Who Is Cassie Ventura? What to Know About the Woman Testifying Against Sean ‘Diddy' Combs
Johnny Nunez
Who is Cassie, the mononymous singer at the center of the Diddy trial?
Nearly two years after filing her own lawsuit against Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Cassie Ventura took the stand at the rapper's highly publicized sex trafficking trial. On May 13, a pregnant Ventura testified against her ex-boyfriend, describing alleged abuse at the hands of the rapper throughout their 11-year relationship, which spanned from 2007 to 2018.
'Sean controlled a lot of my life, whether it was career, the way I dressed, everything, everything,' Ventura told jurors, per the Associated Press, further claiming Combs would threaten to release images and video from his infamous 'freak-offs' if she ever defied him. She also took the stand on May 14 and 15, when she was cross-examined by the defense.
But how did Cassie and Diddy meet, and what's going on with her career? Here's what we know.
Cassandra Ventura, who grew up in Connecticut, began modeling at age 14, booking commercial jobs for brands like Delia's and local department stores. She met producer Ryan Leslie in 2004 after moving to New York City to continue modeling. The pair also began a relationship.
According to her testimony, Cassie, now 38, was a 19-year-old aspiring R&B singer when she met Diddy through Leslie. She ultimately signed a ten-album deal with Combs's Bad Boy Records label. Her 2006 debut album Cassie is the only album she's ever released.
'I wanted to be around Sean for the same reasons as everyone else at the time,' Ventura told the court during her testimony, per The Times. 'Just this exciting, entertaining, fun guy that also happened to have my career in his hands.'
Cassie's 2006 single 'Me & U,' off Cassie, reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, and remained on the charts for almost seven months. He second single, 'Long Way 2 Go,' peaked at 97 on the Billboard Hot 100. Cassie continued put out more singles in 2008 and 2009, however they did not chart.
She later said during her testimony that she recorded 'hundreds of tracks' with Diddy during the course of their relationship. Per NPR, she now refers to those recordings as busywork. Most of her time was spent orchestrating and participating in Diddy's freak off parties, she said.
Cassie has also dabbled in acting, appearing in 2008's Step Up 2: The Streets and the 2016 rom-com The Perfect Match.
Cassie testified while pregnant with her third child with husband Alex Fine. She married the fitness trainer and actor in 2019. They also share two daughters: Frankie Stone Fine (born in December 2019) and Sunny Cinco Fine (born in March 2021).
Ventura first came forward about the physical and sexual abuse through a lawsuit in November 2023, eventually inspiring others to come forward with sexual assault allegations against Combs.
Though Diddy denied the allegations at the time, Ventura revealed that the lawsuit was settled for $20 million. 'I wanted to be compensated for the time, the pain,' she said during her recent testimony.
Last year, CNN published graphic surveillance-video footage showing Diddy assaulting Cassie in March 2016. Following the release of the footage, Diddy posted a video to his own Instagram, claiming he takes 'full responsibility' for his 'inexcusable' behavior and sought professional help.
The Video of Diddy Assaulting Cassie Is Horrific. This Is Why You Shouldn't Look Away
'The fact it took a video kept hidden for eight years to prove to the world the kind of man Combs is, is a travesty.'
At the time, Cassie thanked the public for their 'love and support' in a multi-paragraph Instagram statement, emphasizing, 'My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believe victims the first time.'
Combs was unable to be charged for assaulting Ventura due to statute of limitations. Four months later, however he was arrested and charged with sex trafficking and racketeering.
Celebrity News
The Diddy Trial and Arrest: What We Know About the 'Freak Offs,' Baby Oil, and More
The rapper's trial started on May 5.
