After a grueling week on the witness stand, Cassie Ventura—former longtime partner of Sean “Diddy” Combs and currently pregnant—stepped down Friday afternoon at a federal courthouse in lower Manhattan. Her emotional, often chilling testimony laid bare years of alleged abuse, manipulation, coercion, and sexual exploitation at the hands of the music mogul.
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Ventura detailed a disturbing pattern of control, including being coerced into drug use and non-consensual sexual encounters with male prostitutes—all allegedly for Combs’ gratification. Despite the deeply painful revelations, she stunned the courtroom when she told Combs’ attorney she harbors no hatred toward him.
Among the most harrowing claims was her account of an alleged rape by Combs in 2018, just as their relationship was ending. Yet, during cross-examination, she acknowledged having consensual sex with him weeks after the incident—a fact the defense seized upon in attempts to undermine her credibility.
Ventura also testified that Combs’ orchestrated “freak-offs”—parties involving group sex and substance use—consumed so much of her time and energy that they derailed her music career.
Her statements are central to the prosecution’s five-count indictment against Combs, which accuses him of running a years-long criminal enterprise. Prosecutors allege that he lured women under the guise of romantic relationships, only to trap them in a web of fear, drugs, and forced sexual acts—sometimes with other men—while he and others watched.
Two more witnesses are expected to testify that this behavior followed a repeated and organized pattern, involving multiple members of Combs’ inner circle.
The defense, meanwhile, has worked to cast doubt on Ventura’s motivations, questioning her financial settlements—including a $20 million civil case payout and another sum from a lawsuit involving the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, where she says Combs attacked her. They claim the case is rooted in money, jealousy, and heartbreak, not criminal activity.
By 3:30 p.m., Judge Subramanian dismissed Ventura, wishing her a good weekend as she left the courtroom—her first face-to-face encounter with Combs in years finally behind her.
Following her departure, two more witnesses took the stand. Special Agent Yasin Binda, who oversaw Combs’ arrest, testified that $9,000 in cash, two bags of ketamine, and a pink powder resembling cocaine were found in Combs’ hotel room. The jury was shown the evidence in court.
Next came Dawn Richard, a former member of the girl group Danity Kane, who was mentored by Combs during MTV’s Making the Band. Richard offered a disturbing account of witnessing Combs physically assault Ventura in 2009.
“He came downstairs yelling, completely unhinged, demanding food—and then beat her in front of all of us,” she testified. “I was terrified to intervene, scared of what might happen to me.”
The day ended in a sidebar discussion following Richard’s explosive testimony, with court set to resume Monday morning.
Outside the courtroom, Ventura’s husband, Alex Fine, shared a powerful written statement—read aloud by her attorney, Douglas Wigdor—that praised her strength and courage.
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“Over the past five days, the world has witnessed the strength and bravery of my wife as she liberated herself from her past,” Fine stated. “Yes, I’ve felt rage and heartbreak sitting there. But above all, I’ve felt overwhelming pride in Cass.”
He went on to reject the notion that he had “saved” her:
“To say I saved Cassie is to ignore the years of painful, personal work she’s done. Cassie saved Cassie. She broke free from the darkness, and all I’ve done is love her as she’s loved me.”
Fine concluded by asking for privacy as their family prepares to welcome their newborn son, emphasizing that this traumatic chapter is finally closed:
“Her life is now full of love, laughter, and safety. This horrific chapter is behind us, and we move forward stronger than ever.”
