The ongoing federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs in Manhattan, charging him with sex trafficking and racketeering, has unleashed a torrent of shocking allegations.
On May 15, as the trial reached its third day, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ former long-time girlfriend, delivered chilling testimony that has left the hip hop mogul’s reputation in tatters, and the public reeling. The musician goes by the name Cassie.
The heavily pregnant Cassie is now married to personal trainer Alex Fine. Incidentally, she first met Fine when Diddy hired him to be her personal trainer. They now have two children and are expecting a third.
In a 10-year relationship with Combs
Cassie, who was in a relationship with Combs for over a decade, spent three days on the stand. She recounted a nightmare of abuse and manipulation. This includes a 2018 incident where Combs allegedly barged into her home and raped her after their breakup.
“He had total control over me,” Cassie testified. Her voice trembled as she detailed being forced into drug-laced “freak offs”. These were the degrading sex sessions orchestrated by Combs.
She also spoke of physical violence, including a 2016 hotel assault captured on video. Prosecutors played the video for the jury, over defence protests.
“He’d slam my head, drag me, punch me,” Cassie said, exposing a pattern of brutality.
Prosecutor sets the tone
Prosecutor Emily A. Johnson has framed Combs as a predator who weaponised his Bad Boy Records empire to exploit women. In her opening remarks on May 12, Johnson declared, “Sean Combs was a superstar to the world, but behind closed doors, he was a monster.”
Cassie’s testimony, backed by text messages revealing Combs’ controlling jealousy, anchors the prosecution’s case. She described how he assaulted an employee and dictated her career, leaving her no autonomy.
Diddy’s lawyers, led by Anna Estevao, counter that these were consensual relationships, not crimes.
“You’ll see a man with flaws, not a criminal mastermind,” attorney Mark Geragos argued on May 12. He was aiming to reframe the narrative. Yet, their bid to suppress the 2016 assault video was overruled by Judge Arun Subramanian. And it became a setback as Estevao prepares to cross-examine Cassie.
Daughters exit court amid graphic testimony
Combs’ family, including his mother, Janice, and daughters, have attended the trial. However, some exited the courtroom during Cassie’s graphic testimony. The trial, projected to span eight weeks, could see Combs, 55, face life in prison if convicted. This will be a stunning downfall for a cultural icon.
As Cassie braces for cross-examination, her raw testimony has set a high-stakes tone for what’s to come.
Cassie’s testimony comes a year after CNN released a shocking 2016 hotel surveillance video. The video showed Combs kicking, hitting and dragging Cassie during an altercation at a Los Angeles-area hotel. Combs apologised for his violent behaviour soon after the video’s release.
