Additional Coverage:
- Cassie Ventura testifies she loved Diddy ‘so much’ and felt a responsibility to participate in ‘freak offs’ (businessinsider.com)
Singer Cassie Ventura, visibly pregnant and emotional, testified against her former boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday. Ventura, the prosecution’s star witness in Combs’ sex-trafficking and racketeering trial, detailed disturbing allegations of coerced sex and physical abuse during her decade-long relationship with the music mogul.
Through tears, Ventura described what Combs called “freak offs” – drug-fueled orgies involving male escorts – saying she felt “horrible,” “disgusting,” and “humiliated.” While she expressed a desire for intimacy with Combs, she testified she felt pressured to participate in these sessions to maintain a connection with him. She added that Combs was largely dismissive of her distress, even after she conveyed her feelings through emails and texts, often addressing him as “Pop Pop” at his request.
The jury was shown photos of six men Ventura identified as escorts hired by Combs, some of whom she recognized by name. She recounted enduring these encounters, sometimes involving two men at once, fueled by drugs like Molly and Ecstasy to numb the pain. Ventura vividly described the aftermath of these sessions, with hotel rooms left stained with bodily fluids, candle wax, and the lingering odor of smoke and body odor.
Ventura’s testimony painted a picture of a tumultuous relationship marked by both love and abuse. While stating she loved Combs and wanted to please him, she also detailed instances of alleged physical violence.
She claimed Combs would “bash” her head, knock her over, drag, kick, and stomp on her, resulting in injuries including black eyes, busted lips, and bruises. She told the jury his “eyes would go black” when he became violent.
This testimony followed the trial’s opening day, which included opening statements and testimony from an exotic dancer who claimed he was paid to have sex with Ventura while Combs watched. Prosecutors allege Combs used “lies, drugs, threats, and violence” to coerce Ventura and another woman into participating in these “freak offs.”
Ventura’s testimony is expected to continue throughout the week, with scheduled breaks to accommodate her pregnancy. Her husband, Alex Fine, may be called as a defense witness, potentially to challenge Ventura’s account.
The defense maintains that all sexual encounters were consensual and that violence occurred on both sides. Combs, who faces a potential life sentence if convicted, has consistently denied all allegations of sexual abuse.