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Cassie Ventura to Testify in Sean “Diddy” Combs Sex Trafficking Trial
R&B artist Cassie Ventura is slated to give testimony against her former boyfriend, Sean “Diddy” Combs, in his impending sex trafficking trial next month. The “Me & U” singer, aged 38, will be using her legal name when she takes the stand, opting against anonymous testimony, according to a legal motion filed on Friday. This development comes as prosecutors announced that “Victim-1” will publicly appear in the trial of the embattled music executive, who faces accusations of sexual assault, including drugging and raping both men and women over several decades. Combs has refuted any wrongdoing and entered a not guilty plea in his criminal case concerning sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
Ventura Identified as “Victim-1”
Earlier this year, Rolling Stone magazine identified “Victim-1” as Cassie Ventura. Combs, 55, is facing serious charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. His trial is scheduled to commence on May 5th.
Legal documents state, “She is prepared to testify under her own name,” People magazine reported. “Victim-2, Victim-3, and Victim-4 have formally requested that their identities remain concealed from the press and the public.” Furthermore, prosecutors have asked that the anonymous victims “be identified during the trial using only pseudonyms” to protect their privacy.
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The court filing emphasized, “This case has already garnered substantial media attention, which is expected to intensify as the trial progresses. Implementing these protective measures will avert unnecessary public exposure of the victims’ identities, as well as prevent media harassment, undue humiliation, and other negative repercussions that would almost certainly occur should these women be compelled to disclose their real names publicly at trial.”
Representatives for Combs have been contacted for comment regarding these proceedings.
“Freak Offs” and Bad Boy Records Operations Under Scrutiny
Federal prosecutors for the Southern District of New York disclosed on Monday their intention to present testimony concerning “sexual abuse of other victims” during Combs’ trial. These testimonies pertain to accusations of coercing partners into drug-fueled, multi-day sexual encounters known as “Freak-Offs,” and allegations that he operated Bad Boy Records as a criminal enterprise.
The indictment elaborates on the “Freak Offs” – described as drug-induced, days-long episodes of sexual acts, reportedly observed by Combs while masturbating. These events were detailed in Ventura’s November 2023 civil lawsuit, which outlined a decade of alleged abuse. Ventura, a former Bad Boy Records artist, stated that the first “Freak Off” occurred early in their relationship when she was approximately 22 and he was 40 years old.
Following the filing of Ventura’s lawsuit, Combs made a late attempt to resolve the matter privately by settling the case just a day later.
Despite the settlement, the allegations of “Freak Offs” now constitute a significant element in the federal sex trafficking and racketeering indictment that was unsealed on Tuesday. Ventura’s lawsuit makes numerous claims, including that Combs frequently organized exploitative sex shows at various hotel locations. She further alleges that the rapper paid substantial amounts to escorts for participating in these sexual performances, during which he sometimes physically assaulted her in their presence, according to the suit.
According to the lawsuit, Combs allegedly instructed Ventura to act as the lead producer for these “sicko sessions,” tasking her with finding male sex workers online. Ventura claims that when she resisted participating in a session, she was subjected to “brutal” physical violence, as detailed in the legal documents.
Subsequently, months following the lawsuit settlement, unsettling video evidence from 2016 came to light, illustrating Combs physically attacking Ventura within a hotel hallway. Ventura’s initial lawsuit has reportedly encouraged other women with similar accusations to come forward.