Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ ex-girlfriend says he raped her, paid $20 million in settlement

Former girlfriend of Sean "Diddy" Combs, Casandra Ventura, known professionally as Cassie, took the stand on Wednesday in the hip-hop mogul's criminal trial. She testified that Combs raped her in 2018, following the end of their relationship of over a decade.

Ventura also disclosed details about the civil lawsuit she filed against Combs in November 2023 concerning their relationship. She stated that Combs agreed to a $20 million settlement to resolve that case, an agreement reached just 24 hours after she initiated the legal action.

These revelations came during the third day of Combs' criminal proceedings. The 55-year-old music producer has entered a not guilty plea to five felony charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. A conviction on all counts could result in a minimum prison sentence of 15 years, potentially extending to life.

During her testimony, the 38-year-old singer became visibly emotional as she recounted the alleged rape incident in her living room. She tearfully stated, "I just remember crying and saying no but it was very fast," her voice faltering.

Ventura shared that she pursued the lawsuit against Combs nine months after undergoing rehabilitation and trauma therapy, which she sought due to "horrible flashbacks." She described feeling that she "didn’t want to be alive" before seeking professional help.

When asked in court about her decision to testify, Ventura explained she could no longer carry the emotional weight of years of alleged physical and emotional abuse from Combs. "I can’t carry this anymore," she said. "I can’t carry the shame, the guilt, the way he treated people like they were disposable. What’s right is right, what’s wrong is wrong. I came here to do the right thing."

Combs' legal team is scheduled to begin their cross-examination of Ventura on Thursday, a process that is expected to span two days. The defense has indicated their intention to question Ventura regarding what they have described as her own history of domestic violence.

Ventura is a key witness for the prosecution in the trial against Combs, which is anticipated to last up to two months. She appeared in court wearing a turtleneck dress and dark jacket for her second day of testimony.

She testified that Combs physically assaulted her during drug-fueled sex parties, which she referred to as "Freak-offs." Ventura alleged that he threatened to release videos of her participation and warned he would undermine her career.

Recounting specific instances of physical abuse, Ventura stated, "He would grab me up, push me down, hit me in the side of the head, kick me."

Ventura also described an incident in 2013 where she sustained a gash on her eyebrow after Combs allegedly threw her against a bed frame. She testified that he was dismissive when she showed him a photo of the injury, quoting him as saying, "You. Don’t know. When to. Stop... You have pushed it too far and continue to push. Sad."

Prosecutors presented jurors with seven still images of Ventura and various escorts, extracted from videos of the "Freak-offs." Reports from the courtroom noted the jurors' reactions, with one swallowing hard and another jerking his head back upon viewing the images. The press and spectators were not granted access to view these photos or the videos.

Photos previously taken by Ventura’s mother, showing bruises on Ventura's back and leg that she attributed to being kicked by Combs, were also shown to the jury.

Ventura told jurors that while fighting back against Combs sometimes temporarily slowed him down, it typically escalated the abuse, making him "more violent, make him stronger, make him want to push me harder."

She stated that Combs threatened her by saying speaking out "would ruin everything that I had worked for, that it would make me look like a slut. That I would be shamed." She added, "Nobody should do that to anyone."

Ventura acknowledged that she had initiated physical violence against Combs in the past but testified that she did not observe any injuries on him resulting from these instances.

She also testified to being heavily dependent on opiates throughout her relationship with Combs. Following their breakup, she reported experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder episodes, sleepwalking, and blackouts. Ventura stated she stopped using drugs in 2022 and is currently expecting her third child.

Combs remains in custody in Brooklyn when not present in court. Known by various monikers throughout his career, including Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, he is recognized for founding Bad Boy Records and contributing to the careers of artists like Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G., and Usher in the 1990s and 2000s. Combs is also facing numerous civil lawsuits from both women and men alleging sexual abuse; he has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that his relationships were consensual.