In an emotional courtroom testimony on Tuesday, singer Cassie Ventura (born Casandra Ventura) tearfully detailed years of alleged abuse by her ex-boyfriend, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, during his ongoing sex-trafficking trial in New York.
The 38-year-old pregnant mother of two recounted how her relationship with Combs, which began when she was 19 and he was 37, quickly turned controlling and abusive.
“I fell in love with him,” Ventura told the court, acknowledging that Combs had helped launch her music career after signing her to his Bad Boy Records label.
However, she described how the rapper allegedly dominated every aspect of her life: “He wanted to control everything — how I looked, what I worked on. He paid for my house, my car, my phone, and would take them away to punish me.”
Through tears, Ventura recounted multiple violent incidents: “He would bash my head, knock me over, drag me and kick me.” She claimed these assaults left her with visible injuries including swollen lips, black eyes, and forehead bumps.
The most disturbing allegations involved what Ventura called “freak-offs” — sexual encounters where Combs allegedly hired male escorts to have sex with her while he watched.
“I just wanted to make him happy,” a weeping Ventura told jurors. “But I felt worthless. It made me feel horrible about myself.”
She testified that she turned to drugs to endure these situations: “It helped me disconnect from what was really happening — having sex with strangers I didn’t want to sleep with.” According to her testimony, she used marijuana, ecstasy, and ketamine to cope.
Ventura said these encounters occurred in multiple locations including Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, and Ibiza, with Combs allegedly paying the men $1,500 to $6,000 based on their “performance.” She claimed Combs made her arrange travel logistics for these men, passing them off as new staff during vacations.
“If Sean wanted something to happen, that was what was going to happen. I couldn’t say no,” Ventura told the court, describing how Combs allegedly controlled every detail from her clothing to room lighting.
Even when she expressed discomfort, Ventura said Combs dismissed her concerns: “I gave in because I didn’t want him to get angry.”
Combs, who has pleaded not guilty, faces multiple charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transporting people for prostitution. His legal team has not yet responded to Ventura’s testimony in court.
The emotional testimony marked the first time Ventura has publicly detailed her allegations against the hip-hop mogul since settling a separate lawsuit against him in November 2023. Her appearance comes as she prepares to welcome her third child.
