In her emotionally charged courtroom testimony on Wednesday, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura provided vivid firsthand accounts of the abuse, control and coercion she alleges to have endured during her relationship with music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. The 33-year-old artist—now eight and a half months pregnant—returned to the witness stand in the Brooklyn federal courthouse for the third day of Combs’s racketeering and sex-trafficking trial. Ventura’s graphic descriptions of a “freak-off” blackmail scheme, repeated physical assaults and threats to her career have cast a spotlight on the darker side of Combs’s high-profile lifestyle.
Background of the Trial
Combs, 54, faces a slew of federal charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Prosecutors allege that between 2007 and 2023, Combs orchestrated a criminal enterprise that subjected women—including Ventura—to forced sexual encounters, drug abuse and physical violence, all under the threat of career-ending exposure or financial ruin. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all counts, and the trial—expected to last at least eight weeks—is not being televised. If convicted, he faces the possibility of life imprisonment.
Hotel Lobby Assault: Surveillance Footage and Injury
On Wednesday morning, Ventura revisited the widely circulated 2016 surveillance video showing Combs’s violent outburst in the lobby of the Mark Hotel in New York City. She recounted how Combs—angered by a perceived slight—had hurled a heavy decorative vase in her direction. “I didn’t get hit; I remember it smashing against the wall,” she testified. “But he was screaming that I wasn’t going to leave him there. That I couldn’t.”
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Prosecutors then introduced two photographs Ventura had taken of herself immediately after the incident. In one, her lip is noticeably swollen; in the other, a dark bruise peeks out beneath her sunglasses. “He asked me, ‘Why are you crying?’” she recalled. “I told him, ‘You’re sick for thinking it’s OK to do what you did to me.’” The images underscored the pattern of physical intimidation Ventura alleges defined their relationship.
“Freak-Offs”: Coerced Sexual Encounters and Blackmail
Central to Ventura’s testimony were the so-called “freak-offs”—escalating sexual scenarios involving hired escorts that Combs demanded Ventura facilitate using his money. “That was just my job,” she stated. “It was expected of me. If I said no, we’d fight. And I was always worried it could turn violent.”
Ventura described more than a dozen such episodes, many involving the administration of ketamine to help her dissociate. In a 2016 text message shown in court, Combs urged her to hold a “proper” freak-off without ketamine, asserting that a session was successful only “when we remember.” Ventura told jurors she preferred ketamine because it dulled the pain and dread. “It was very dissociative,” she said.
She further alleged that Combs routinely threatened to release video recordings of these encounters unless she complied with his demands. On one birthday, after refusing to abandon her friends for a freak-off, Ventura said Combs reminded her of the videos he held. “I feared for my career, my family … It is horrible and disgusting, no one should do that to anyone,” she testified. “It could ruin everything I worked for, make me look like a slut … I wasn’t supposed to be on those videos. I didn’t want to be in them. I felt trapped.”
Physical and Psychological Toll
Ventura recounted the lasting damage inflicted by the freak-offs and accompanying abuse. She suffered persistent urinary tract infections due to the constant sexual exploitation, yet said she was forced to participate even when the pain was “horrible.” “Afterwards, I felt empty and gross,” she told the court. On occasions when she fled a session out of fear, Ventura said Combs or one of his employees would track her down and compel her return.
During some freak-offs, Combs allegedly struck her on the side of the head or kicked her. Escorts present would later check on her well-being, prompting awkward inquiries in hallways and behind closed doors. Ventura said she sometimes fought back—but that resistance only escalated the violence. Multiple Combs employees, including security personnel and personal assistants, witnessed or were aware of the abuse. One assistant allegedly resigned over the treatment of Ventura.
Earlier Episodes of Violence
Beyond the freak-offs, Ventura described longstanding patterns of intimidation. She detailed an incident in 2013 at her Los Angeles apartment when Combs attempted to attack her. Two friends intervened, “jumping on his back,” yet Combs still managed to throw Ventura to the floor, causing a deep gash above her eyebrow. She testified that Combs then drove her to a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon’s office to have the wound stitched. “He wanted me to send him a photo of the cut so he could remember,” Ventura said through tears.
Legal Implications and Witness Credibility
Prosecutors have portrayed Ventura as a credible witness whose testimony illuminates the broader criminal conspiracy. They noted her prompt medical documentation, consistent texts to Combs complaining of injury, and her willingness to revisit traumatic events in open court. Defense attorneys, however, have signaled their intent to challenge Ventura’s recollection and motives, suggesting she may have financial incentives tied to her 2023 lawsuit settlement with Combs.
Combs’s Denial and Defense Strategy
In pretrial statements, Combs’s legal team has denied all allegations, arguing that no evidence proves Ventura or other accusers were coerced. They dismiss the freak-off videos as consensual recordings. Cross-examination is expected to probe inconsistencies in timing, memory and alleged financial arrangements between Ventura and Combs.
Broader Impact: Public Reaction and Industry Fallout
Ventura’s testimony has reignited public debate over celebrity accountability and the music industry’s power dynamics. Social media platforms have been awash with support for Ventura and calls for systemic reform. Several artists publicly expressed solidarity, while sponsors and collaborators reportedly reconsidered affiliations pending the trial’s outcome.
Women’s advocacy groups have lauded Ventura’s courage, noting that her willingness to speak out—even while heavily pregnant—underscores the gravity of intimate-partner violence and sex-trafficking issues. “Her testimony shines a light on the complexities survivors face when fame and finances are weaponized against them,” said Maria Greene of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Next Steps in the Trial
After Ventura’s testimony concludes, prosecutors are slated to call additional witnesses, including forensic psychologists to attest to the trauma’s psychological effects, and former Combs associates who may corroborate claims of paid escorts and coercive behavior. Defense counsel will cross-examine all key witnesses to cast doubt on prosecutorial assertions. Closing arguments are not expected for several weeks, with sentencing (if applicable) projected for later this year.
Resources for Survivors
The trial transcript and live updates have underscored the prevalence of intimate-partner violence. Those impacted by similar experiences are encouraged to seek help. In the U.S., the National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the U.K., contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline at 0808 2000 247. In Australia, call 1800 737 732 for the National Family Violence Helpline. Additional international resources are available via www.befrienders.org.
Conclusion
Cassie Ventura’s testimony represents a pivotal chapter in the high-stakes trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs. Her graphic accounts of blackmail-fueled “freak-offs,” forced drug use, and physical assaults have provided jurors—and the public—with a rare window into the alleged abuses underpinning the racketeering and sex-trafficking charges. As the trial progresses through competing narratives of victimization and consent, its outcome may redefine accountability for powerful figures in the entertainment industry and shape future legal standards for addressing intimate-partner and sex-trafficking crimes.
