Latest news with #DomesticViolenceHotline
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who Is Alex Fine? 5 Things to Know About Cassie's Husband Amid Sean ‘Diddy' Combs Trial
Cassie's husband, Alex Fine, has been by her side ever since they started dating in 2018. 'I'm a father, husband and actor. Family and work take the most importance and focus in my life,' Fine told Zero the Magazine in January 2025. 'I became the man I am today a lot from the environment I grew up in. My mom and dad are the best, and they let me be independent in a rougher environment.' Fine and Cassie (real name Casandra Ventura) have been married since October 2019, going on to welcome two daughters with another baby on the way as of spring 2025. In November 2023, Cassie accused ex-boyfriend Sean 'Diddy' Combs of repeated sexual assault and abuse in a lawsuit. He denied the allegations before they settled out of court within a day. Through it all, Fine remained steadfast in Cassie's corner. Cassie and Husband Alex Fine's Relationship Timeline 'Cassie always thanks her daughters and husband for bringing her healing and happiness. Alex has always been the rock she needed,' a source exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2024, noting she sees Fine as a 'true protector' and 'finally feels safe.' That same month, Fine noted via Instagram that he hopes their children can 'live in a world that's safe for women and girls, protects them and treats them as equals.' 'To the women and children, you're not alone, and you are heard,' Fine added, alongside the phone number to the Domestic Violence Hotline. 'Our daughters, sisters, mothers and wives should feel protected and loved. Hold the women in your life with the upmost regard. … To all the survivors, find the men and women who help and love.' Keep scrolling to learn more about Fine: Fine got his professional start as a personal trainer before pursuing various acting roles. His credits include 1883, The Resurrection of Charles Manson, American Primeval and MobLand. 'I needed to build a steady career to live the life I wanted to while I pursued acting,' he told Zero. 'Some people choose bartending, or valet until they get work, I chose fitness and opening a gym in my garage.' Fine noted to Zero that his close friends have called him 'Poonie' since childhood for undisclosed reasons. While the moniker is listed on Fine's official Instagram page, he professionally answers to his given name. Inside the Courtroom Dynamic Between Diddy, Cassie and Her Husband Alex Fine as She Testifies After a year of dating, Fine proposed in August 2019 when Cassie was pregnant with their first baby. He organized a cowboy-themed setup with the Compton Cowboys equestrian group. 'The first thing I saw was the guys on their horses waving at me,' Cassie told Vogue at the time. 'I looked up and saw our initials tied up above them, then Alex came around on his horse. When he got down on one knee, everything just stopped. I felt like I lost my sense of hearing; I just saw his mouth moving, and he said, 'I want to spend the rest of my life with you.' I will never forget how special Alex made me feel that night.' The couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony that October. Cassie and Fine welcomed daughters Frankie and Sunny in December 2019 and March 2021, respectively. The couple frequently shares sweet family moments via social media. In honor of Frankie's 4th birthday, Fine penned a lengthy letter to his firstborn. 'I will be the first man in your life and will show you the greatest love and affection now and forever,' he wrote via Instagram in December 2023. 'I never thought my heart could grow bigger after meeting your mother. Then, I found out we were having you and I instantly felt a love that is so indescribable.' He added, 'I promise to be at every dance recital, concert, sporting event, school plays whatever you decide to do I will be there and support you. I am your No. 1 fan. I promise to be a man that you and your mother look up to and love. I will always listen and put the both of you first. I will show you a healthy relationship and how you deserve to be treated. I promise to never approve of any boy you like because they will never be good enough for my baby girl. Sorry." Diddy was arrested in September 2024 on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty. '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 lawyer Marc Agnifilo told Us Weekly in a statement at the time. 'Sean 'Diddy' Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children and working to uplift the Black community. He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal.' When a trial began in May 2025, Cassie delivered a four-day testimony, in which she discussed her accusations and their past relationship at length. Fine was present nearly the entire time, only stepping out when Cassie recalled a 2018 encounter with Diddy while she was already dating Fine. (The defense attorneys previously indicated that Fine might be called as a witness later during the trial.) At the end of Cassie's testimony, her attorney read aloud a statement written by Fine. 'Over the past five days, the world has gotten to witness the strength and bravery of my wife freeing herself of her past,' the statement read. 'There has been speculation online surrounding how it must feel for me to sit there and listen to my wife's testimony. I have felt so many things sitting there. I have felt tremendous pride and overwhelming love for Cass. I have felt profound anger that she has been subjected to sitting in front of a person who tried to break her.' He added, 'So to him and all of those who helped him along the way, please know this. You did not. You did not break her spirit, nor her smile, that lights up every room. You did not break the soul of a mother who gives the best hugs and plays the silliest games with our little girls. You did not break the woman who has made me a better man.' 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 are 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.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dawn Richard Testifies Usher and Others Were Present when Diddy Allegedly Punched Cassie in the Stomach
