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Kuwait Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' former girlfriend said fighting back made
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' former girlfriend Casandra Ventura testified on Wednesday that early in their relationship, she physically fought back when the hip-hop mogul abused her but stopped because doing so made him more violent. Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known as 'Cassie' who took the stand wearing a turtleneck dress and a dark jacket, is the prosecution's star witness in the high-profile sex-trafficking case against Combs. She told the jury on Tuesday that she took part for a decade in Combs' drug-fueled parties known as 'Freak Offs,' often fearful he could become violent if she didn't, leaving her with black eyes and bruises all over her body. On Wednesday, the third day of testimony in Manhattan federal court, Ventura, 38, told jurors that while fighting back sometimes slowed Combs down, it usually just made the abuse worse. 'It would just make him more violent, make him stronger, make him want to push me harder,' she told jurors. Combs, 55, is being jailed in Brooklyn when not in court. He wore a light sweater over a white collared shirt to court on Wednesday. Singer and model Cassie Ventura (left) and Rap mogul P Diddy (aka Sean Combs) arrive for the traditionnal Clive Davis party on the eve of the 60th Annual Grammy Awards on January 28, 2018, in New York. Combs has pleaded not guilty to five felony counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all counts, he would face a minimum 15 years in prison and could face life behind bars. Earlier this week jurors saw a 2016 surveillance video from the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel where a towel-clad Combs threw Ventura to the ground and began to kick her. She said the video was taken after a 'Freak Off' where Combs gave her a black eye. 'I made it to the elevators, I got my sneakers on, and the next thing I knew, I was thrown to the ground,' Ventura said. Asked by a prosecutor why she stayed on the ground, Ventura said: 'I felt like it was the safest place to be.' The criminal trial could take up to two months. Combs also faces dozens of civil lawsuits by women and men who accuse him of sexual abuse. He has denied wrongdoing, and said his relationships were consensual. Ventura, 38, testified earlier that she once viewed her relationship with Combs, which began in her early 20s, as her first real adult relationship. But she said Combs became more controlling as the 'Freak Offs,' which she said lasted as long as four days, took over their relationship and derailed her music career. Combs has apologized for the video, and his lawyers have said prosecutors have tried to improperly punish him for his 'swingers' lifestyle. They are expected to cross-examine Ventura after she finishes her direct testimony. Also known during his career as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, Combs founded Bad Boy Records and is credited with helping turn artists like Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars in the 1990s and 2000s. — AFP
The Citizen
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Diddy's ex Cassie to face intense defense questioning
Casandra Ventura prepares for questioning after two days of harrowing testimony accusing Sean 'Diddy' Combs of rape, abuse and coercive sex acts. (FILES) Singer and model Cassie Ventura (L) and Rap mogul P Diddy (aka Sean Combs) arrive for the traditionnal Clive Davis party on the eve of the 60th Annual Grammy Awards on January 28, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP) Casandra Ventura, the former girlfriend of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, is set to receive intense cross-examination from the music mogul's defense team Thursday in his sex trafficking trial. Ventura, the singer widely known as Cassie, told jurors over two days that Combs raped, beat and forced her into drug-fueled sex parties over the course of their more than a decade together, excruciating testimony that now subjects her to a grilling from defense lawyers. Combs's lawyers indicated they would seek to emphasize that Ventura took drugs of her own free will, and behaved erratically and even violently herself. While Ventura's relationship with Combs was complicated and included domestic abuse, the defense said in opening statements, it did not amount to the sex trafficking he is charged with. 'Being a willing participant in your own sex life is not sex trafficking,' said defense lawyer Teny Geragos earlier this week. ALSO READ: Kanye West drops track featuring daughter and Diddy, sparks legal feud with Kim Kardashian Combs, 55, was once one of the most powerful figures in the music industry, but is now incarcerated on charges of sex trafficking and leading an illegal sex ring that enforced its power with crimes including arson, kidnapping and bribery. Ventura is the case's star witness: over two days of testimony, the now 38-year-old described Combs as controlling and willing to wield his wealth and influence to fulfill his desires. She gave vivid accounts of coercive sex parties — she participated in hundreds, she testified — and violent beatings that will underpin much of the prosecution's case against the music industry figure, who is alleged to have used violence and blackmail to manipulate women over many years. 'Humiliating' Heavily pregnant with her third child, Ventura told jurors in a measured tone — but sometimes through tears — how she was forced to engaged in 'freak-offs' with Combs and male escorts, sometimes engaging in days-long sex performances directed by the music mogul. She described how in 2018, as she and Combs were breaking up, he raped her in her living room. ALSO READ: Kanye West targets Jay-Z and Beyoncé's kids in latest rant as he drops new album And she testified that her time with the artist left her with post traumatic stress disorder, drug addiction and suicidal thoughts. The drugs were a 'buffer' to withstand the 'humiliating' and often-filmed sexual encounters, she said. In a graphic hotel surveillance clip from March 2016 shown to jurors Monday, Tuesday and again Wednesday, Combs is seen brutally beating and dragging Ventura down a hallway. The prosecution played portions of the footage while Ventura was on the stand. When asked why she didn't fight back or get up, Ventura answered simply that curled up on the ground 'felt like the safest place to be.' ALSO READ: Pee Diddy: Rap mogul renamed after girlfriend admits to enjoying golden showers Following the hotel assault, Ventura was forced to attend the premiere of her movie 'The Perfect Match' days later while covered in bruises, the jury heard as they were shown photographs of the actress with Combs at the event. Ventura said she wore sunglasses to conceal a black eye. Combs's defense team insists while some of his behavior was questionable, it did not constitute racketeering and sex trafficking. He denies all counts. Ventura's testimony is expected to last at least until the end of the week, and trial proceedings are anticipated to continue well into the summer. – By: © Agence France-Presse
