R&B singer, Cassie testified in federal court Wednesday, May 14, that rap mogul, Sean “Diddy” Combs raped her after she attempted to end their decade-long relationship, accusing him of trapping her in a cycle of physical and sexual abuse by threatening to release explicit videos.
Taking the stand for a second day in Combs’ sex trafficking trial on Wednesday, May 14, Cassie told the Manhattan courtroom that the music mogul forced his way into her Los Angeles apartment and raped her on the living room floor after she said she was leaving him.
She also described how Combs allegedly coerced her into participating in “hundreds” of sexual encounters with male sex workers — events she said he recorded and observed, sometimes for days.
According to Cassie, she feared the release of the videos would ruin her reputation.
“I feared for my career. I feared for my family. It’s just embarrassing. It’s horrible and disgusting. No one should do that to anyone,” she said.
Prosecutors presented five still images from the videos, which Combs allegedly called “freak-offs.” One juror appeared visibly disturbed, widening his eyes as the images were shown.
Cassie, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, filed a lawsuit in 2023 alleging years of abuse.
The case was settled within hours for $20 million — a figure she publicly disclosed for the first time in court.
Following her suit, dozens of other women came forward with similar claims.
Federal prosecutors accuse Combs of leveraging his influence as a music executive to manipulate and abuse women. He faces charges including sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and racketeering.
More alleged victims are expected to testify in the ongoing trial.
Combs, 55, has denied the allegations. His attorneys admit he could be “volatile” at times, but insist that all sexual acts were consensual and not part of any criminal enterprise.
He has been jailed since September and could face at least 15 years in prison if convicted. The trial is expected to last about two months.
Cassie’s testimony sheds light on the hidden trauma behind a highly publicized relationship. She said she met Combs in 2005 at the age of 19 when he signed her to a 10-year contract with Bad Boy Records. The two began dating a few years later.
Jurors also saw security footage showing Combs assaulting Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016, just two days before they appeared smiling together at a movie premiere. Combs later apologized after the footage surfaced in 2024.
Cassie testified that she wore makeup and sunglasses to conceal her injuries at the premiere and even hid in a popcorn closet to change dresses so her bruised legs wouldn’t show.
In another incident in 2013, she said Combs attacked her while she was preparing for a music festival, throwing her into a bed frame and leaving a gash above her eye.
According to her, She received stitches from a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, arranged by Combs’ security team.
Afterward, she said she sent him a photo of her injured face with the message: “So you can remember.” His response: “You don’t know when to stop. You pushed it too far. And continued to push. Sad.”
Cassie, now 38, remained composed on the stand after an emotional first day. Her testimony continues to expose what prosecutors describe as a long-standing pattern of coercion and abuse by one of the music industry’s most powerful figures.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.