In a shocking turn of events, R&B vocalist Cassandra Ventura, widely known as Cassie, has filed a federal lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, the renowned rapper, and hip-hop mogul. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, alleges a decade-long history of physical abuse, sexual slavery, and rape.
Ventura, 37, claims that during their 10-year professional and romantic relationship, Combs subjected her to serial physical abuse, controlling behavior, and sexual exploitation. One of the disturbing allegations is that Combs forced her to engage in sex acts with male prostitutes he hired while he watched and filmed the encounters for his own pleasure.
The lawsuit also contends that Combs regularly subjected Ventura to physical violence, asserting control through intimidation, drug use, and alcohol. Ventura alleges that the abuse culminated in rape in 2018 when she expressed her intention to end the relationship.
In response, Combs’ lawyer, Ben Brafman, issued a statement vehemently denying the allegations. Brafman accuses Ventura of attempting to extort $30 million from Combs by threatening to write a damaging book about their relationship, describing the lawsuit as “riddled with baseless and outrageous lies.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs, 54, is a highly influential figure in the hip-hop industry, known for founding Bad Boy Records and achieving success as a performer and executive. In 2017, Forbes ranked him as the world’s highest-paid musician, earning an estimated $130 million annually.
The lawsuit portrays Combs as an erratic and controlling individual with a history of violent tendencies. Allegations include forcing Ventura to carry his handgun, endangering her friends, and damaging property belonging to others in fits of jealousy.
Ventura’s lawsuit, while not specifying a monetary amount, seeks “justice for the decade of her life that Mr. Combs took away from her with threats of violence, excessive use of drugs, physical and psychological abuse, and sexual slavery.” The legal action cites violations of sex trafficking and human trafficking statutes under federal, New York, and California laws.
This disturbing development adds Combs to the list of high-profile figures in the music industry facing accusations of sexual misconduct in recent lawsuits, including Steven Tyler, L.A. Reid, and Neil Portnow. As the legal proceedings unfold, the industry watches closely, grappling with yet another controversy that raises questions about the conduct of its influential figures.
