Content warning: This story contains allegations of rape and abuse.
As Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial begins May 12 in New York City, many wonder if the disgraced hip-hop mogul’s ex-girlfriend Cassie will testify against him.
Combs is facing five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
Combs has denied the allegations against him.
Though prosecutors have not released a list of witnesses, the allegations made by the accuser identified as “Victim-1” in the case’s indictment are similar to those made by Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura.
“Victim-1” is expected to testify at the trial along with three other accusers, known in the indictment as “Victim-2,” “Victim-3” and “Victim-4,” according to NBC News.
The R&B singer, who was in a decade-long off-and-on relationship with Combs that began when she was 19, accused Combs of raping and abusing her during their time together in a civil lawsuit she filed Nov. 16, 2023 in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
The “Me & U” singer, 37, said in her lawsuit that Combs, then in his late 30s, pursued her as a up-and-coming singer signed to his music label, Bad Boy Records. The lawsuit said Combs was prone to “uncontrollable rage,” and beat and kicked Ventura, sometimes in front of the staff and employees of Bad Boy Entertainment.
Ventura, who married personal trainer Alex Fine in 2019, said that Combs raped her and forced her to participate in “intricately staged and forced sexual encounters” with male sex workers. She said Combs was able to control her after introducing her to “a drug-fueled lifestyle that kept her complacent and compliant.”
Combs’ attorney, Ben Brafman, initially responded to the lawsuit by telling NBC News in a statement that Combs “vehemently denies” Ventura’s allegations and calling them “baseless and outrageous lies.” He also said Ventura had demanded $30 million from Combs by threatening to write a damaging book about their relationship.
Combs and Ventura reached a settlement the day after the suit was filed.
Months later, in May 2023, videos surfaced showing a March 5, 2016 incident when Combs beat Ventura in the hallway of the InterContinental hotel.
Those videos were officially submitted into evidence for Combs’ trial, according to NBC News.
Read on to see a timeline of Combs and Ventura’s tumultuous relationship.
2005: Combs meets Ventura when she’s 19
According to her civil suit, Combs met Ventura in 2005 when she was 19, one year before the singer’s self-titled debut album was released on Combs’ label, Bad Boy Records.
2007: The couple become romantically linked after Combs’ split with ex Kim Porter
In 2007, rumors surfaced about Combs and Ventura, who were frequently photographed together at events, around the same time Combs ended his on-again, off-again relationship with Kim Porter, the mother of four of his children, who died in 2018 of pneumonia.
The never-married father of seven has also welcomed children with exes Misa Hylton-Brim, Sarah Chapman and model Dana Tran.
2012: Combs and Ventura appear to confirm their relationship
The pair appeared to confirm that they were dating when they sat side by side at Kanye West’s Paris Fashion Week show in March 2012.
The couple continued to be photographed at more star-studded events, including the GQ Men of the Year Party at Chateau Marmont on Nov. 13, 2012 in Los Angeles.
August 2012: Engagement rumors begin to stir
In August 2012, engagement rumors were sparked when Ventura posted a since-deleted photo on Instagram that showed her left hand sporting what looked like a gigantic diamond engagement ring, E! News reported at the time.
A rep for Combs followed up to tell E! News that the couple were not engaged.
February 2014: Combs shares a photo of a diamond ring
Less than two years later, Combs fueled engagement rumors again when he posted a since-deleted Instagram photo of a huge diamond ring on Valentine’s Day 2014, E! News reported at the time.
“Baby do you like it? I just want to get you wat you Like ! I just wanna Mk you smile 🙂 #takeDat. !,” Combs captioned the photo.
Once again, Combs’ rep later told E! News that the couple were not engaged.
2016: The couple squash breakup rumors after an alleged heated argument
Us Weekly “exclusively” reported in August 2016 that Combs and Ventura had “not split” despite media reports saying they parted ways following an allegedly heated argument in Beverly Hills.
January 2018: Combs hints that he wants to start a family with Ventura
Combs hinted that he wanted to have children with Ventura during a January 2018 interview with the hosts of Power 105.1 FM’s “The Breakfast Club.”
“I’m trying to get to 10 (kids). It’s a race,” said Combs, adding, “I could go to eight without a problem. I could go to eight real quick.”
When one of the hosts asked Combs if he would welcome more children with his “current woman,” Combs replied, “Whatever’s supposed to happen in the future is going to happen, but that’s something that I want.”
The Grammy winner then clarified, “I would only have (more children) with my girl, of course.”
October 2018: The couple confirm they called it quits
In October 2018, Ventura’s rep confirmed to the LoveBScott.com website that she and Combs broke up.
“They are indeed no longer together and haven’t been for months,” the statement read.
June 2019: Combs congratulates Ventura and Alex Fine after they announce they’re expecting
Ventura found new love with personal trainer Alex Fine in early 2019.
