Diddy trial recap: Defense reveals explicit text messages about ‘freak offs’ leading up to 2016 hotel assault
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s ex-girlfriend is being cross-examined in Manhattan federal court today after nine hours at the stand on Wednesday
Casandra “Cassie” Ventura has finished day one of her cross-examination following bombshell testimony accusing Sean “Diddy” Combs of rape, blackmail, sexual degradation and physical abuse.
Combs’s defense attorney Anna Estevao ended the day by showing the jury explicit text messages between Ventura and Combs in March 2016. The pair were planning the “freak off” that led up to an alleged assault at an InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. Footage of the 2016 incident, which was released publicly last year, shows Combs hitting and kicking Ventura.
“We can have fun, I don’t want you thinking I don’t want to,” Ventura texted Combs.
Ventura previously testified she went along with “freak offs” throughout their relationship because she was afraid Combs would hurt her or release footage from the encounters. “Freak offs” involved Ventura having sex with other men at Combs’s direction, typically while taking drugs, she said.
Combs is facing sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy charges. Combs was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged he threatened, abused, and coerced victims “to fulfill his sexual desires” between 2004 and 2024. Combs has denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
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Cassie Ventura cries in court as she describes taking part in weekly ‘freak offs’ to make Diddy happy
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Cassie Ventura to return to witness stand for third consecutive day
The prosecution’s star witness Casandra “Cassie” Ventura is due to be cross-examined by the defense, having detailed an alleged pattern of physical abuse, psychological distress and sexual degradation at the hands of Sean “Diddy” Combs during Wednesday’s testimony.
Day four of Combs’ sex trafficking trial is due to resume later this morning at Manhattan Federal Court.
Deep breaths and silence: Jury reacts to images from Diddy’s ‘freak-offs’
At the start of Wednesday’s afternoon session at Manhattan Federal Court, seven still images from freak-off videos, which were described by Cassie Ventura throughout her testimony, were shown to the jury, leaving the court falling silent.
One juror took a deep breath and placed a hand on her chest while viewing the images, while another juror appeared to move his eyes away quickly after glancing at the pictures, per CNN.
Some jurors didn’t visibly react as they viewed the images, The Washington Post reported. Some looked at the photos just once before glaring up again, while some took second or third looks
The pictures are not available to the media. Reporters, however, could watch the jury as they viewed the photos.
ICYMI: Diddy allegedly threatened to blow up Kid Cudi's car
Cassie Ventura testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs threatened to blow up the car of rapper Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, after he discovered their 2011 relationship.
“Sean wanted Scott’s friends to see Scott’s car get blown up,” according to her testimony.
Ventura says she broke up with Mescudi over fears Combs would hurt them both.
When Combs found emails between Ventura and a member of Mescudi’s staff in 2011, she testified that Combs lunged at her and threatened her with a wine bottle opener.
In full: Cassie accuses Diddy of raped and reveals $20m civil suit settlement
An emotionally packed day of testimony from Sean Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, ended with shocking revelations – how she claimed the abuse from the music mogul lasted for years, how she tried to harm herself and how the superstar raped her when they broke up in 2018.
Ventura has spent more than two days on the witness stand and is expected to resume her testimony Thursday. Towards the end of Wednesday, she made several revelations about his relationship with Diddy. She also testified that he paid her a $20 million settlement to end her civil suit against him.
Ariana Baio looks at the key moments in Wednesday’s hearing:
Cassie Ventura testifies Diddy raped her and settled civil suit for $20m
In sketches: Day two of Cassie Ventura's bombshell testimony
Lines dwindle in downtown Manhattan
Reporter Kelly Rissaman is in line outside the courthouse on a hazy morning in downtown Manhattan, with Casandra “Cassie” Ventura scheduled to be cross-examined by the defense soon.
Someone tried to sell me their spot in line for $10 – a significant drop from the $300 price tag on Monday, Kelly writes. The line has dwindled down to almost exclusively press.
Recap: Cassie Ventura's bombshell testimony at witness stand
Star witness Cassie Ventura, who is eight months pregnant, spoke softly throughout day three of the trial and often rubbed her belly. She seemed to avoid making eye contact with Sean Combs throughout her testimony.
Ventura was very emotional, wiping away tears when she discussed taking on too much responsibility for Combs’ “personal shame,” which started at the age of just 22 when the alleged “freak-offs” began.
She paused for a while before testifying that Combs raped her in August 2018, and her voice broke.
The star witness also revealed for the first time that she sued Combs in November 2023. The court heard that the rapper settled the lawsuit for $20 million a day later.
Much of the jury remained stony-faced and silent as it was shown images taken from a video of one of Combs’ alleged freak-offs.
Ventura told the court that the freak-offs videos were “blackmail materials” that Combs threatened to release to humiliate her.
Prosecutors showed several photos depicting bruises on Ventura’s face and body, which were sustained, she said, in beatings that happened “too frequently.”
The overflow room was about half-full by the end of the day, with far fewer members of the public than earlier in the week.
Which celebrities may be been mentioned during Diddy's trial?
The sex-trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs continues in Manhattan federal court, where jurors heard testimony that mentioned a few A-list stars.
The list of 190 celebrities spans beloved Hollywood actors and elite musicians who may be referenced during the trial, including Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers and Kanye West, among others, according to Variety.
Isabel Keane details some of the celebrities who could be referenced during the trial:
The celebrities mentioned during Diddy’s sex trafficking trial
Testimony to resume in 30 minutes
Thursday’s court session for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial has begun at Manhattan Federal Court, with the jury expected to be brought in at around 9.30 a.m. this morning.
The prosecution’s star witness Casandra “Cassie” Ventura is due to be cross-examined by the defense attorney Anna Estevao this morning.