Courtroom fell silent as Cassie described what was shown in ‘freak off’ images
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual harassment, and domestic violence which some readers may find distressing.
The courtroom fell silent as Cassie described what was shown in images from ‘freak offs.'
Full name Casandra Ventura, the singer has been giving evidence in court as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has denied all of this and pleaded not guilty.
Cassie’s second day of testimony yesterday (14 May) revealed further details of alleged abuse, with the pair in a relationship from 2007 to 2018. Diddy’s trial has exposed more about the drug-fuelled ‘freak offs’ he allegedly held that could ‘last up to four days.'
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It is claimed the rapper orchestrated these alleged encounters with male sex workers and would record them, later threatening to release a video of Cassie engaging whilst under the influence of drugs.
Jurors were shown videos of these so-called ‘freak offs’, which the now 38-year-old said she ‘hated doing’ but continued to do under coercion because it ‘felt like I did my job.'
The judge ordered that this evidence should not be shown to the public.
One of the images showed ‘Mia’ (a pseudonym for another women who has accused Combs of abuse) as another two showed an escort. One of these included Cassie, as a still from a longer clip.
It is said the courtroom fell silent as the jurors viewed the images on their own screens.
With the singer pictured with other men at these ‘freak offs’, she said of one image: “There is baby oil on me and I am standing there during a freak off with a candle and lubricant on a table.”
CNN's live court report stated that one 'female juror let out a deep breath and rested her hand on her chest as an image was placed on the monitor before her.'
It was also said that a 'male juror looked at the screen at one of the images and his eyes appeared to move away quickly’ with another writing something on his notepad.
Cassie also claimed that Diddy would use the recordings of these 'freak offs' to 'blackmail' her and she feared he would 'make me look like a slut.' She testified that he once played a video on a commercial flight back to the US following an argument they had in Cannes in 2013.
"He was showing them with other people around," Cassie told the court. "I said, 'You are embarrassing me.' I was scared, I felt trapped, how do you get out of this situation? I felt trapped."
She added that they then had another 'freak off' within hours of landing 'so he wouldn't be angry or hurt me.'
The trial continues later today and Cassie will face cross-examination.
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.
Topics: Cassie Ventura, Celebrity, Diddy, Crime, US News
Jess Battison