Originally Appeared on Glamour
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Diddy's defense team cross-examines his ex-assistant and alleged victim in sex trafficking trial
incoming update… Sean 'Diddy' Combs returned to court Monday for the fourth week of his federal sex trafficking trial. Diddy sat at the defense table wearing a light-colored sweater Monday morning. Testimony will resume with the defense team's continued cross-examination of Diddy's ex-assistant, who has been allowed to testify under a pseudonym. Testifying as 'Mia,' she told the court she endured physical and emotional abuse while working for the rapper. She also claimed she was sexually assaulted by Diddy multiple times. During cross-examination on Friday, Diddy's defense showed Mia multiple posts from her personal social media accounts where she praised Combs. She explained that she only posted positive things about her life on social media and those posts do not reflect the fear and trauma she felt. Sean 'Diddy' Combs' former assistant claimed the rapper sexually assaulted her more than once during his sex trafficking trial. On Thursday, 'Mia' testified the "Victory" rapper sexually assaulted her sporadically throughout her employment, with the first incident during his 40th birthday party in New York. After Diddy allegedly gave her two shots of alcohol, Mia claimed she froze when Diddy began to kiss her and move his hand up her dress. "I was shocked ... I froze," she said. Mia said that not only was Diddy her boss, but he was also a very powerful person. She claimed she didn't remember "coming to" and getting from the kitchen to the penthouse. She also recalled an alleged sexual assault that took place at Diddy's Los Angeles home. Mia said she was sleeping in an unlocked room that had bunk beds. She allegedly woke up with Diddy on top of her, with instructions to be quiet. Mia testified that Diddy used one hand to get his pants off. She claimed through tears, "He put himself inside of me." Mia testified that she did not want to have sex with Diddy. The assault was allegedly very quick, "but felt like forever." She didn't remember how it ended, but she claimed he didn't leave the job unfinished. The former employee told the court that Diddy had control over her. 'I couldn't tell him no … I couldn't tell him no about anything,' she said during her testimony. "I knew his power … control over me. I didn't want to lose anything I worked so hard for.' Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York since his arrest in September 2024, and will stay there for the remainder of his federal trial for sex crimes. Following a full day of court throughout the fourth week of the trial, Diddy will most likely return to the detention center for dinner. Unlike for breakfast, the dinner menu differs from day to day. On Monday, Diddy will be offered chicken fried rice or tofu fried rice, black beans, carrots, whole wheat bread and a beverage. Returning from court on Tuesday, the disgraced rapper will find chili or three bean chili on the menu, alongside green beans, garden salad with assorted dressing options, whole wheat bread and a beverage. On Wednesday the menu consists of chicken breast sandwich, or chickpea burger, pinto beans, steamed rice, whole kernel corn with mayonnaise, whole wheat hamburger buns and a beverage. After a day at court on Thursday, Diddy will eat chicken cheese steak or navy beans, garlic macaroni, pinto beans, whole wheat hot dog buns and a beverage. Then on Friday, Diddy will be served a steak and cheese sub or black bean burger, baked potato, green beans, whole wheat hot dog bun, margarine pat and a beverage. Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal trial for charges of racketeering and sex trafficking is in its fourth week, and the price tag on his defense continues to rise. When factoring in the cost of the eight-week trial, as well as the months of pretrial motions and preparations, plus his top-notch legal team, experts estimate the total cost could be anywhere from $10 to $15 million. Marc Agnifilo, who represented NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere, and Brian Steel, who recently represented rapper Young Thug, are among the team of lawyers listed on Diddy's court docket. The others include Teny Geragos, Anna Estevao, Jason Driscoll, Xavier R. Donaldson and Alexandra Shapiro. "When you consider the severity of the potential punishment Diddy is facing if convicted, including life in prison, and the sprawling indictment which alleges RICO charges along with the number of witnesses and locations of the conduct being prosecuted, it's easy to see the legal tab topping $10 million," civil rights and criminal defense attorney Adante Pointer told Fox News Digital. Criminal defense attorney John Day told Fox News Digital that he estimates Combs' trial will cost him $15 million "for the entire package," adding, "This is literally a 'money is no object' defense.' Sean "Diddy" Combs pleaded not guilty to an updated version of the federal indictment against