Former girlfriend Cassie Ventura files lawsuit accusing Sean Diddy Combs of rape and abuse
Sean Diddy Combs faces a federal lawsuit filed by ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, accusing him of rape and long-term physical and emotional abuse Ventura, an R&B singer, alleges enduring years of mistreatment at the hands of the renowned producer and musician
Sean Combs, producer and musician, is facing a federal lawsuit in New York City from his former girlfriend, Casandra Ventura. She claims to have been a victim of rape and enduring years of physical and other forms of abuse by Combs.
According to the complaint, obtained by CNN, Ventura alleges that Combs enticed her into a lavish, high-speed, drug-fueled lifestyle and manipulated her into a romantic relationship shortly after they met in either 2005 or 2006. Combs also signed Ventura to his record label, Bad Boy Records, shortly after their encounter.
Ventura alleges in the lawsuit that Combs exerted his power and influence over her throughout their professional and romantic relationship. The complaint states that they met when she was 19 years old and he was 37, and their business relationship continued until 2019.
According to the complaint, Ventura claims that Combs was physically violent towards her and controlled every aspect of her personal life. She also states that he introduced her to a lifestyle of excessive alcohol and substance abuse and coerced her into engaging in various sexual acts with other men during their time together.
"After years of enduring silence and darkness, I am now prepared to share my narrative, advocating for myself and standing up for women who endure violence and abuse in their own relationships," stated Ventura, an R&B singer known as Cassie, in a CNN statement.
"As the expiration date of New York's Adult Survivors Act looms, I recognize the significance of seizing this moment to illuminate the trauma I have endured and will continue to navigate throughout my lifetime."
In an emailed statement to CNN, Ben Brafman, attorney for Combs, stated that Combs strongly denies the offensive and outrageous allegations made against him. Brafman further explained that over the past 6 months, Combs has been confronted by Ms. Ventura's persistent demand for $30 million, accompanied by the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship. This demand was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail. Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit filled with baseless and outrageous lies, with the intention of tarnishing Mr. Combs' reputation and seeking financial gain.
Sean "Diddy" Combs and Cassie at the Met Gala on May 7, 2018 in New York City.
Combs, along with his companies - Bad Boy Records, Bad Boy Entertainment, and Combs Enterprises - are listed as defendants in the lawsuit. The lawsuit also includes Epic Records, which is mentioned as Ventura's employer.
CNN has contacted Epic Records for a response.
The Adult Survivors Act of New York became effective in late November 2022, enabling adult survivors of sexual abuse to pursue legal action against their offenders in New York, irrespective of the expired statute of limitations on their claims. The law grants adult survivors of sexual assault a one-year window to file lawsuits against their assailants and is scheduled to expire on November 24.
Combs, a 54-year-old music industry pioneer, founded the renowned music label Bad Boy in 1993. Throughout his career, he has been known by multiple stage names including Puff Daddy and Diddy. Combs' influence on the growth of the hip-hop genre is undeniable, as evidenced by his three Grammy wins and 14 nominations. While initially achieving success as a musician, Combs has also made his mark as a producer and successful entrepreneur.
Ventura, at 37 years old, is a highly regarded R&B singer. She gained recognition for her hit song "Me & U" from her self-titled debut album "Cassie" released in 2006 while signed to Combs' Bad Boy label. In addition to collaborating with notable artists such as Lil Wayne and Akon, Ventura also released the single "Must Be Love" featuring Combs in 2009.
