simply: "I love you all," before adding under his breath: "Yeah. Love."
The father-of-seven then reportedly told a woman in the crowd to pass on a message to his eldest, saying: "Please let Justin know I'm thinking of him."
The statement came as the rapper's children have not attended court much this week, despite being present in the first.
However, his 18-year-old twins, Jesse and D'Lila, as well as Chance, also 18, left the courtroom twice last week.
They reportedly left during the testimony of Daniel Phillip, an escort, who shared the graphic details of what went on in a 'freak off' with Cassie and Diddy.
While on the stand, Regina said she was 'physically sick' when Combs demanded the money.
"I did not understand it, the sex tape threw me. He was trying to hurt my daughter," she added.
Regina said she sent the money to Combs, but it ended up back in her account a few days later.
The matter was allegedly never discussed between the pair again.
Regina also spoke about photographs she had taken of her daughter when she visited her Connecticut home for the holidays in 2011.
"She was bruised and I wanted to make sure we memorialize it," she commented on the pictures that have been shown to the jury. "I was scared for my daughter’s safety."
Jurors have also been shown an alleged email from Cassie sent to her mom on December 23, 2011, where the musician stated Combs would release two sex tapes and would have someone hurt her and Mescudi.
Combs' former assistants, David James and George Kaplan, and another escort, Sharay Hayes, also known as The Punisher, have also testified this week with alleged further insight into what happened in the 'freak offs.'
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.
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Topics: Diddy, Crime, US News, Court, Celebrity, Sex Trafficking, Cassie Ventura
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