In June 2019, when the singer announced on Instagram that she and Fine were expecting their first child, Combs responded by posting a since-deleted photo of the couple to wish them well, Billboard reported.
“Congratulations @Cassie and Alex,” Diddy captioned the pic at the time. “I wish you all nothing but love and happiness. God bless L O V E.”
Ventura and Fine welcomed their first child, a daughter named Frankie, in December 2019. Their second daughter, Sunny, was born in March 2021, according to People.
Nov. 16, 2023: Ventura files her lawsuit
Ventura filed her lawsuit alleging that Combs raped and abused her on Nov. 16. She filed the suit through the Adult Survivors Act, a New York law that allows people who say they were victims of sexual abuse to file civil suits after the statute of limitations has expired.
Combs’ attorney, Ben Brafman, told NBC News in a statement that Combs denied Ventura’s allegations, calling them “baseless and outrageous lies.” He also said Ventura had demanded $30 million from Combs in order to stop her from writing a “threatening” book about their relationship.
Ventura’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, sent NBC News the following response to Brafman’s comments:
“Mr. Comb’s offered Ms. Ventura eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit. She rejected his efforts and decided to give a voice to all woman who suffer in silence. Ms. Ventura should be applauded for her bravery.”
They reached a settlement Nov. 17.
“I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control,” Ventura said in a statement. “I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support.”
March 26, 2024: Ventura responds to federal raids of Diddy’s homes
Ventura responded to federal raids of the rap mogul’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami, following multiple lawsuits filed against him.
“We will always support law enforcement when it seeks to prosecute those that have violated the law. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct,” Ventura’s lawyer Douglas Wigdor said in a statement given to TODAY.com.
May 17, 2024: Diddy seen allegedly assaulting Ventura in hotel surveillance footage
Diddy appeared to allegedly assault Ventura at a hotel in 2016, according to surveillance footage obtained by CNN and released on May 17, 2024.
In Ventura’s 2023 lawsuit, she alleged Combs attacked her on March 5, 2016, while they were staying at the InterContinental Hotel in the Century City neighborhood of Los Angeles.
According to the video released by CNN, Combs ran down a hallway of the hotel, shirtless and wearing a towel around his waist, catching up to Ventura near an elevator bank and grabbing her by the neck. He throws her to the ground and kicks her several times while she’s on the floor, according to the footage of the alleged assault.
Combs is also seen dragging Ventura on the ground by her sweatshirt, and in another instance, is seen throwing a glass vase in her direction, per the footage of the alleged assault.
NBC News was not able at the time to independently verify the footage.
“The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs,” Douglas H. Wigdor, an attorney for Ventura, said in a statement to NBC News after the release of the video.
“Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light,” he added.
Following the release of the video, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office said in a statement posted on social media they would be unable to charge Combs in connection with the video.
“We are aware of the video that has been circulating online allegedly depicting Sean Combs assaulting a young woman in Los Angeles,” the office said on May 17. “We find the images extremely disturbing and difficult to watch.”
In the statement, the district attorney’s office said that due to the date of the alleged incident, they would “be unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted.”
“As of today, law enforcement has not presented a case related to the attack depicted in the video against Mr. Combs, but we encourage anyone who has been a victim or witness to a crime to report it to law enforcement or reach out to our office for support from our Bureau of Victims Services,” the statement concluded.
May 19, 2024: Diddy releases an apology video
Combs posted a video on Instagram May 19, apologizing for his behavior displayed in the hotel surveillance footage just two days after it was released. He captioned the post, “I’m truly sorry.”
“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that. I was f—ed up — I mean, I hit rock bottom — but I make no excuses,” Combs said. “My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”
Combs said he sought professional help after the 2016 incident, including going to therapy and rehab.
“I’m so sorry. But I’m committed to be a better man each and every day,” he said.
May 23, 2024: Ventura issues a statement on the release of the footage
Ventura publicly commented on the release of the hotel surveillance footage in an Instagram post on May 23.
“Thank you for all the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet,” she wrote. “The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning.
“Domestic Violence is THE issue,” she continued. “It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past.”
The R&B singer thanked those who have “taken the time to take this matter seriously.”
“My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time,” she said. “It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in.”
“I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear,” she added. “Reach out to your people, don’t cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone. This healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me.”
May 12, 2025: Diddy’s federal sex trafficking trial begins in New York City
Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial began May 12, 2025 in New York City.
The disgraced hip-hop mogul faces five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
Combs has denied the allegations against him.
Though a list of witnesses has not been released, allegations made by an accuser identified as “Victim-1” in the case’s indictment sound similar to allegations made by Ventura.
The federal case will rely on the testimony of four alleged victims, identified in the indictment as “Victim-1,” “Victim-2,” “Victim-3” and “Victim-4,” according to NBC News.
All four are expected to testify during the trial.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