Dawn Richard is the fourth person to testify in Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial Richard filed a lawsuit in 2024 alleging the music mogul sexually and verbally abused her Richard alleges she witnessed Combs assault his then-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura with a skillet full of eggs and, on another occasion, punch her in the stomach Dawn Richard, the Danity Kane member who has accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of sexual abuse, says she witnessed him allegedly beat and punch his ex-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, while other celebrities, including Usher, were present. Richard appeared in court Friday, May 16. She took the seat again on Monday, alleging Combs assaulted Ventura at a restaurant in 2010. The alleged incident took place in a room at the restaurant where Combs and Ventura were arguing quietly, when he punched her in the stomach. "She immediately bent over, he [Combs] told her to leave," Richard testified. "No one intervened." Among those allegedly present at the dinner were Usher, musician Ne-Yo, Jimmy Iovine and "other celebrities" that Richard could not recall on the witness stand. PEOPLE has reached out to Usher's team for comments. Related: Dawn Richard Testifies Diddy Made This Chilling Threat After Attacking Cassie with Skillet After they left the restaurant, Richard was in the car with the couple when Ventura said she was "embarrassed" and told Combs he shouldn't have acted in that manner in public. 'He grabbed her by the neck and popped her, slapped her in the mouth," Richard testified, adding that Combs then said to Ventura: "Shut the f**k up." "He would tell her he owned her," Richard added. "I told her he should leave. Cass looked torn. She would listen, but I could see the fear." Richard previously said she witnessed Combs allegedly assault Ventura with a skillet full of eggs in 2009. After she witnessed the incident, Richard testified, Combs threatened her. "He said you could go missing, that we could die," she told the jury. "I was shocked but also scared, I couldn't believe this would be the beginning of a journey for us." The trial entered its second week on Monday, following nearly a week of testimony from Ventura. Combs is on trial for racketeering, sex trafficking by force and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Juvenile left bloodied and bruised in alleged domestic violence incident
DISCLAIMER: All suspects are innocent until proven guilty. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – On Sunday, just after 7:30 p.m., Shreveport Police officers responded to reports of an armed person in the 400 block of Browning Street. The SPD discovered a 16-year-old female suffering from a bloody nose. The victim told police that her 20-year-old boyfriend, Cordarius Moore, allegedly physically assaulted her and remained inside the residence while armed with a knife. High-speed chases end in arrests, crash, power outage 'Officers swiftly secured the scene and detained all individuals present,' a press release stated. 'Preliminary investigation revealed that an argument had occurred between the victim and Moore, with whom she had been in a romantic relationship. During the investigation, officers observed bruising around the victim's neck, indicating signs of strangulation.' Moore faces one count of Domestic Abuse Battery by Strangulation. The release added that 'based on the victim's age and the nature of their relationship,' Moore also faces one count of Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, please get in touch with local law enforcement or the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
03-03-2025
- USA Today
Gabby Petito series on Netflix shows vital lessons about domestic violence
Gabby Petito series on Netflix shows vital lessons about domestic violence | Opinion Docuseries 'American Murder: Gabby Petito' uses text messages, social media videos and interviews with family members to weave a heartbreaking narrative. Show Caption Hide Caption Netflix releases docuseries on Gabby Petito murder case Netflix's "American Murder: Gabby Petito" explores the tragic disappearance and death of Gabby after a road trip with fiancé Brian Laundrie. The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers free, confidential support: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Text 'START' to 88788. Chat live at Gabby Petito caught the nation's interest in 2021 when she went missing while on a cross-country van trip with fiancé Brian Laundrie. After an extensive search, the 22-year-old woman's body was discovered near a camp ground in Wyoming, and a medical examiner ruled that she had been strangled. Laundrie, 23, also went missing, after he returned alone to his parents' home in Florida. His body, along with a written confession that he had killed Petito, was found in a park, and his death was ruled a suicide. Now, a new Netflix documentary series, "American Murder: Gabby Petito," uses text messages, social media videos and interviews with family members to weave a vital narrative about domestic violence. Domestic violence is about control One thing the documentary does well is to dispel myths about abusers. It also highlights the primary element of abuse − coercive control. One myth is that abusers are always violent from the start. That might be true in some cases, but often it's the opposite. The abuser conceals red flags early in the relationship, but abusive language, domineering control and physical violence creep in over time. In the documentary, Laundrie initially seems like a regular guy. While I did sense that something was off about him early in the series, he doesn't appear to be violent. If anything, he comes across as quiet and insecure. He charms Petito, and the two engage in a whirlwind romance. It's common for abusers to quickly push a new relationship to the next level, so a victim is emotionally entangled before abusive behavior fully emerges. That doesn't mean that every romantic partnership that moves quickly involves abuse. But almost all abusive relationships move rapidly through the initial stages of getting to know someone as a person and as a romantic partner. Physical violence rarely happens early in a relationship, but elements of emotional abuse often begin right away, as we see in the documentary. Opinion: The Blake Lively smear campaign exposes sordid level of public manipulation Like most abusers, Laundrie shows several signs of controlling behavior, although they're subtle enough that I can see where Petito and her family missed them. The documentary shows text messages in which he complained about her work and the time she spent away from him, including with friends. He called her names in some messages and appeared jealous of her at times. But the two would quickly make up, and it's clear that Petito wanted to make the relationship work. That's another common factor in abusive relationships − the victim is emotionally invested enough to overlook the early signs of destructive behavior. Laundrie quickly starts to isolate Petito, which is another common tactic. While she was onboard with their decision to drive across