Opening arguments in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial began Mon., May 12, at a federal court in Manhattan
Combs pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution
Prosecutors allege that Combs is the mastermind behind a criminal enterprise that forced women to perform sex acts
The degrading acts that Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly forced Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura to perform for his pleasure took a toll on her health, she told jurors on Wed., May 14.
“Occasionally I’d get sores on my tongue from doing drugs,” the R&B singer testified on day three of Combs’ high-profile federal sex crimes trial in Manhattan federal court. “Also (from) having my mouth on different things from oil and lubricants.”
When Ventura texted Combs to let him know she had painful sores on her tongue and “another UTI,” he responded by saying, “I’m sorry,” she testified.
Related: Cassie Recounts Brutal Assault by Diddy at L.A. Hotel — and Reveals Why She Didn’t Fight Back
The former model and “Me & You” singer, who is married to personal trainer Alex Fine and is eight months pregnant with their child, is testifying about the physical and emotional abuse she allegedly endured at the hands of her powerful ex-boyfriend of 11 years.
Ventura alleges that Combs forced her to take part in orchestrated sex acts called “Freak Offs” that he filmed, threatening to use the tapes as blackmail to derail her music career. She testified that she took drugs to help her get through these encounters.
Bryan Steffy/WireImage; Madison McGaw/BFA.com/Shutterstock
Sean Combs; Casandra “Cassie” Ventura
When Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson asked Ventura why she didn’t refuse to take part in the Freak Offs, Ventura said she complied because she loved him and because she allegedly feared his wrath.
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Combs became violent with Ventura when he was angry at her but also during their Freak Offs with male escorts, she told jurors.
Related: Cassie Alleges She Would Become Ill During ‘Freak Offs’ — and Diddy Would Keep ‘Encouraging’ Her to Have Sex
Combs, she alleged, would sometimes “put his hands on me. He would grab me up, push me down. Hit me in the side of the head. Kick me. You name it.”
Ventura recalled one incident n 2013, when Combs attacked her in front of two friends, prompting them to “jump on his back.”
When she cut her eyebrow on the bed during the struggle, Combs asked members of his security team to take her to a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon to check it out.
When she sent him a photo of the injury, he allegedly responded, “You. Don’t know. When to. Stop. You have pushed IT Too far. And continue to push. Sad.”
Related: Cassie Set to Continue Emotional Testimony at Diddy Trial: Day 3 Live Updates
Arrested in September 2024, Combs pleaded not guilty to five counts of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
On the first day of the trial on Monday, May 12, in Manhattan federal court, jurors saw surveillance video of the hip-hop mogul beating and kicking Ventura in the elevator bank of a hotel lobby in 2016.
Johnson told jurors in her opening statement that Combs is the mastermind behind a vast criminal enterprise he used to allegedly lure women with promises of romance and help with their careers, drug them and force them to have sex.
In her opening statement, Combs’ defense attorney Teny Geragos said that any sex between her client and Ventura was consensual, as was the fact that she stayed with him for more than a decade.
Combs could face up to life in prison if he is convicted on all counts. Since his 2024 arrest, he has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Complex in Brooklyn.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
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