Editor’s Note: This story contains discussions of rape or sexual assault that may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can find help and discreet resources on the National Sexual Assault Hotline website or by calling 1-800-656-4673.
(NewsNation) — Defense attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs ended their cross-examination of Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Friday by continuing to explore text messages between the two regarding the sex parties known as “Freak offs.”
Ventura is expecting her third child very soon. Subramanian encouraged Combs’ attorneys to wrap up their cross-examination Friday morning to give the prosecution an opportunity for redirect Friday in order to meet the timeline that the two sides agreed upon months before the trial began.
Anna Estevao, an attorney for Combs, referenced the March 2016 hotel incident when the rapper violently assaulted Ventura.
She asked the entertainer to read aloud a text to Combs. Ventura says the disgraced hip-hop mogul was out of control on drugs and alcohol when the assault took place. Ventura texted Combs, “I’m not a rag doll. I’m somebody’s child.”
Days after the hotel attack, Ventura and Combs exchanged messages to each other. One from Ventura to Combs said, “We need a different vibe from Friday.”
Cassie testifies Diddy was controlling
Ventura said Combs would become jealous and controlling if he thought she was giving another man attention.
She testified that he would take away her phone sometimes. Ventura described two incidents; one when Combs thought she was dancing with Chris Brown which she denies, and when he found out she was dating an unidentified football player during an off period of their relationship.
Cassie threatens to kill friend over ‘Freak Off’ video release
The defense team played a 2013 recording of Ventura screaming at a friend who claimed to have recordings of the “Freak Off” sex parties.
In the recording, Ventura pleads to see the videos before threatening the person claiming to have them.
“I’ve never killed anyone in my life, but I will kill you,” Ventura yelled at a friend who claimed to have seen a video of her engaging in a sexual encounter, in a 2013 audio recording.
Ventura recorded the audio and told jurors that Combs helped to stop it from being released to the public.
Cassie testifies she underwent treatment to process trauma in 2023
Combs’ attorney questioned Ventura about her stay at a women’s treatment facility that offered sex and love addiction services. The singer said she did not undergo treatment for those, but did have counseling to help process trauma in 2023.
She said she had neurofeedback therapy for about a week during her stay at the mental health facility,
“They hook your brain up to a machine and you watch something and it regulates your brain waves,” Ventura testified.
Cassie broke up with Combs via text in 2018
In 2018, Ventura saw a photo of Combs with a woman, identified as Gina; a woman Combs dated for a few years.
Ventura texted him that she no longer wanted to be in a relationship with the ex-music label executive.
“I just don’t trust anymore. That last shot put the nail in the coffin,” Ventura wrote, “I promised myself I wouldn’t be with you anymore if you did that to me again.”
She wrote to Combs that “you lied to me.”
After her relationship with Combs was officially over, she began dating her now husband, Alex Fine.
Cassie testifies she does not hate Diddy in spite of rape and abuse claims
The defense attorney asked if she hated Combs to which she replied, “I don’t hate him.” Then Estevao delved further, questioning if Ventura still had love for him.
She shot back, “I have love for the past, what it was.”
Cassie testifies she and Diddy had consensual sex after alleged rape
Ventura told Combs’ attorney that she had consensual sex with the fallen mogul after she alleged, he raped her in September 2018.
Ventura read the texts aloud between Combs and herself.
“I do love you. I would just prefer not being one of your girlfriends anymore.”
When Ventura said she had to move on for her sanity, Combs replied, “I respect your sanity. It’s best we keep it moving. I’m not a stalker.”
In November 2018, Ventura attended the memorial service of Combs’ former longtime partner, Kim Porter. After learning Combs’ referred to Porter as his soulmate she texted him, “I want to be there for you…and you posted Kim was your soulmate. What was the 11 years all about?”
After that Ventura says she did not see Combs again.
Ventura said that the text messages did not have any mention of rape.
Defense says Cassie’s trial testimony varies from what she told investigators in 2023
The defense noted variations from Ventura’s trial testimony versus what she told investigators in 2023.
Diddy and Cassie texted each other affectionately post-break up years later
In a message to Ventura from Combs he called her his “ride or die always.” She replied his texts, “blew my mind a bit” and added that, “I don’t hate you. I never have.”
