Sean ‘Diddy' Combs's ex-girlfriend says she felt obligated to participate in ‘freak-offs'

The Guardian

2 days ago

The federal sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs entered its fifth week on Monday as a former girlfriend of Combs resumed her testimony, telling jurors that she repeatedly told the music mogul that she didn't want to have sex with other men.
The woman, testifying under the pseudonym 'Jane', dated Combs from 2021 until his arrest in September 2024.
Throughout her testimony, which is in its third day, Jane has alleged that during their relationship she felt obligated and pressured to participate in the drug-fueled sex parties with hired male escorts – known as 'hotel nights' or 'freak-offs' – that she said Combs would request, direct, watch and masturbate to, and would sometimes film.
Last week, Jane testified that their relationship began as loving and that she fell 'pretty head over heels' for Combs. But, she said a shift occurred in their relationship after Combs introduced his sexual fantasies involving other men and role-playing, and proposed the so-called 'hotel nights'.
Jane, who has been described by prosecutors as a single mother who first met Combs in 2020, testified that she agreed to her first 'hotel night' in May 2021, wanting to please Combs, and described it as opening 'a Pandora's box'.
'It set the tone for our relationship going forward,' she said, adding that 'it was a door that I was unable to shut'.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of sex-trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution.
On the stand, Jane has said that throughout their relationship she repeatedly told the music mogul that she did not want to have sex with other men, but that he would dismiss and brush off her concerns.
Jane said that he began paying her rent in 2023, and testified that after this, she felt 'an obligation' to participate in the sexual encounters, fearing she would lose her home where she lived with her son if she refused. (Jane has testified that Combs is still paying her rent as well as her legal fees.)
Prosecutors presented a series of text messages between Jane and Combs, including some where Jane told Combs she no longer wanted to participate in the 'hotel nights'.
'It's dark, sleazy, and makes me feel disgusted with myself' Jane wrote to Combs in September 2023. 'I don't want to feel obligated to perform these nights with you in fear of losing the roof over my head.'
Jane testified that at times, when she expressed 'frustration' about the 'hotel nights', Combs would call her 'crazy', or promise her quality time, or bring up the home she lived in. She also alleged on Monday that once during an argument, Combs threatened to show sex tapes of her from the 'hotel nights' to her child's father.
Jane's account of the 'hotel nights' has, thus far, mirrored claims made by Combs's former girlfriend, singer Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, who testified earlier in the trial, and described similar sexual encounters she said Combs called 'freak-offs'.
Jane told the court on Monday that when she read the civil lawsuit filed by Ventura against Combs in November 2023, she was shocked, adding that the allegations 'resembled' her own experiences.
'I almost fainted, in fact, I think I did,' Jane said.
A few days after the lawsuit was filed, Jane texted Combs, saying: 'I feel like I'm reading my own sexual trauma.'
Combs's lawyers have argued that the women who participated in the 'freak-offs' or 'hotel nights' did so consensually and that the encounters were part of a 'swingers lifestyle'.
Jane's testimony is still continuing as of Monday afternoon, and Combs's lawyers are expected to begin cross-examining Jane this week.
Separately, over the weekend, Combs's legal team filed a second mistrial motion, alleging prosecutorial misconduct and accusing the prosecutors of presenting 'materially false' testimony.
The motion centers around the testimony of Bryana Bongolan, a longtime friend of Ventura's, who testified last week that in September 2016 Combs dangled her from a 17th floor apartment balcony in Los Angeles, which she said resulted in injuries.
During the cross-examination, Combs's legal team presented hotel records showing that Combs was in New York at the time of the alleged incident.
'In this trial the government has presented testimony that it knew or should have known was materially false related to its allegation that Mr Combs dangled Bryana Bongolan from the balcony of Cassie Ventura's apartment in September 2016' Combs's lawyers wrote in the mistrial motion filed on Saturday. 'Accordingly, to avoid an unfair conviction in this case the Court should grant a mistrial.'
Judge Arun Subramanian gave the government until Tuesday to respond.
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html