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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Court on short break
Court is on a short break as Sean “Diddy” Combs’s defense team steps out to get their exhibits in order.
Combs has remained at the defense table. His sons and sister are in court, CNN reports.
Meanwhile, Cassie Ventura is wearing a pinstripe suit as she testifies. Her husband, Alex Fine, is also in court.
Jury sees April 2010 texts about 'freak offs'
Defense attorney Anna Estevao showed the jury a series of April 2010 texts between Cassie Ventura and Sean “Diddy” Combs about a “freak off,” according to CNN.
“I want to talk to you about something tomorrow,” Ventura wrote. “Going to sleep. Love you.”
“Is it going to stress me out?” Combs wrote. “What is it about?”
Ventura responded: “Freak-off. It can wait. It’s not a big deal.”
“Now you don’t want to do it anymore,” Combs said. “Oh, I already know. You so predictable.”
“Really? OK,” Ventura wrote. “Since that’s definitely what it was, we’ll leave it at that then, since I’m so predictable. Have a good night.”
Combs then accused Ventura of shutting him down, to which she responded, “I’m not shutting you down...it’s always the other way around.”
Courtrooms sketches show Cassie Ventura's testimony and Diddy hugging attorney
New courtroom sketches from Friday morning show Cassie Ventura undergoing cross-examination from defense attorney Anna Estevao.
Another sketch shows Sean “Diddy” Combs hugging Estevao as he entered the courtroom this morning.
Cassie Ventura says she doesn't 'hate' Diddy
Defense attorney Anna Estevao asked Cassie Ventura if she hates Sean “Diddy” Combs after their relationship.
“I don’t hate him,” Ventura testified.
Cassie Ventura broke up with Diddy after seeing photo of him with another woman: 'Nail in the coffin'
Cassie Ventura broke up with Sean “Diddy” Combs in August 2018 after she saw a photo of him with a woman identified in court as Gina.
“I just don’t trust anymore,” she texted Combs. “That last shot put the nail in the coffin.”
“I promised myself I wouldn’t be with you anymore if you did that to me again,” she added.
Ventura said Combs was dating Gina for the last few years of their relationship.
Defense zeros in on rape allegations as lunch break called
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s defense attorneys are zeroing in on Cassie Ventura’s texts with the music mogul after he allegedly raped her in August 2018, The Washington Post reports.
“I don’t want to have a conversation where you break up with me again, I want you to love me, I need you to love me,” Combs wrote in one September 2018 text shown by the defense.
Ventura and Combs then said they would see each other and “embrace.”
Shortly afterward, the judge called a recess for lunch.
Cassie Ventura returns to stand as defense attorney signals she's nearly done
Cassie Ventura has returned to the stand after a lunch break. Defense attorney Anna Estevao told Ventura she’s almost done with her cross-examination.
Mid-day recap: Cassie Ventura testifies for final day
Cassie Ventura, wearing a blue collared shirt and gray pinstripe suit, has pushed back on multiple characterizations of her on the final day of her testimony.
One of the biggest takeaways so far is the timeline of the alleged 2018 rape. In her civil lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, Ventura said he raped her in September 2018. But now, she’s telling the court he raped her in August 2018.
The defense has yet to explicitly call out this inconsistency.
Another big moment included the audio recording of Ventura threatening to kill a man she believed secretly recorded her during a “freak off.”
At times, Ventura has pressed her hand against her baby bump. She also grimaced when going over 2018 texts.
Meanwhile, Combs has written notes to his lawyers and put his glasses on to read exhibits. He appears to be wearing white.
The defense will finish their cross-examination this afternoon.
Cassie Ventura's 'final straw' came in November 2018
Cassie Ventura said her “final straw” with Sean “Diddy” Combs came in November 2018, when he said another woman was his soulmate.
Combs had dated the woman during their decade-long relationship.
“I didn’t see him again after that,” she testified.