Diddy Trial Heats Up as Cassie Takes The Stand

Harlem-born music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs trial is heating up as former girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura took the stand in New York detailing their past.

On Monday, May 12, after final jurors were selected and opening statements began, the jurors heard from the first two witnesses: a male escort and a law enforcement officer. Prosecutors are accusing Diddy of racketeering and sex trafficking. They speculate he uses his music, media, and lifestyle empire as a criminal enterprise to harm women and fulfill his sexual desires. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

After a shocking ending to Diddy’s first day of trial, day two began with the prosecutor’s star witness, Cassie. Ventura, who is now 38 years old and visibly pregnant, shared an 11-year relationship with the defendant. On the stand, she described a tortuous and abusive on-and-off relationship, with the mogul, detailing how the relationship began when she was 19 years old, shortly after Diddy signed her to a 10-album deal with Bad Boy Records.

Despite cameras not being allowed in the courtroom, reporters have been keeping the public updated through social media. With Ventura on the stand, today was no different. Reports stated the judge had Ventura’s husband, Alex Fine, leave the courtroom once testimonies after 2018 began. This could be due in part to the now-married couple having been in a relationship at the time.

During her testimony, Cassie accused the former music executive of physical and emotional abuse throughout the duration of their relationship. She talked about how he exerted control over all aspects of her life. Despite recording hundreds of songs and following his every command in studio sessions, she only saw one mixtape release in 2013, RockaByeBaby. The former artist claims most of her time was spent by Combs “freak-offs” or “FOs” which were described as drug-fueled, multi-day marathons of sex with prostitutes that he directed and orchestrated.

At one point on the stand Cassie detailed the allegations of physical abuse she faced. Ventura stated that arguments would sometimes turn violent: “He would smash me in my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me, stomp me in the head if I was down.” She detailed Combs’ possessiveness, stating that he experienced mood swings when she wouldn’t answer her phone, calling her incessantly even sending staff to find her when no contact could be made.

She broke down how things started, stating that in the beginning of the relationship, Combs introduced her to voyeurism—a sexual encounter where he would watch her have intercourse with other men. Although, she didn’t feel like she part taking she didn’t believe she could refuse, given that Combs controlled various aspects of her life.

“I felt disgusting. I was humiliated. I didn’t have the words to put together at the time how horrible I really felt. and I couldn’t talk to anybody about it.”

The “Me & U” singer says she was introduced to “freak-offs” at 22 years-old, stating she agreed because she wanted to make him happy. Cassie detailed how she would remain awake for days at a time against her will. She stated it was Sean who directed the “freak-offs”, and when they ended. The longest “freak-off” she recalled was four days long.

Cassie described how, after a while, it seemed as though during the “freak-offs” were the only times she could be with Combs. She detailed how she took various kinds of drugs to disassociate from the experience. She broke down how involved he was with her day-to-day life, including how he had specific instructions for her physical appearance, including her clothing and nails for “freak-offs”. If he disapproved of her, he would take away her belongings. She detailed he would go as far as urinating on her himself or having the escorts’ do it. Ventura stated how “humiliated” she felt in those moments, pointing out at no point did she wanted to be urinated on.

This statement directly contradicted what the jury heard yesterday from the male escort, who testified that Cassie had asked him to urinate on her as Diddy watched in a corner. It was initially reported that Diddy had made the request.

Ventura talked about the video released last year where the world watched Diddy viciously attack her. The incident occurred in 2016 at the InterContinental in Los Angeles, California. She stated the attack happened because she wanted to leave a “freak-off” before it was “over”. In the video, you can see Diddy run and chase her down the hallway and begin attacking her. At one point, the mogul is seen stomping her and dragging her back into the hotel room. Cassie said after the initial hit she ran out as fast as she could.

Cassie’s testimony shed a different light on the once beloved mogul. She is set to take the stand tomorrow as a witness for the defense.