Cassie will testify under her real name at Diddy’s federal sex trafficking trial set for 5 may.
The 37-year-old singer and model, once in a long-term relationship with Sean “Diddy” Combs, will testify under her own name in the disgraced mogul’s explosive federal trial scheduled to begin on 5 May.
Ventura had previously been referred to as “Victim-1” in court documents. But in a bold legal move, federal prosecutors confirmed she will not seek anonymity, despite the overwhelming media spotlight surrounding the case.
“Cassie is prepared to testify under her own name,” read a court filing submitted ahead of the high-profile proceedings.
Three other alleged victims—known only as Victim-2, Victim-3, and Victim-4—will remain anonymous, a protection granted to shield them from what prosecutors describe as “harassment from the media,” “undue embarrassment,” and “adverse consequences.”
The case against Combs is already attracting extraordinary public scrutiny, and prosecutors warn that the intensity will only increase once the trial begins. But despite the risk, Cassie is ready to speak.
Combs, 55, is facing a slew of serious allegations, including five counts across three federal charges: racketeering, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.
Cassie’s decision to testify publicly is especially significant given her past with the hip-hop mogul. The two were in a relationship from 2007 to 2018. In 2023, she filed a civil lawsuit against him, alleging years of abuse. The case was settled privately just one day after it was filed—but a viral video that surfaced later showed disturbing footage of Combs physically assaulting her.
That video, leaked to the public, sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and reignited calls for accountability. What followed was a storm of legal action: multiple civil lawsuits from both women and men accused the Bad Boy Records founder of sexual assault.
In the midst of the escalating scandal, the FBI raided three of Combs’ properties. His legal troubles mounted quickly.
Since his arrest on 16 September, Combs has been held without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
For many, Cassie’s testimony will mark a turning point. Her willingness to speak openly, under her own name, carries symbolic weight—not only for her personal story, but for other alleged victims too afraid to come forward.
The federal government’s legal team has made it clear: protecting the identities of the remaining victims is crucial to their ability to testify without fear. Prosecutors argue that exposure would only retraumatise them in a case already soaked in media attention.
Still, it is Cassie—no longer hidden behind a pseudonym—who will take the stand as the most recognisable voice in the trial.
And when she does, the world will be watching.
