Sean Combs sex trafficking trial updates: Cassie's testimony ends after days of describing abuse

The hip-hop mogul is charged with sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

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Last updated: Friday, May 16, 2025 11:26PM GMT
DIDDY ON TRIAL: First week of witness testimony recap
Eyewitness News breaks down the first full week of witness testimony in the Sean Combs trial including star witness Cassie Ventura.

NEW YORK -- After four days on the witness stand, Cassie Ventura concluded her testimony Friday at the trial of her ex-boyfriend, Sean "Diddy" Combs.

It came shortly after the defense concluded nearly two days of cross-examination.

Prosecutors allege Combs, 55, used his fame and fortune to orchestrate an empire of exploitation, coercing women into abusive sex parties.

If Combs is convicted on all charges, which include racketeering, kidnapping, arson, bribery and sex trafficking, he would face a mandatory 15 years in prison and could remain behind bars for life.

This story may contain accounts and descriptions of actual or alleged events that some readers may find disturbing.

"Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy," a new podcast from "20/20" and ABC Audio, traces how the whispers of abuse came to light and led to the downfall of Sean "Diddy" Combs, who was once among the most influential entertainers and entrepreneurs in hip hop. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and more.

Kemberly Richardson reports from Lower Manhattan.

(ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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May 13, 2025, 5:37 PM GMT

Just before the break, Cassie testified the longest 'freak off' she was involved in lasted four days

"The freak offs became a job," she said, noting that other encounters took anywhere from 36 or 48 hours.

The marathon sessions frequently required periods of recovery from dehydration, fatigue and drug use, she said.

Before the trial paused for a 40-minute lunch break, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson pressed Cassie to explain what happened to her music career and the nine albums that were never released.

Cassie said she created hundreds of songs, some of which were released on the internet prior to "proper release and some just didn't see the light of day." Cassie testified that much of her week went toward the "freak offs."

"Freak offs became a job where there was no space to do anything else but to recover and just try to feel normal again," she said.

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May 13, 2025, 5:05 PM GMT

Combs' moods worried Cassie

As her relationship with Sean Combs went on Cassie Ventura told the jury "I began to experience a different side of him, which was his abusive side. But there was still love there."

She described worrying about his moods. "Make the wrong face and the next thing I knew I was getting hit in the face," she said.

Members of his security staff "kept an eye on me" and he would constantly call if she ignored him. At the same time, Ventura said she would get "insanely jealous" when she saw Combs with other women.

"I was insanely jealous but also super young, didn't get it at all. Young and jealous," she said. "I didn't get that he was him, as he would say,' I'm Puff Daddy and Puff Daddy has many women.'"

Combs appeared to look at Ventura as she entered the courtroom. She did not appear to look at him.

Ventura described moving to Los Angeles and living in apartments Combs paid for and the "stomach in knots" moments when he would drop by unannounced, not knowing if he was angry.

Though her recording contract with Bad Boy Records called for ten albums, she released only one. "If you're not releasing music you're not doing your job so the career was stifled," Ventura said.

"Why did you not release another album during this time?" prosecutor Emily Johnson asked.

"You're asking me?" Ventura responded in jest. "Plainly, the freak offs became a job where there was no space to do anything else but to recover and just try to feel normal again."

She said the sexual encounters with prostitutes typically lasted anywhere from 36 to 48 to 72 hours. The longest one lasted four days.

The court is on a lunch break. Ventura's testimony is expected to continue for the remainder of the day and beyond.

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May 13, 2025, 4:57 PM GMT

Combs' controlled Cassie's life and their relationship, Ventura testifies

Ventura told the jury Combs controlled a lot of her life, from her career to the way she dressed. "And it just didn't feel like I had much say in it being super young, naïve, people-pleaser. I didn't know if he would be upset enough to be violent or if he would write me off and not want to be with me at all," Ventura testified.

If she refused Combs, Ventura said "it was always in the back of my mind that I would somehow be hurt." Over time, she said "there were blackmail materials."

"I think I was just really confused at the time, and young, new artist, just didn't know the lay of the land when it came to things like that. In my confusion just kind of cried and ran off," Ventura testified. "I just wasn't familiar with having an executive or anybody pay attention to me or be that forward at that point. Pretty naïve, I would say."

Though 17 years younger than Combs, Ventura said she "wanted to be around Sean for the same reasons as everyone else at the time. He's just this exciting and entertaining fun guy that just also happened to have my career in his hands."

She testified that Combs introduced her to oral sex in a New York hotel room. "He basically taught me how," she said.

"How did he introduce you to oral sex? "Johnson asked.

"He gave me oral sex," Ventura responded.

The two first had intercourse on a boat Combs had rented on a trip to Miami, Ventura testified.

"I became one of his girlfriends," Ventura said.

Combs listened passively to Ventura's testimony as he sat the defense table with his hands in his lap. Combs' family listened in the second row.

Ventura's husband, Alex Fine, is also in the courtroom.

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May 13, 2025, 4:15 PM GMT

Cassie Ventura describes participating in 'freak offs' to please Combs

Cassie Ventura testified that she did not remember how the term "freak off" came about but she recalled Sean Combs proposed "this sexual encounter, that he called voyeurism, where he would watch me in intercourse, sexual activity with another man" within the first year of their relationship.

"I just remember my stomach falling, just the nervousness. I think I was 22 at the time, I didn't have a concept to how that would be a turn-on but I also felt a sense of responsibility, him sharing that with me," Ventura testified. "I wanted to make him happy."

In soft-spoken, sometimes halting testimony interrupted by deep breaths, Ventura said the freak offs occurred so often that "eventually it became a job for me" to set them up.

After the first one, Ventura said her willingness to participate changed.

"Pretty quickly over time I knew it wasn't something I wanted to be doing, especially how frequently. But I was in love and wanting to make him happy," Ventura said. "I didn't feel like I had much of a choice, didn't really know what 'no' could turn into."

Ventura alleged violent arguments with Combs that she said "would usually result in some physical abuse."

"He would bash my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me, stomp me in the head when I was down," Ventura testified.

"How frequently was Sean physical with you during your relationship?" prosecutor Emily Johnson asked.

"Too frequently," Ventura responded.