the rapper during a March court hearing. Diddy, 55, appeared in a Manhattan courtroom wearing a tan jumpsuit, and showed noticeably grayer hair. His mother, Janice Combs, and four of his children were present in the courtroom. At the end of the hearing, Diddy turned to his family and blew a two-handed kiss. The new indictment against Diddy lengthened the timeline of his alleged sex-trafficking and racketeering behavior and added two more unnamed victims. The prosecution also accused the "Last Night" rapper of forcing employees to work long hours by threatening them with physical or reputational harm and forcing an employee to engage in a sexual encounter with the musician. The sides also discussed evidence to be used during trial – including footage previously obtained by CNN and shared publicly showing Diddy assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Prosecutors argued this was critical evidence for their case against Diddy, while his team claimed the video was deceptive. The rapper's legal team said a forensic analysis of the video showed it had been sped up and the order of events had been changed. CNN denied the allegations in a statement to Fox News Digital. The prosecution expects the government's case to take six weeks to lay out, while Diddy's legal team estimates needing two weeks to argue the rapper's defense. Live Coverage begins here
Time Magazine
2 hours ago
- Time Magazine
What We Know About the Boulder, Colorado Attack
Eight people at an outdoor mall in Boulder, Colorado calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza were injured on Sunday by a man police say attacked a crowd with makeshift incendiary devices and a flamethrower. The suspect, identified by the FBI as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was arrested at the scene and FBI Director Kash Patel has described the incident as a terror attack. The Department of Justice decried the Pearl Street Mall attack as a 'needless act of violence, which follows recent attacks against Jewish Americans.' Special Agent of the FBI's Denver field office, Mark Michaelik, said in a press conference on Sunday evening: 'Attacks like this are becoming too common across the country, this is an example of how perpetrators of violence continue to threaten communities.' In a statement, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said that the attack 'appears to be a hate crime given the group that was targeted' and that the group was conducting one of its weekly meets. Who is the suspected attacker? CBS reported that Soliman is an Egyptian national who arrived in the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa to California in 2022. According to CBS, the visa expired in February 2023, and Soliman has recently been living in Colorado Springs. According to the FBI's Michaelik, Soliman shouted 'Free Palestine' during the attack. According to the Associated Press, video from the scene showed Soliman holding two clear bottles with transparent liquid while he shouted at onlookers, and another video shows a witness shouting, 'He's right there. He's throwing Molotov cocktails,' as an armed police officer approaches him. Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said that the attack took place around 1:30 p.m. local time, and that Soliman was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Authorities also said that they are confident that the suspect acted alone in the attack. The Boulder County Sheriff's Office said on its daily booking sheet on Monday that Soliman was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, NBC News reported. But authorities have not confirmed if anyone has died as a result of the attack. Who are the victims? Four men and four women are so far said to have been injured in the attack. The injuries were consistent with people being set on fire, Redfearn said on Sunday, adding that one of the victims was in critical condition. The people in hospital range from 67 to 88 years old, the Associated Press reported. The group calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas were part of Run for Their Lives, which organizes non-violent running and walking events. Run for Their Lives has two chapters in Colorado, plus 100 others across 30 U.S. states. According to its website, it was started by a group of Israelis in the Bay Area of San Francisco alongside the Hostage and Missing Families Forum (#BringThemHomeNow). The Boulder attack comes almost two weeks after two Israeli embassy staff were fatally shot in Washington, D.C. while attending an event at the Capitol Jewish Museum. The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, told police after the shooting that he did it for Gaza, and 'for Palestine.' Antisemitism and political violence is on the rise across the U.S. The FBI recorded 1,989 incidents of anti-Jewish hate crimes in 2023, the last year for which data is available.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
James Lowe, Singer in Psych-Rock Band the Electric Prunes, Dies at 82
