NEW YORK (AP) — R&B singer Cassie returned to the witness stand on Wednesday after a compelling first day of testimony against her ex-boyfriend, Sean "Diddy" Combs, in a high-profile sex trafficking trial. On Tuesday, Cassie delivered emotional accounts detailing her life with Combs, which she described as filled with grotesque and humiliating experiences. The testimony revealed shocking instances of abuse, control, and manipulation throughout their decade-long relationship.
During her testimony, Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, recounted being pressured into degrading sexual encounters with paid sex workers, portraying the traumatic events that often left her feeling vulnerable and powerless. She vividly described instances of physical abuse, recalling how Combs would react violently to even the slightest displeasure, such as a smile deemed inappropriate. "You make the wrong face and the next thing I knew I was getting hit in the face," she stated, conveying the severity of the relationship’s dynamics.
Cassie accused Combs of using threats to enforce her submission, particularly by indicating that he would publicly release compromising videos of her engaging with male sex workers. Combs' defense team, however, has acknowledged his violent tendencies but claims that the sexual acts in question were consensual, arguing that his actions did not meet the legal definitions of sex trafficking or racketeering as charged.
As the trial continues, Cassie has yet to be cross-examined, a stage of questioning where Combs' lawyers will have the opportunity to challenge her credibility and the details of her accounts. The proceedings could extend for about two months as both sides present their arguments and evidence.
Prosecutors allege that Combs exploited his status as a powerful music executive to coerce women into participating in drug-fueled sex parties, which he referred to as "freak offs." Cassie first met Combs in 2005 when she was just 19 and at the beginning of her career as a singer, model, and actress. Her breakout single, "Me & U," released in 2006, came from an album issued by Combs’ Bad Boy Records.
Combs, who was 37 at the time of their meeting, took on a dual role as her career mentor and romantic partner over a span of ten years. Cassie left his record label in 2019 and subsequently filed a lawsuit against him in 2023, accusing him of years of physical and sexual abuse. Throughout her testimony, she acknowledged that there were moments of love in their relationship, but insisted that Combs’s controlling behavior was a consistent element that often led to violence.
One particularly harrowing incident was when Combs first proposed a "freak off," which took place in his Los Angeles home with a male stripper. Cassie described the experience as disorienting, stating that it left her feeling "dirty and confused," yet relieved to see Combs pleased. "It was his fantasy," she recalled, emphasizing that Combs had orchestrated the situation entirely.
As the trial progresses, Combs, now 55, faces serious charges that could result in a minimum of 15 years in prison if he is convicted. He has been jailed since September, during which time significant media attention has surrounded the case, raising broader discussions about issues of power dynamics in relationships and the prevalence of abuse within the entertainment industry.