Cassie testifies she was not in financial turmoil prior to Diddy lawsuit
Ventura said she was not struggling financially before she sued Combs in 2023.
Combs’ attorney mentioned that Ventura and her family relocated to Connecticut to live with her parents before she filed the lawsuit.
Ventura rebuffed any hint the lawsuit was financially motivated, and said her family was planning to move to the East Coast.
Prior to the $20 million settlement she received from Combs, she was scheduled for a tour in Australia and New Zealand in 2024, which was cancelled after the parties settled.
Ventura said the cancellation of the tour was not tied to the settlement.
“That wasn’t the reason why,” Ventura said.
Defense uses Cassie’s Instagram post about domestic violence
The defense pointed to a May 2024 Instagram post penned by Ventura after CNN broadcast the March 2016 assault.
Ventura’s post read, “Domestic violence is the issue.”
Combs’ legal counsel has admitted that he is a domestic abuser, however, the charges of racketeering and sex trafficking do not apply.
Cassie testifies Diddy’s abuse made her feel ‘worthless, just like dirt.’
Ventura cried on the stand when asked by the prosecution about abuse she endured from Combs during “freak offs.”
She said Combs’ violence towards her made her feel “worthless, just like dirt… like I was nothing.”
Cassie testifies she was initially open to ‘Freak Offs’ then worried for her safety
In the beginning of her relationship with Combs’ she was open to “freak offs” because she wanted to make her then-boyfriend happy, yet as the years progressed Ventura testified, ““I worried for my safety. I worried for my career.” She also noted she was feared that if she did not participate in the orgies, she would lose Combs’ love.
Cassie testifies she expected to receive $10 million settlement from hotel where Combs’ assault took place
During the end of Ventura’s testimony she said is expected to receive a $10 million settlement from the Los Angeles Intercontinental Hotel where she was violently assaulted by Combs in March 2016.
She did not disclose the nature of the claim against the hotel. The settlement was reached a short time ago.
Ventura’s second day of being cross-examined comes after she read through a collection of text messages and emails sent between her and Combs during their relationship. Ventura read some of the exchanges aloud, creating a courtroom environment that Arick Fudali, an attorney who represents two Diddy accusers in civil cases and a government witness who has not been identified, described to NewsNation as being “tense.”
During the reading of one email, Ventura said on the stand that, “I had fallen in love with him and cared about him very much.”
However, other messages centered on the “Freak Offs,” of which Ventura testified that she participated in hundreds of during her relationship with Combs. She also testified that she watched Combs have sex with other women during the events.
Combs’ attorneys characterized Ventura as being the one who sought to participate in the “Freak Offs,” but Ventura testified she often felt compelled to participate to keep Combs happy.
In a 2017 text message, Cassie told Combs, “I love our (‘Freak Offs’) when we both want it,” using the shortened version in texts for “freak-off.”
On the stand Thursday, however, Ventura told jurors, “I would say loving (‘Freak Offs’) were just words at that point.”
Cassie’s cross-examination comes to a close
Combs’ lawyer has Ventura read aloud a September 2012 text exchange with the rapper.
Combs wrote her, “FO one last time tonight,” to which Ventura questioned, “What?”
He then said, “You can’t read?”
Ventura replied, “I don’t want to freak off for the last time. I want it to be the first time for the rest of our lives.”
After that last line, cross-examination was complete.
The prosecution began their re-direct of Ventura asking her to read more of the text thread between her and Combs.
“I want to see you, but I’m emotional right now. I don’t want to do one last time. I’d rather not do it at all,” Ventura wrote.
Cassie hopes testimony will inspire more to come forward
After stepping down from the witness stand, Ventura’s attorney Doug Wigdor read a statement on her behalf to reporters Friday:
“This week has been extremely challenging, but also remarkably empowering and healing for me. I hope that my testimony has given strength and a voice to other survivors, and can help others who have suffered to speak up and also heal from the abuse and fear.
For me, the more I heal, the more I can remember. And the more I can remember, the more I will never forget. I want to thank my family and my advocates for their unwavering support, and I’m grateful for all the kindness and encouragement that I have received.
I’m glad to put this chapter of my life to rest. As I turn to focus on the conclusion of my pregnancy, I ask for privacy for me and for my growing family.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story
