Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing allegations of sexual assault and physical abuse by ex-girlfriend Cassie.
Cassie (real name: Casandra Ventura) filed a sex trafficking and sexual assault lawsuit against Combs in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY. The singer is also suing Combs' companies Bad Boy Entertainment, Bad Boy Records, Combs Enterprises, LLC, as well as Epic Records.
The complaint alleges that Cassie, who began a professional and sexual relationship with the rap mogul when she was 19, was trafficked, raped, and viciously beat by Combs over the course of a decade.
"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," Cassie said in a statement. "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."
Cassie met a then-37-year-old Combs in 2005 after the rap mogul became interested in signing her to Bad Boy Records. After being lured into an "ostentatious, fast-paced, and drug-fueled lifestyle" and a romantic relationship with Combs, Cassie alleges in the lawsuit that Combs "took control" of her life – ranging from her healthcare to her career opportunities – and plied her with drugs and alcohol.
"Mr. Combs asserted complete control over Ms. Ventura’s personal and professional life, thereby ensuring her inability to escape his hold," the filing read. "He provided unprecedented avenues for success for the aspiring artist, but in return, demanded obedience, loyalty, and silence."
Obedience and silence were also expected of Combs' staff and employees at Bad Boy Entertainment, Cassie alleges. Although Combs was "prone to uncontrollable rage and frequently beat Ms. Ventura savagely" in the presence of Combs' team, the singer claims nobody challenged "their frightening and ferocious boss."
Combs also allegedly forced Cassie into "repeated unwanted sexual encounters" with male prostitutes who he hired and recorded their sexual encounters. Despite her efforts to escape Combs' abuse, Cassie was repeatedly tracked down by Combs' "vast network of corporations and affiliated entities" and compelled to return to him, per the singer's filing.
Following "concerted efforts" to break away from the relationship, Cassie joined Combs for dinner at an Italian restaurant in Malibu, California, in September 2018, according to the lawsuit. The singer was under the impression they would be having "a discussion about concluding their relationship for good."
After the encounter, Cassie alleges Combs forced her into her apartment and tried to kiss her. Despite his sexual advances being denied, Combs then proceeded to rape her.
In a statement provided to USA TODAY, Combs denied Cassie's "offensive and outrageous" allegations and accused his ex of extortion.
"For the past 6 months, Mr. Combs has been subjected to Ms. Ventura's persistent demand of $30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail," the statement read. "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."
As a result of her tumultuous relationship with Combs, Cassie has had to undergo "intensive medical and psychological care," the complaint alleges.
"No human should have to endure what Ms. Ventura has endured," said Cassie's attorney Douglas Wigdor in a statement. "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."
Combs' alleged abuse also extended to others in Cassie's personal orbit.
During a birthday dinner for Cassie's 29th birthday around August 2015, Cassie alleges that Combs insisted they leave the party and go to their hotel for a "freak off," a term Combs used to refer to the forced sexual encounters with Cassie and male sex workers.
After the encounter, Combs and Cassie went back to Cassie's hotel room, where some of the singer's friends were hanging out. A "severely intoxicated" Combs later picked up one of Cassie's friends and allegedly dangled her over the balcony of the 17th-floor hotel suite, frightening Cassie and her friends.
In 2011, Cassie had a brief relationship with rapper Kid Cudi during a "rough patch" in her relationship with Combs, the lawsuit states. When Combs learned of their relationship, he "became enraged" and allegedly lunged at Cassie with a manual corkscrew.
During their attendance at Paris Fashion Week in February 2012, Combs told Cassie he planned on blowing up Kid Cudi's car and wanted to ensure he wouldn't be nearby, per the complaint. Cudi's vehicle allegedly exploded in a driveway around this time.
In a statement to The New York Times, Kid Cudi confirmed Cassie's account of the incident. USA TODAY has reached out to Cudi's representative for comment.
Following her breakup with Combs, Cassie began dating personal trainer Alex Fine in December 2018. The couple shared on social media in June 2019 that they were expecting a daughter.
The following month, Cassie announced her engagement to Fine in an Instagram post. "I love you best friend. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you," she wrote at the time.
Fine pledged his devotion to Cassie and their then-growing family in an Instagram tribute in June 2019, promising to shower the "Me & U" singer with "kisses and hugs every single day."
"I promise you that I will do every single thing in my power to support you and help you. I promise that you will never be alone," Fine wrote. "I promise that you will be loved beyond expectation and we will show our children how to be in a healthy relationship."
Combs and Cassie began dating in 2007 and had an on-and-off relationship for more than a decade.
She became known for the Ryan Leslie-produced hit single "Me & U," which secured the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 2006. The song was the lead single off her only studio album, which was self-titled.
As an actor, she has appeared in several television and film projects including Fox's "Empire," "Step Up 2: The Streets" and "Spenser Confidential."
Combs had an on-again, off-again relationship with model Kim Porter that spanned a decade. The pair, who share three children, officially called it quits in 2007 after 13 years of dating but had remained friendly, often spending holidays together.
Porter died in August 2019 at the age of 47 after she was found unresponsive in her San Fernando Valley home. A few days following Porter's sudden death, Combs described his experience of grief as a "nightmare."
"For the last three days I’ve been trying to wake up out of this nightmare. But I haven’t," Combs wrote on Instagram at the time. "I don’t know what I’m going to do without you baby. I miss you so much."
Combs paid tribute to his longtime girlfriend with a touching video of a pregnant Porter and Combs dancing, caressing and kissing during a maternity photo shoot. "We were more than best friends, we were more than soulmates. WE WERE SOME OTHER (expletive)!!" Combs wrote. "And I miss you so much. Super Black Love."
'I miss you so much':Diddy pays tribute to his 'soulmate' Kim Porter in touching post
Combs built one of hip-hop’s biggest empires, blazing a trail with several entities attached to his famous name. He is the founder of Bad Boy Records and a three-time Grammy winner who has worked with a slew of top-tier artists including Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112.
The mogul created the fashion clothing line Sean John, launched the Revolt TV channel with a focus on music, and produced the reality show “Making the Band” for MTV.
This year, he released his fifth studio album “The Love Album: Off the Grid,” which earned two Grammy nominations this month.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE & online.rainn.org).
If you are a victim of domestic violence, The National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org) allows you to speak confidentially with trained advocates online or by the phone, which they recommend for those who think their online activity is being monitored by their abuser (800-799-7233). They can help survivors develop a plan to achieve safety for themselves and their children.
Safe Horizon's hotline (safehorizon.org) offers crisis counseling, safety planning, and assistance finding shelters (800-621-HOPE (4673). It also has a chat feature where you can reach out for help from a computer or phone confidentially.
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Contributing: Rasha Ali and Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
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