Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual harassment and domestic violence which some readers may find distressing
Cassie Ventura has described what allegedly happened at Diddy's 'freak off' parties as she gives evidence in court.
The trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs continues in New York, with the 55-year-old rapper facing five felony charges, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to.
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Among the charges are sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy.
Cassie happens to be a key witness to the prosecution after she settled a lawsuit in late 2023, alleging that Combs had subjected her to years of abuse, including beatings and rape.
Ventura, who dated Diddy on and off from 2005 to 2019, was asked by the prosecution today (13 May) how and why Combs allegedly started doing the so-called 'freak offs'.
Prosecutor Emily Johnson told the court: "For years, the defendant physically abused Cassie. He also sexually exploited her, forcing her to have sex with male escorts while he watched and recorded it."
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Taking to the stand, Cassie said: “Within the first year of our relationship, he proposed this idea. This sexual encounter that he called voyeurism where he would watch me be in intercourse with a third party, specifically with another man.”
The singer said a 'freak off' would consist of 'hiring an escort and setting up this experience, so that I could perform for Sean'.
“Eventually it became a job for me, pretty much, so I knew if it was something he wanted me to do, I had the contacts to set it up and get a hotel room and all of that, but in the beginning, Sean set it up. He was in charge,” Ventura testified.
Cassie also spoke of the abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of Combs, testifying: "He would smash me in my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me, stomp me in the head if I was down."
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She also said she suffered injuries from the abuse, including knots on her forehead, busted lips, and 'bruises all over my body.'
Cassie said she would stay awake for days after Diddy allegedly provided her with a mix of ecstasy and cocaine, which would keep her up.
"I was high so I didn't feel much," she says. "Did this really happen to me? I didn't know what was going to happen after that, if we were going to do it more frequently. I said yes to more, I didn't want to make him upset or angry."
The weekly 'freak offs' which were 'directed by Sean' would keep her 'awake the whole time, no sleep'.
Also a key piece of evidence used in the trial is CCTV footage of Combs allegedly punching, kicking, and dragging Cassie in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.
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Combs made a public apology after the video was released by CNN last year, and said: “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video."
It comes after prosecutors claimed the 'freak offs' 'were not consensual parties' and 'were coercive, manipulative events designed to break down victims and keep them dependent'.
Police found almost 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant after they raided Diddy's Miami and Los Angeles mansions, with federal agents saying the findings were 'unprecedented in scale and disturbing in content'.
"Freak Offs were elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded," the 14-page indictment reads.
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"Freak Offs occurred regularly, sometimes lasted multiple days, and often involved multiple commercial sex workers. During Freak Offs, Combs distributed a variety of controlled substances to victims, in part to keep the victims obedient and compliant.
"Sometimes unbeknownst to the victims, Combs kept videos he filmed of victims engaging in sex acts with commercial sex workers. After Freak Offs, Combs and the victims typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use."
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence to the national domestic violence helpline Refuge on 0808 2000 247, available 24/7, or via live chat, available 10am-10pm, Monday to Friday.
Alternatively, if you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.
Anish Vij