Diddy trial live: Cassie Ventura ends cross-examination in tears after saying she’d return $20m to avoid ‘freak offs’
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s ex-girlfriend is testifying in Manhattan federal court as the defense argues she consented to ‘freak-offs’
Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura has finished her fourth and final day of testimony in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sex-trafficking trial.
As Ventura’s testimony ended, she told prosecutor Emily Johnson she’d return the $20 million settlement from her 2023 civil lawsuit if she “never had to have ‘freak offs.’” Ventura previously testified that “freak offs” involved her having sex with other men at Combs’s direction, often while using drugs.
“If I never had to have ‘Freak Offs,’ I would have had agency and autonomy,” Ventura said through tears. “And I wouldn’t have had to work so hard to get it back.”
Ventura’s testimony ended Friday afternoon. The prosecution called Special Agent Yasin Binda to testify about Combs’s 2024 arrest. Then, Dawn Richard was on the stand.
Richard is Combs’s former bandmate who sued him last year for physical and sexual abuse. Richard testified she once watched Combs beat Ventura.
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's husband arrives for her fourth day of testimony
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Defense can cross-examine until later this afternoon
The defense can cross-examine star witness Cassie Ventura until 4:30 p.m. today, after which the prosecution will have 30 minutes to re-direct.
Judge Arun Subramanian previously said the defense needs to end their questioning by midday.
Defense wants to show video of Diddy talking about God from rehad
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s attorneys want to show Cassie Ventura a video he sent her from rehab just weeks after the alleged 2016 Intercontinental Hotel assault.
The defense wants to show Ventura the video because she previously testified that Combs didn’t go to rehab while they were together.
The video shows Combs on a hike in the woods talking about God. The judge said the defense can have Ventura watch it, but the jury can’t consider it evidence.
Cassie Ventura takes the stand
Cassie Ventura has taken the stand for her final day of testimony.
Cassie Ventura says Diddy was 'intoxicated' during hotel incident
Cassie Ventura told the defense team Sean “Diddy” Combs was “intoxicated” when he allegedly assaulted her inside a Los Angeles Intercontinental Hotel in 2016.
Footage of the incident, which was released publicly last year, shows Combs hitting and kicking her.
Defense attorney Anna Estevao asked Ventura if she had previously told investigators that Combs was “black out.”
Ventura said she believes “he was intoxicated” and said everyone perceives black outs differently.
Jury reads texts from Cassie to Diddy describing abuse
The jury is hearing a text Cassie Ventura sent Sean “Diddy” Combs about his alleged abuse in March 2016.
“When you get f***** up the wrong way you always want to show me that you have the power and you knock me around,” Ventura wrote. “I’m not a rag doll, I’m someone’s child.”
Ventura has spent much of the week testifying about Combs’s physical and sexual abuse. The 38-year-old previously said she only went along with his “freak offs” because she was afraid he’d hurt her or release footage from the encounters.
Defense reveals texts from Cassie and Diddy after alleged hotel assault
Cassie Ventura and Sean “Diddy” Combs discussed their altercation at the InterContinental Hotel just days after it happened, according to texts shown in court.
The exchange began with Combs asking Ventura to have sex.
“Not a good vibe,” Ventura responded. “We need a different vibe than Friday.”
“F*** Friday lol” Combs wrote back. “I don’t even want to do that again.”
“Lol true,” she responded.
The two ended the exchange by saying they loved each other.
Cassie Ventura testifies Diddy would take her phone, passport when he was mad
Cassie Ventura testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs would take her phone and passport away when he was angry, particularly over other men in her life.
“If I was with anyone else besides him,” she said. “I don’t know that I would call it cheating.”
“When you’re not with somebody, it’s not cheating,” she added. “I feel like it’s a technicality in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.”
Jury hears audio of Cassie Ventura threatening a man over 'freak off' videos
Cassie Ventura appeared to have threatened a man whom she believed secretly took a video of her during a “freak off.”
Ventura previously testified that “freak offs” involved her having sex with other men at Sean “Diddy” Combs’s direction, typically after taking drugs.
“I’m going to kill you, and then he’s gonna kill you again,” Ventura says in the audio recording.
Ventura testified that she and Combs were both concerned about sexually explicit videos of them leaking.
It’s not clear how the situation was resolved.
Cassie Ventura details mental health treatment after Diddy relationship
Cassie Ventura said she attended a 45-day, inpatient mental health treatment program in 2023.
Ventura told defense attorney Anna Estevao she underwent neurofeedback therapy, which involves monitoring a patient’s brain wave patterns, Inner City Press reports. Ventura said she was told the therapy would “help me with my trauma.”
She also did EMDR therapy, in which a patient moves their eyes side-to-side while recalling traumatic or upsetting memories.