On Thursday, during a riveting cross-examination in the federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial against hip-hop titan Sean "Diddy" Combs, Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura vividly recounted their group sexual escapades, the depths of their drug abuse, and her personal sentiments towards Combs. This marked the trial's fourth day in New York, with Ventura continuing her testimony that painted a picture of alleged sexual coercion, drug administration, and physical abuse as systemic behaviors.
Combs stands accused of three primary offenses: sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transporting individuals for prostitution. However, his defense team vehemently denies any wrongdoing on his part.
Anna Estevao, one of Combs' defense attorneys, sought to portray their relationship as one of affection, arguing that Ventura eagerly anticipated and even orchestrated some of these so-called "freak-offs." Ventura has characterized these events as instances where Combs directed her to ingest various substances and arranged for male prostitutes for her to engage in sexual activity with, all while he observed.
To bolster their case, the defense presented text messages exchanged between the two, in which Ventura expressed excitement, stating she "can't wait either" for their next "freak-off," claiming she was "always ready to FO," and expressing enjoyment when "we both want it." The texts further referenced Ventura selecting rooms, procuring supplies, and hiring escorts.
Ventura, however, dismissed these texts as mere "words," downplaying their significance in the broader narrative she was presenting.
Earlier in her testimony, she emotionally recounted that her actions were sometimes prompted by fear, and she would strive diligently to manage the aftermath, or as she termed it, "damage control," so she could anticipate such occurrences. She confessed her love for him and her endeavors to bring him joy. Ventura emphasized that much of her time was consumed by either enduring these "freak-offs" or recovering from their aftermath. If she resisted, Combs would resort to violence, she alleged.
On Thursday, she described these "freak-offs" as akin to a relentless job she deeply loathed, especially when Combs filmed them. The defense grilled Ventura on Combs' mental state during his violent outbreaks, yet refrained from drawing a direct link between the two.
During the opening statements, Combs' legal representatives acknowledged his misdeeds in a 2016 hotel hallway video, which CNN exposed last year. The footage captured Combs chasing Ventura down the hall, throwing her to the ground, kicking, dragging, and assaulting her.
Ventura revealed on Thursday that their relationship was heavily intertwined with drug use, and although Combs made several attempts to halt it, he never encouraged rehabilitation. She mentioned his frequent withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability, but was uncertain if he was under the influence during the hotel incident captured on video.
Earlier this week, defense attorney Teny Geragos framed the case as one driven by "jealousy and infidelity." On Thursday, Estevao elaborated that Combs often pursued multiple women, leading Ventura to gripe about not being his "primary girlfriend."
Ventura expressed her discomfort with the secrecy surrounding their relationship during its early years and Combs' lingering relationship with Kim Porter, the mother of several of his children. Estevao further revealed that Ventura yearned for a relationship transcending mere sexual encounters. In a 2009 text, she lamented that Combs saw her solely as an outlet for his fantasies.
Throughout their eleven-year union, Ventura felt she never truly belonged in Combs' family with his seven children. She noted that while monogamy was often expected of her, the same was not reciprocal. Ventura admitted to dating rapper Kid Cudi while separated from Combs but terminated the relationship within a month due to Combs' threats toward Cudi. In 2023, Cudi told The New York Times about his car mysteriously exploding in his driveway during his brief relationship with Ventura.