James Lowe of the Electric Prunes, photo byJames Lowe, the lead singer in psych-rock band the Electric Prunes, has died. In a statement shared on Facebook, Lowe's family said he died of natural causes on Thursday (May 29). 'Dad leaves behind a legacy of sound, love, and boundless creativity,' his family wrote. 'At the center of it all was our amazing mom, Pamela – his guiding star, enduring muse, and wife of 62 years. We know how deeply he cherished this community, and we feel that love too.' Lowe was 82. The founding member the Electric Prunes, Lowe's vision for groovy, trippy psych-rock had a large influence on the direction and popularity of the genre—especially in America—during the 1960s. Their biggest hit, 'I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night),' scaled the Billboard Hot 100 to secure a spot in its upper tier. It also landed a critical spot on Nuggets, the 1972 psych and garage-rock compilation that garnered a cult following. The Electric Prunes's self-titled LP boasted what would become their final Top 40 single: 'Get Me to the World on Time.' Coasting over the tracks was Lowe's smoky, soulful voice, an embodiment of easygoing Californian cool – in part thanks to him being born in San Luis Obispo and growing up in Los Angeles. Surf rock-inspired garage band the Sanctions—founded by Lowe on vocals and guitar, bassist Mark Tulin, lead guitarist Ken Williams, and drummer Michael Weakley—eventually morphed into the Electric Prunes in 1965 when a real estate agent introduced them to Dave Hassinger, the sound engineer at RCA Studios who wanted to produce an album. During the band's recording session, Hassinger suggested they change their name, and Lowe tossed out the Electric Prunes as a joke. 'It's the one thing everyone will remember,' Lowe rationalized. 'It's not attractive, and there's nothing sexy about it, but people won't forget it.' Despite their early singles failing to gain traction, Reprise Records signed the Electric Prunes to a contract overseen by Hassinger. Although a few lineup changes and songwriter sub-ins took place, they settled into the studio and churned out 'I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night).' Building off its success, they recorded the albums The Electric Prunes and Underground, both released in 1967, and went on a successful tour of Europe. Hassinger pitched the Electric Prunes on the idea of a concept album that utilized Gregorian music and psych-pop, and nabbed the late David Axelrod to compose the songs – launching a new, slowly lauded era for the band. The resulting Mass in F Minor was an ambitious, unwieldy record, and one of its spaced-out tracks, 'Kyrie Eleison,' gained a belated popularity bump when it was synced for the cult 1969 film Easy Rider. Years later, it became coveted fodder for rap producers like MF DOOM and Madlib, who worked samples from Mass in F Minor into their songs. After playing that new material just once live in concert, though, Lowe and Weakley decided to leave the band in early 1968, disenchanted with the Electric Prunes' financial difficulties and musical roadbumps. Tulin and Williams followed suit several months later. Lowe pivoted to a life behind the board, becoming a recording engineer and working with artists like Todd Rundgren and Sparks instead. Later on, Lowe also ran a TV production company. With the reins in Hassinger's hands, the Electric Prunes continued on with a different lineup until 1970, releasing two additional albums: 1968's Release of an Oath, as composed by Axelrod and belatedly heralded in experimental and hip-hop circles for its hallucinatory grooves, and 1969's Just Good Old Rock and Roll. However, come 1999, the original lineup of Lowe, Tulin, Williams, and Weakley reunited to record new music and perform live again. In 2001, they released their first comeback album, Artifact, which uncorked the psych-rock sound they originally courted in their earliest days. They went on to record three additional studio LPs: 2004's California, 2006's Feedback, and 2014's WaS. During that later run, the Electric Prunes were one of several notable bands who signed to Billy Corgan and Smashing Pumpkins producer Kerry Brown's new record label. In a 2011 interview, Lowe reflected on his past experiences in the Electric Prunes and stressed the importance of supporting bands you enjoy in real time. 'I have mentioned 'We felt like failures' many times in this process. It sounds corny, but later in life you learn you were not as bad as you thought. I have decided not to beat myself up so much,' he said. 'I encourage people to support their favorite bands by buying something from them on their websites or showing up when they play live in your town. For some, this is the only way they can continue to record and play live. If you don't want to order something, at least give encouragement and support for what they have done for you. It means a lot to get a nice email and this is all most musicians really want for their efforts: a little 'YES!!!!' when it works.' Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
