Cassie testifies in Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial: Details decade of abuse, 4-day 'freak-offs,' and coerced sexual encounters

Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, more popularly known as Cassie, took the witness stand on Tuesday, May 13, in a high-profile federal trial against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. Testifying in a New York courtroom, the R&B singer provided harrowing details about their 10-year relationship with the now-disgraced rapper, including allegations of physical abuse, sexual coercion, and psychological control.

Cassie describes her life under Combs’ control

Cassie, now 37, first met Combs in 2005 when she was just 19 years old and newly signed to his Bad Boy Records label. Their relationship began a few years later, but according to her testimony, as described by the Associated Press, Combs’ influence extended far beyond music.

“Sean controlled a lot of my life, whether it was my career, the way I dressed — everything,” she told the jury. She described Combs as “very polarising” and “very charming” but said that charm masked a much darker dynamic behind closed doors.

Cassie on Diddy's freak-offs and coerced encounters

One of the most disturbing aspects of Cassie’s testimony focused on what Combs allegedly called “freak-offs,” extended, drug-fueled sexual encounters that often involved male sex workers. She said these sessions were rooted in Combs’ voyeuristic fantasies and typically took place in dark, private hotel rooms—far from the bright lights of his famous White Parties in the Hamptons.

The first “freak-off” occurred at Combs’ Los Angeles home when Cassie was about 22. It involved a male stripper from Las Vegas, and she described feeling dirty and confused afterward, yet also relieved that Combs seemed satisfied. From there, the encounters became regular, sometimes weekly, and went on for nearly a decade until around 2017 or 2018.

“He was controlling the whole situation. He was directing it,” she said, describing herself as “an object being heavily objectified by men in that scenario.”

Cassie said she was expected to spend thousands of dollars to hire sex workers based on Combs’ preferences. The sessions lasted 36 to 72 hours, with the longest stretching to four days. She testified that they involved heavy drug and alcohol use, leaving her dehydrated, sleep-deprived, and emotionally detached.

She cried while recounting how she used drugs during these encounters to “numb myself during emotionless sex with a stranger that I didn’t really want to have sex with.” Cassie said the experiences became so frequent and taxing that “‘freak-offs’ became a job where there was no space to do anything else but to recover and just try to feel normal again.”

Combs allegedly used up to 10 large bottles of baby oil during these sessions, ordering Cassie to reapply if she looked “dry.” She also said he humiliated her with degrading demands during the encounters.

Cassie reveals why she couldn't break free

Cassie’s voice broke several times during her testimony. She admitted that even when she wanted to stop participating in the freak-offs, she didn’t feel safe speaking up.

“I just didn’t want to make him upset,” she told the court. “I didn’t want anything bad to happen.” She said she had to “tread lightly” whenever the subject came up.

The singer also accused Combs of repeated physical abuse over the course of their relationship, including hitting her in the head, stomping on her, and dragging her.

From lawsuit to criminal investigation

Cassie is the star witness in the case and represents hundreds of thousands of victims who are alleging the hip-hop mogul used his position to perform his sex crimes. She first came forward with her allegations in a 2023 civil lawsuit, which was settled within hours. However, the explosive claims triggered a wave of similar lawsuits and led to a criminal investigation against Combs.

Now, Combs faces five federal charges across three indictments, including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transporting individuals for prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and denies all allegations, both criminal and civil.

Cassie's career was launched under Combs’ label

During the early days of their relationship, Cassie’s music career was tightly tied to Combs. Her debut single, Me & U, topped the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart in 2006 and went platinum. It remains her most successful release, under the same label, she says, became the centre of a decade of control and exploitation.

The trial continues as more witnesses are expected to testify in the coming weeks.

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