the country in a converted van, the trip also worked to separate Petito from her support system. The couple also were often without cell service while traversing Utah, which created a ripe opportunity for an abuser to take advantage of his victim. Abusers play the victim, and even professionals miss it I first paid attention to the Petito case when police bodycam video was released in 2021. Scenes from that video are shown in the documentary, but they're presented with text messages and journal entries that provide context about what had happened and would happen in the relationship before and after the encounter with police. With that context, the video, recorded less than a month before Petito was reported missing, is nauseating and shows a classic example of an abusive dynamic in a relationship. Opinion: 'It Ends With Us' shows some realities of domestic violence. Here's what it got wrong. After receiving a 911 call about a potential domestic violence incident, police in Moab, Utah, confronted the couple. The caller described seeing Laundrie slap Petito, but the police focused on scratches on his face. Although Petito is crying, it's Laundrie who claimed that she slapped him. Police separated the couple to speak to each separately. When an officer asked Petito why she was crying, she blamed herself: "We've just been fighting this morning. Some personal issues." The couple told officers the same story − they were arguing and both became violent. But their body language told a different story. While Petito struggled to calm down, Laundrie was relaxed, almost charismatic, as he joked with officers. He seems chummy with the police, even though his fiancée was distraught. Incredibly, the police bought the story. 'You're the victim of a domestic assault,' one officer told Laundrie. They sent him to a hotel for the night for refuge, and Petito was left alone on the road in the van. The scene is infuriating, not only because of what happened to Petito but also because the police overlooked a common dynamic in abusive relationships. Abusers crave control, and they maintain it by turning the tables on their victims to keep them disoriented and confused. Abusers are able to gaslight their victims and others into thinking they are charming and kind. They're not abusive, their partners are. Abusers play the victim often and well, cycling from bully to supposed victim with ease. Abusers are often so good at this, they can fool therapists and police − the very people victims look to for help. Resources are available to help victims escape domestic violence Petito's story is heartbreaking, but it can help people understand just how common it is for women to suffer violence and abuse. The World Health Organization reports that globally, 1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes. After her death, Petito's parents started the Gabby Petito Foundation to help people learn about the cycles and signs of abuse. The foundation offers training programs and other resources on domestic violence. Online resources that allow victims to search in private are key to helping them learn the signs of an abusive relationship and how to escape. Policy changes also can help. Thanks in part to the public support of Petito's parents, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox in 2023 signed a law that requires police responding to a report of domestic violence to ask specific questions to determine if a person is at risk of being hurt or killed by their partner. Every state should adopt such a measure. Yet, the best way to stop abusers is for women but especially men to stand in the gap, to force a spotlight on this insidious behavior and to demand that it stop. The Netflix documentary ends with scenes from the only video that Petito uploaded to her vlogging channel. She is shown running along a beach on a sunny day. She is young, pretty and carefree. Her whole life appears to be ahead of her. We know, of course, that her life would end far too soon. She became a victim of a violent abuser, another life cut short by the evil of domestic violence. Nicole Russell is a columnist at USA TODAY and a mother of four who lives in Texas. Contact her at nrussell@ and follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @russell_nm. Sign up for her weekly newsletter, The Right Track, here.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Yahoo
Experts warn about domestic violence after baby, mother shot in Murfreesboro
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — Experts have issued warnings about how quickly domestic violence situations can turn deadly after police said an argument may be to blame for the death of a 1-year-old Sunday afternoon. According to Murfreesboro police, a dispute over loud music may have led to an altercation at the Chelsea Place Apartments. Investigators said the baby's mother and 24-year-old Marquavious Hampton got into an altercation that ended with Hampton allegedly shooting the infant multiple times. The mother's hand was also shot as she tried to shield her child. PREVIOUS: Baby dead, mother injured after dispute over 'loud music' at Murfreesboro apartment complex 'About 53% of the calls that Murfreesboro Police Department go on, on a yearly basis, are domestic violence in nature,' executive director of the Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center, Ericka Downing, said. 'We're the fourth largest county in the state. Unfortunately, as the population increases, so does crime.' Downing said domestic violence cases have even outpaced the area's population growth. She urged those in these situations to seek help, and for neighbors to watch for red flags. 'The emotional abuse, the psychological abuse, the financial abuse — all those things escalate,' Downing said. 'And something innocent can end in death.' According to police, Hampton was located in Williamson County thanks to license plate recognition technology. After running from deputies, police said he fatally shot himself. READ MORE | Latest headlines from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County 'It takes, on average, seven times for someone to leave a domestic violence relationship,' Downing said. 'And each time someone decides to leave that circle, that cycle of violence goes around quicker and quicker and quicker.' According to Downing, one in three women and one in four men will experience domestic violence during their lifetime. For anyone seeking help, including friends and family of victims or survivors, you can reach out to the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center directly or call the Domestic Violence Hotline at 615-896-2012. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
