Who Is The Punisher? 6 Takeaways From the Exotic Dancer's Diddy Testimony
Exotic dancer Sharay Hayes, known as The Punisher, made headlines when he testified at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial.
Hayes claimed in the Tuesday, May 20, courtroom that he was hired for the first time in 2012 to participate in one of Diddy's alleged 'freak offs.' Hayes testified that he was hired to create a 'sexy scene' for Diddy and Cassie, who were in an on and off relationship from 2007 to 2018.
Hayes testified that he was told to meet Cassie (real name Casandra Ventura) at New York City's Trump Tower on Central Park West where he assumed he was being hired to perform for a group of women. He claimed he was paid $800 in cash upon arrival.
Hayes alleged that Cassie met him at the door in a bathrobe and wig, proceeding to tell him that the 'sexy scene' would involve the two of them 'mutually applying' baby oil on each other.
Hayes claimed he was told by Cassie that her partner would join them, but he was unaware of her or Diddy's identity at the time. 'I was specifically told to not acknowledge her husband,' Hayes alleged.
Hayes testified that a nude man wearing a veil, who he claimed to be Diddy, entered the room and masturbated in the corner while watching. He claimed that Cassie and the man left the room after about half an hour. When Cassie came back, she allegedly asked Hayes whether he wanted to 'finish' and he declined. He claimed he was paid an additional $1,200 and left the hotel.
News broke in September 2024 that Diddy was arrested in September 2024 and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied all of the allegations against him.
'We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney's Office,' Diddy's attorney Marc Agnifilo said in a statement at the time. 'He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.'
Diddy has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn following his arrest, with his four requests for bail denied by Judge Arun Subramanian.
Scroll down to see more takeaways from The Punisher's testimony:
Hayes explained that he received the moniker as a teenager because of his style of play on the basketball court.
Hayes testified that he is the author of a self-help book, titled In Search of Freezer Meat, about his experiences with erectile dysfunction. Hayes explained that the book delves into his journey with his condition and is 'real, genuine, medical advice but framed through his story. Per the Washington Post, Hayes noted that he 'tried to make light' of the issue in an effort to be relatable.
'What's harder than freezer meat?' Hayes said in the courtroom.
Hayes claimed that six and a half pages out of the 182 pages in his book mentioned Diddy and Cassie — but they were not referenced by name. Instead, Hayes referred to them as a married, wealthy couple.
'Point of the story was to pinpoint my anxiety … not necessarily the details of the story,' he said. 'I sensationalized it to make an entertaining story for the book.'
Male Escort Nicknamed 'The Punisher' Testifies He Was Hired for a Dozen Diddy Freak Offs
The website for Hayes' exotic dancing services, Getpunished.com, reads, 'In the spirit of such as Chippendales, Getpunished is an upscale option for black and latin women to celebrate there [sic] intimate occasions with the men they want to see. Getpunished is high energy, completely choreographed, audience participation male revue where your wildest fantasies will become reality!'
Hayes testified that he's now the co-owner of Hunk-o Mania, an exotic dancer company.
After the first time, Hayes claimed he participated in about eight to 12 more freak offs with Diddy and Cassie — and eventually uncovered who they were because he followed the rap mogul on Instagram and recognized Cassie in one of the images.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs Is on Trial in NYC: Daily Updates From Inside the Courtroom
When the defense highlighted how Hayes expressed in his first government meeting that he started growing feelings for Cassie, Hayes replied, 'That might've been taken out of context because that's not true.'
'It's very important for me to read the room,' he said, adding that he does not dry hump or perform with any woman who is uncomfortable.
Hayes testified that he does not do any drugs, claiming he would pull a 'Bill Clinton' and pretend to take a puff from a joint but not inhale if handed one.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
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