Cassie assertively told Sean 'Diddy' Combs that she was not a pawn or plaything following the alleged hotel assault in 2016.
NEW YORK CITY - In a dramatic turn of events, R&B singer Cassie, known legally as Casandra Ventura, confronted her former boyfriend, music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, during cross-examination at his sex trafficking trial. In a London hotel in 2016, things spilled over into violence, with Cassie telling Diddy, "I'm not a rag doll. I'm somebody's child."
Following their turbulent altercation, the pair seemed to reconcile just days later, as Cassie sent a text, "We need a different vibe from Friday." The couple's conversational exchanges were laid bare in a Manhattan courtroom over two days of intense cross-examination.
In the painful "rag doll" text, Cassie called out Diddy for his erratic behavior fueled by drugs and alcohol. The hotel security footage of the incident was released the following year, prompting an apology from Diddy, who admitted he was "disgusted" by his actions.
Throughout the trial, Diddy's lawyers have aimed to paint Cassie as a willing participant in his sexual lifestyle, with the Defense questioning the validity of her claims of rape.
Federal prosecutors accuse Diddy of abusing his status as a music executive and businessman to force women into drug-fueled encounters with male sex workers. Known as "freak-offs," these events were allegedly directed and watched by Diddy. Cassie is one of several accusers expected to testify against him.
However, Diddy has pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges, insisting that although he could be violent, his actions were not criminal. He maintains that all the sex at the freak-offs was consensual.
Cassie, the prosecution's key witness, recounted feeling compelled to participate in "hundreds" of these encounters, claiming that she was threatened with violence and faced physical abuse "a lot" during the freak-offs. She also said that Diddy threatened to distribute sex videos of her if he became angry.
During her extended testimony, Diddy has been jailed since September, facing at least 15 years in prison if convicted.
Cassie's Testimony - A Recap
In her four-day stint on the witness stand, Cassie, now pregnant with her third child, was grilled on her messages that seemed to show enthusiasm for the sexual encounters. However, she clarified that her initial openness to these encounters was because she wanted to please Diddy and spend time with him, but grew weary of the experiences as the years passed.
In a 2012 exchange, Diddy hinted at a freak-off, initiating a conversation with Cassie using initials. Despite her reservations, Cassie expressed her desire to be with Diddy rather than participate in a final freak-off encounter.
Defense Challenges the 2018 Rape Allegation
Defense lawyer Anna Estevao called into question Cassie's claims concerning a 2018 rape incident. Estevao noted discrepancies in Cassie's descriptions of Diddy's demeanor and the timing of the alleged assault in interviews with investigators and her trial testimony.
Cassie maintained that the rape occurred at her Los Angeles home after a Malibu dinner to discuss their breakup, either in August or September 2018. Estevao raised doubts about this, pointing out inconsistencies in Cassie's descriptions of the events.
Cassie revealed that she stayed in touch with Diddy and had consensual encounters with him after the alleged rape and her subsequent breakup.
A Secret Threat Unveiled
During Friday's proceedings, jurors heard a 2013 recording of Cassie threatening a friend who claimed to have seen a sex video of her. "I've never killed anyone in my life, but I will kill you," Cassie said, punctuating her threats with curse words. Cassie testified that Diddy later made efforts to prevent the video from being public.
Examining Cassie's Time at a Treatment Center
Defense lawyer Estevao also questioned Cassie about her stay at a women's treatment center in 2023. Estevao noted that the center specialized in treating sex addiction, sexual compulsion, and love addiction. She asked Cassie if she had been treated for any of these issues at the center, to which Cassie responded that she had not. Instead, she sought therapy to help process trauma.
Cassie previously testified that she experienced post-traumatic stress disorder prior to breaking up with Diddy in 2018, and struggled with blackouts and sleepwalking. She also related an incident in 2023 where she attempted to walk into traffic outside her home but was stopped by her husband.
While in court, Cassie also disclosed for the first time the $20 million settlement she received in 2023 after filing a lawsuit accusing Diddy of physical and sexual abuse.
Penned by Associated Press scribes Sisak and Neumeister, with valuable contributions from AP writer Dave Collins in Hartford, Conn.
Further Reading
A courtroom drama unfolds: Cassie is compelled to recite explicit texts with Diddy at his trial for sex trafficking accusations
A harrowing account: Cassie's graphic testimony on Diddy's sex trafficking trial leaves his fate uncertain
Team Bieber dismisses speculation around Justin and Diddy
Additional Insights:
In the early years of Cassie's career, she gained attention as a model and was the face of Diddy's Sean John fashion label. Their relationship sparked in 2007, but it wasn't until 2006 that they made their connection official, collaborating on Cassie's self-titled album.
- Cassie, now a resident of California, found herself in Los Angeles' courtrooms, recounting her past experiences with music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, during his trial for federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
- Amidst the entertainment industry's general-news and crime-and-justice headlines, Cassie's tenure as a key witness in Diddy's trial involved discussing her times spent in business meetings, music studios, and exclusive clubs in Los Angeles, during the time period in question.
- In the midst of ongoing legal proceedings, Cassie's testimony delved into her turbulent relationship with Diddy, which spanned multiple years in both California and New York City, the latter of which is currently the location of Diddy's trial.
- The cross-examination of Cassie brought to light various exchanges between her and Diddy, many of which took place in the realm of entertainment and the music industry, as both individuals are closely tied to that sector in California.
- As the proceedings unravel, there has been increased focus on the role of celebrities and the power dynamics within their relationships, as exemplified by the interaction between Cassie and Diddy, creating broader conversations about law, power, and justice in the entertainment industry, beyond the specific case of Diddy's trial.
