In a gripping testimony that exposed years of manipulation and abuse, Casandra Ventura, the former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs, detailed the harrowing experiences she endured in a series of drug-fueled “Freak Off” sex parties orchestrated by the music mogul. Appearing as the prosecution’s star witness at Combs’ ongoing sex trafficking trial, Ventura claimed that she was forced into participating in these degrading events, initially to satisfy Combs’ desires, and later, to comply with threats of blackmail.
Ventura, a rhythm-and-blues singer who performed under the stage name Cassie, spoke candidly to the jury about the decade-long ordeal. She recounted how Combs would exploit her, pushing her into these parties and subjecting her to relentless control, both over her personal life and her career. At the height of her involvement, she was left emotionally and physically drained after performances that could stretch for days, often fueled by drugs to keep her awake and compliant.
“The ‘Freak Offs’ became a job where there was no space to do anything else but to recover and just try to feel normal again,” Ventura said, describing the toll it took on her self-esteem and mental health. Her music career, once filled with potential, suffered as well—her contract with Combs’ Bad Boy Records produced only a single album out of a planned ten.
The court also saw a disturbing 2016 surveillance video in which Combs was caught in a violent altercation with Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel. In the footage, Combs, wrapped only in a towel, could be seen throwing Ventura to the ground, kicking her, and dragging her away. Ventura explained that this incident occurred after Combs had already injured her during a “Freak Off,” leaving her with a black eye.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to five felony charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 15 years, with the possibility of life in prison. However, his defense team has argued that these relationships were consensual, asserting that Combs’ lifestyle, which reportedly involved swinger parties with male escorts, was simply misunderstood by prosecutors.
Ventura, dressed in a brown dress and camel-colored coat, tearfully recalled her early days with Combs, believing it to be a genuine adult relationship, only to have it devolve into a cycle of violence and coercion. She recounted being subjected to physical abuse, which included repeated beatings and brutal treatment. Combs reportedly became increasingly controlling, dictating everything from her appearance to her interactions with others.
As the trial continues, Ventura’s testimony has painted a chilling portrait of abuse within the glittering world of celebrity. The case, which may last up to two months, is expected to involve testimony from other alleged victims and former employees, with Combs facing growing scrutiny over his conduct.
Ventura, now married with children, filed a civil lawsuit against Combs in late 2023, accusing him of rape and ongoing sexual abuse. While the case was settled after a single day in court, Ventura’s testimony is expected to have a lasting impact, as she bravely confronts the man who she says controlled her life for nearly a decade.
