Singer Cassie Accuses Sean 'Diddy' Combs of Abuse Spanning Over 10 Years
Rap artist Sean "Diddy" Combs has been accused of rape and sex trafficking by singer, Cassie. In a lawsuit obtained by the BBC, Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, detailed a decade-long cycle of abuse and violence she endured while in a relationship with Sean Diddy Combs. She alleges instances of rape and physical assault during their time together.
Mr Combs, also known as Puff Daddy, vehemently denies these accusations and accuses Cassie of attempting to extort money from him through these claims, which his lawyer has labeled as "offensive and outrageous."
Ms Ventura, an R&B singer and dancer, claims her rap producer raped and bear her for over ten years, beginning at age 19 while was 37 at the time. She also stated she's breaking her silence after years of suffering, aiming to shed light on her experience and speak up not only for herself but for other women facing similar violence in relationships.
"After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story," she said in a statement on Thursday.
The lawsuit contains graphic details of the abuse, including incidents of physical violence resulting in injuries she says happened after she met the rapper in 2005.
The complaint claims that Mr Combs "plied the vulnerable Ms Ventura with drugs and alcohol, causing her to fall into dangerous addictions that controlled her life" after signing her to his musical label, Bad Boy.
The artist is described as a "serial domestic abuser, who would regularly beat and kick Ms Ventura, leaving black eyes, bruises, and blood" in the lawsuit.
Mr Combs's attorney informed BBC News that Ms Ventura had made the demand "under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship" and had sought $30 million (£24 million).
Benjamin Brafman, his attorney, stated that the purported demand "was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail".
"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," he added.
In response to Mr Brafman, Ms Ventura's lawyer, Doug Wigdor, said Mr Combs had offered her a payment of "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," he said.
The music mogul allegedly warned her he intended to "blow up" rapper Kid Cudi's car, according to her lawsuit. The lawsuit said that Mr. Combs had grown envious that Ms. Ventura was seeing the rapper.
She claims that in 2012, during Paris Fashion Week, he informed her of his intentions.
"Mr Combs told Ms Ventura that he was going to blow up Kid Cudi's car," the complaint says, "and that he wanted to ensure that Kid Cudi was home with his friends when it happened. Kid Cudi's car blew up in his driveway around that time.
The New York Times was informed by a Kid Cudi representative that Ms. Ventura's story was accurate.
In the 2000s, she put up a number of hits, including that featured Diddy. Her most famous tracks include Me & U, Long Way to Go and Official Girl, featuring Lil Wayne.