Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs accused of rape and sex trafficking by ex-partner Cassie
Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been accused of rape, violent behaviour and sex trafficking in a lawsuit filed by US singer Cassie relating to their decade-long relationship.
Mr Combs, 54, “vehemently denies” the allegations made against him.
In the lawsuit filed at New York federal court on Thursday, Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, alleged that Mr Combs was “prone to uncontrollable rage”, subjected her to repeated physical abuse and sexual slavery.
It is also alleged that Mr Combs raped Ms Ventura “in her own home after she tried to leave him” in 2018 and that she “endured over a decade of his violent behaviour and disturbed demands”.
Ms Ventura, 37, who met Mr Combs aged 19, ended her relationship with Mr Combs after the alleged rape and ended her association with his Bad Boy record label in 2019, according to the complaint.
One of the central allegations against Mr Combs is that he forced Ms Ventura to engage in sex acts with a succession of male prostitutes he hired while he watched and filmed the encounters for his own pleasure. The alleged incidents took place in different cities, which the lawsuit says makes Ms Ventura a victim of sex trafficking.
The lawsuit also claims Mr Combs forced Ms Ventura to carry his handgun for him in her purse, once dangled a friend of hers over the balcony of a high-rise hotel suite and blew up a car belonging to rapper Kid Cudi after learning he was “romantically interested” in her.
Ms Ventura’s lawsuit is being brought under the Adult Survivors Act, a New York law that permits sexual abuse claimants to take legal action after the statute of limitations has expired.
A one-year window to file lawsuits under the act closes next week.
In a statement given to the PA news agency, Ms Ventura said the imminent expiration of the Adult Survivors Act prompted her to come forward.
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.”
Douglas Wigdor, Ms Ventura’s lawyer, said in a statement given to PA: “No human should have to endure what Ms Ventura has endured.
“Her ability and willingness to speak up against the abuse she suffered, and seeking to hold accountable her abuser and those who enabled the abuse, is a testament to her strength and resilience.
“We are honoured to represent this brave victim in her pursuit of justice.”
In a statement given to PA, Mr Combs’ lawyer Benjamin Brafman said he “vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations”.
His legal team accused Ms Ventura of “seeking a payday” and threatening to write a damaging book about her relationship with Mr Combs before filing the lawsuit.
Mr Brafman said: “Ms Ventura’s demand of $30m, 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.”
In response to Mr Brafman’s statement, Mr Wigdor stated that Mr Combs “offered Ms Ventura eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit”.
He added: “She rejected his efforts and decided to give a voice to all woman who suffer in silence. Ms Ventura should be applauded for her bravery.”
The lawsuit does not seek a specified amount of monetary damages.
Mr Combs, a three-time Grammy award winner whose hit songs include I’ll Be Missing You, Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down and Give Me Love, is one of the most influential figures in the music industry.
In 2017 he was ranked as the world’s highest-paid musician by Forbes, then earning an estimated $130m a year.
He founded the label Bad Boy Records in the early 90s, for which Ms Ventura signed a 10-album deal with in 2006 at the age of 19, according to the lawsuit. Ms Ventura only released one studio album, Cassie.
