Cassie files a Lawsuit accusing Diddy of years of abuse and rape

By 

Devisadaria Duchine-Khauli

17 November 2023

Rapper, music producer, and music executive Sean Combs, 54, also known as Diddy, P. Diddy, Puffy, and Puff Daddy was accused of physical abuse, psychological abuse, and rape by his former girlfriend, Cassandra Ventura, 37. Ventura filed a case against Combs on 16 November 2023, in federal court, in New York City. She filed the case under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which is set to expire on 24 November 2023.

Me and U

You might remember Cassandra Ventura, also known by her stage name Cassie for her 2006 song Me & U. Me and U caused Ventura to become an overnight sensation, with the song debuting on the Billboard 200 at #4, and eventually reaching #1 on Billboard’s R&B charts. The song spent seven weeks on the charts worldwide and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on 14 December 2006. Ventura tried to follow up that success with her songs Long Way 2 Go and Addiction. Ventura starred in Step Up 2: The Streets, and contributed the song, Is It You to the movie’s soundtrack. Neither of these songs captured the same success as Me and U.

Combs met Ventura when she signed with his record label Bad Boys Records in 2006. Combs contracted with Leslie Ryan (who wrote Me and U) and Ventura to release her debut album entitled Cassie. The album was released on 6 August 2006.

It has been rumored that Combs began a romantic relationship with Ventura in 2006, while he was in a relationship with Kim Porter, who is the mother of three of his seven children; a son born in 1998, and twin girls born in 2006. Others put the relationship beginning in 2007. Ventura was 19 years old and Combs was 37 years old when the relationship began.

In the case filed, Ventura alleges Combs forced her to consume huge amounts of alcohol and abuse drugs to keep her compliant while he abused her and trafficked her to other men during their relationship.  The complaint alleges that Combs forced Ventura to have sex with male sex workers while he watched, masturbated, and recorded the incidents.

Ventura alleged that in one abusive episode, Combs beat her and repeatedly kicked her in the face until a security guard intervened. She stated that this incident resulted in her receiving two black eyes, a burst lip, and a welt on her forehead. She stated that she threw up after the incident, and then was hidden in a hotel until her injuries healed.

Ventura alleged that Combs had uncontrollable rages and that he would take out his aggressions on her. She stated that after some of these incidents, he would give Ventura gifts, while also reminding her that he could destroy her career should she disclose the details about the abuse in their relationship.

Venture said that she found herself becoming numb to the abuse.  She stated that she tried to escape the relationship several times, but each time, Combs or one of his associates would track her down and bring her back. In addition, she said that when she tried to leave him, she and men who were interested in her romantically were stalked and threatened with violence. She said that she was finally able to end the relationship in 2018, but not before being raped by Combs the day she announced that she was through with him for good.

It was alleged that staff and employees of Combs heard of or witnessed incidents between Combs and Ventura but were threatened and told to be quiet about witnessing these incidents.

Ventura began dating Alex Fine in 2018.  The couple announced that they were married on 28 August 2019, and were expecting a child in December of 2019. Their second child was born in March of 2021.

Although it is said that the relationship between Combs and Ventura ended in 2018, Combs thanked Ventura for supporting him during “dark times,” after he received the BET Lifetime Award Achievement on 26 June 2022.

Combs thanking Ventura was a source of contention on social media because at the time he was dating Caresha Romeka Brownlee, also known as Yung Miami, of the Hip-Hop group, City Girls. Brownlee was in attendance at the BET Awards, holding up a sign that read “GO PAPI!,” during Combs’ speech. In October of 2022, Combs welcomed his seventh child, a daughter by Dana Tran. Tran was 28 years old at the time and is said to resemble a younger Ventura.

Combs’ lawyer Ben Brafman said in a statement, “Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations. For the past six months, Mr. Combs has been subjected to Ms. Ventura’s persistent demand of $30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail. Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’ reputation and seeking a payday.” Brafman added that Combs has never been contacted by law enforcement regarding the allegations.

On the other side of this case, Douglas Wigdor, who is representing Ventura said in a statement, “Mr. Combs offered Ms. Ventura eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit. She rejected his efforts and decided to give a voice to all women who suffer in silence.”

This is not the first time that Combs was accused of abuse... 

This is not the first time that Combs was accused of abuse. Combs and Kim Porter had an on and off again relationship. During their relationship, it was alleged that Combs physically and psychologically abused Porter.

Similarly, it was alleged that Kim Porter was also a victim of Combs’ abuse. It was alleged that Combs stalked Porter or men who were interested in pursuing a relationship with her, after leaving her for Jennifer Lopez. Kim Porter died on 15 November 2018. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, Kim Porter died from pneumonia in her sleep. Ventura’s explosive allegations have sparked discussions and renewed interest in the death of Kim Porter again.

After Porter’s death, many blogs, vlogs, and social media posts emerged, questioning if Combs was in some way responsible for her death. One of the people questioning Porter’s death was Albert Joseph Brown III, also known as Al B. Sure! Brown and Porter were once in a relationship and shared a child, Quincy Brown. Porter was also the inspiration for the song, Forever My Lady, recorded by Jodeci, and written by Brown and Donald Earle DeGrate Jr. also known as DeVante Swing of R&B group, Jodeci.

Brown posted the following statement on Instagram: "I was on my way to film the pre-show packages for the #SoulTrainAwards on #BET with Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold when I received a call from PR icon and celeb talent producer #QueenieDonaldson asking me if I was ok and did I hear the news." Brown added that he, Porter, and Combs attended an event for Quincy Brown’s Netflix movie, The Holiday Calendar, a couple of weeks before Porter’s death. "She was in fantastic health as well, laughing seeing me and Diddy’s mutual exchange at the theater." He stated further, "I do know very clearly that #Kimberly didn’t just check out all of a sudden over pneumonia. That’s some bull sh**." Soon after the statements were posted, they were quickly deleted.

In a statement, Ventura said that she was finally ready to tell her story and speak up on her behalf and for the benefit of other women “who face violence and abuse in their relationships." She further stated, "With the expiration of New York’s Adult Survivors Act fast approaching, it became clear that this was an opportunity to speak up about the trauma I have experienced and that I will be recovering from for the rest of my life."