This Thursday, Cassie filed a lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging rape and years of physical abuse while the two were in a relationship.
Cassie, legally Casandra Ventura, states in the suit that she met Combs sometime in 2005 when she was 19 years old and he was 37. She claims that Diddy “exerted his power and influence” throughout their decade-long relationship, along with some darker details.
The lawsuit states that Combs physically abused Ventura, encouraged “excessive alcohol and substance abuse” and even trafficked her. She alleges that Diddy forced her to participate in sexual acts with other men while he filmed it. Cassie also stated that after she attempted to leave Combs, he raped her in her own home.
The suit names Sean “Diddy” Combs along with Bad Boy Records, Bad Boy Entertainment, Epic Records and Combs Enterprises all as defendants due to Cassie’s claim that “Mr. Combs’ staff and employees of Bad Boy Entertainment and Mr. Combs’s related businesses” witnessed Combs’ physical abuse towards her yet never intervened.
Cassie made a statement to the press recently, in which she said: “After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships. With the expiration of New York’s Adult Survivors Act fast approaching, it became clear that this was an opportunity to speak up about the trauma I have experienced and that I will be recovering from for the rest of my life.”
Diddy himself has not commented on any of the allegations, but his lawyer, Ben Brafman said that he “vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations.” According to Brafman, Cassie attempted to blackmail Combs into a massive settlement before deciding to sue. Brafman said, “Ms. Ventura’s demand of $30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail. Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’ reputation, and seeking a pay day.”
Meanwhile, Cassie’s lawyer Douglas Wigdor said that Diddy offered to pay Cassie “eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit. She rejected his efforts and decided to give a voice to all women who suffer in silence.”
With the suit only being filed yesterday, there is no current update as to when the first court date will be scheduled.