Cassie details years of abuse as court hears violent, sexual allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs

In a harrowing end to a week of gripping courtroom drama, Cassie Ventura—former girlfriend of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, concluded her emotional testimony in a New York courtroom Friday, after being cross-examined by the defence in Combs’s sex trafficking trial.

The first week has painted a disturbing portrait of the man once hailed as hip-hop royalty. Prosecutors allege that behind Combs’s public image of charisma and success lies a dark reality of coercion, manipulation, and violent sexual exploitation.

Cassie, who is currently eight months pregnant, testified over multiple days, at times breaking down in tears. Her accounts detailed years of mental and physical abuse, including being blackmailed with sex tapes, coerced into drug-fuelled group sex sessions—referred to as “freak offs”—and suffering repeated violent assaults.

“Towards the end, it became a job,” Cassie told the court, describing how the “freak offs” began when she was just 22. “I would have bruises, black eyes. I felt dirty, grimy.”

In one of the trial’s most shocking moments, she recalled an alleged rape following a dinner in 2018. “He was acting strangely,” she said, her voice breaking. “I remember crying and saying no.”

Defence lawyers for Combs have pushed back, insisting that all sexual encounters were consensual and framed the case as one of misunderstood private preferences. “This isn’t about being mean or kinky,” said lawyer Teny Geragos. “This is about legality.”

However, explicit text messages presented in court appeared to show Combs exerting tight control over Cassie. One message read: “Call me now, the cops are here.” Another: “I love you so much it makes me cry.” Cassie’s response: “I love you too, I can’t wait till we don’t care anymore.”

The defence introduced messages where Cassie had expressed excitement about upcoming freak-offs, suggesting her participation was voluntary. In one, she replied: “Omg I was just about to text you the same thing,” when Combs said he was “horny.” But Cassie clarified, “I was trying to protect myself. I knew what happened when I said no.”

Testimony from other witnesses further bolstered the prosecution’s case. Dawn Richard, a singer formerly in Combs’s groups Danity Kane and Dirty Money, described a violent incident where Combs allegedly struck Cassie with a skillet full of eggs and dragged her upstairs. “He was punching his girlfriend,” Richard said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Other evidence included disturbing stills from videos allegedly taken by Combs during these “freak offs,” which reportedly show Cassie engaged in sex acts while he watched and recorded.

Combs, who denies all charges, looked on silently throughout most of the proceedings, occasionally conferring with his legal team. He has not taken the stand.

Courtroom silence fell as graphic images and texts were reviewed by the jury, including a 2012 message from Combs asking Cassie: “Do you want to have our last freak off tonight?” She replied: “I don’t want to freak off for the last time. I want it to be the first time for the rest of our lives.”

As proceedings closed for the week, Cassie said she didn’t hate Combs. “I wanted to be loved,” she said. “But I wasn’t a rag doll. I wanted to matter.”

The trial resumes next week with more witnesses expected, including those linked to Combs’s business and inner circle. If convicted, Combs faces a potential decades-long sentence under federal sex trafficking laws.