Sean 'Diddy' Combs Accused of Sexual Assault and Abuse in Lawsuit By Singer Cassie

During a federal court hearing on Thursday, Sean "Diddy" Combs' former girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, alleged that he sexually assaulted and raped her over a period of years."After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships," Ventura, an R&B singer known as Cassie, said in a statement to CNN. 

"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."

"Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations," according to a statement that was emailed to CNN by his lawyer, Ben Brafman, via a publicist for Combs. "For the past 6 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 pay day."

A lawsuit filed by Ventura alleges that she was swept into Combs' jet-set lifestyle as soon as she met him and signed with Bad Boy in 2006. He soon began to exert extraordinary control over her life. Her career was controlled by him, as well as her car, apartment, clothing, and personal medical records, according to The New York Times. An M.R.I. scan she had after suffering memory loss – possibly caused by drug use or by a beating she claimed Combs had given her – was sent directly to Combs, according to the lawsuit.

Furthermore, Combs allegedly provided Ventura with "copious amounts" of drugs, including ecstasy and ketamine, and he urged her to take them. He also became violent, beating her "multiple times each year." According to the suit, Ventura never reported her abuse to the police because she feared it would merely provide Combs with another reason to harm her."

Combs allegedly became angry with Ventura when he saw her speaking to another talent agent in Los Angeles in 2009. He then pushed her into a car and kicked her repeatedly in the face, causing her to bleed. The suit claims that Combs brought her to a hotel room for a week of recuperation. She requested that he take her home to her parents, but he refused, reported the New York Times.

In the suit, Ventura claims that after seeing the consequences of rejecting Combs and how he would isolate her from her friends and family, "Ms. Ventura felt that saying 'no' to Mr. Combs would cost her something — her family, her friends, her career, or even her life." Despite Ventura's attempts to leave Combs, he allegedly lured her back with his employees.

A court filing describes one incident in which Ventura claims Combs expressed anger over her dating Kid Cudi and threatened to blow up the rapper's car. "Around that time," the suit says, "Kid Cudi's car exploded in his driveway."

Several attempts by Ventura to escape Combs' control are detailed in her lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, Combs forced himself into Ventura's apartment after dinner in 2018 and sexually assaulted her while she "repeatedly said 'no' and tried to push him away." After that, she left him permanently. Having married Alex Fine, a personal trainer, the following year, Ventura now has two young children.

Known under the stage names Puff Daddy and Diddy, Combs was one of the pioneers of the hip-hop genre and one of the most influential figures in the genre. Combs founded the Bad Boy Records label in 1993, and in his career, he has won three Grammys, along with 14 nominations. 

"I'll Be Missing You" is one of the most popular songs from his hit 1997 album, "No Way Out." His other hit tracks included "It's All About the Benjamins" and "Bad Boy for Life." While he gained initial fame through his music, Combs has also become a famous producer and an entrepreneur in addition to his musical career.

A 37-year-old R&B singer, Ventura has a hit single known as "Me & U" off her 2006 self-titled debut album "Cassie," which she released when she was signed to Bad Boy Records by Combs. Moreover, she has been involved in music with artists like Lil Wayne and Akon and released the single "Must Be Love" featuring Combs in 2009. A complaint filed by Ventura states that she worked as an employee of Comb's record label, Bad Boy Records, between 2005 and 2019.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.