As in any high-profile trial, model/performer Cassie Ventura has taken the stand. She claims Sean “Diddy” Combs of physical and sexual abuse in her riveting testimony these last few days. This year, she became the plaintiff in a lawsuit that uncovered shocking allegations. Through screams and tears, she recounted episodes of violence and intimidation that she alleges happened during their close to 10-year relationship. The trial is unfolding in a Los Angeles courtroom, where Ventura shared graphic accounts of her experiences with Combs, shedding light on a turbulent chapter of her life.
Ventura’s allegations include accusations of Combs’ violent behavior towards her and others around him. She testified about episodes in which he would hit people and throw them into tables, demonstrating a long history of violent acts. The most shocking allegation became public. This included Combs threatening to throw one of her friends off a balcony, demonstrating the lengths to which he went to intimidate women. Ventura said that Combs not only had violent tendencies towards her, but towards people that were under him.
Testimony and Surveillance Footage
Ventura had to watch graphic hotel surveillance footage at trial. Video from the ugly incident that erupted in 2016 escalated in 2018 and erupted again recently at the InterContinental hotel in Los Angeles. In that public video testimony, she explained that Combs was caught on camera throwing a vase at her in violence during an episode.
It missed me—it was a big vase— I remember vividly when it hit the wall. In fact he was screaming at me and tossed it at me,” she remembered, showcasing just how explosive their exchanges could be. This video has been essential in its ability to paint the picture of just how extreme the charges against Combs are.
In arguably the most emotional moment of the night, Ventura described a subsequent rape that occurred in her living room after their breakup in 2018. She recounted the horrific incident, saying, “And then he raped me in my living room. Ventura shared how such incidents took an emotional toll on her. She remembered, “All I remember is crying and saying ‘no,’ but it was really quick.
Relationship Dynamics and Coercive Control
As her testimony unfurled, Ventura painted a picture of a relationship ruled by fear and mind games. She shared that Combs often wanted to threaten to leak private videos of her. He referred to these re-appropriated videos as “freak-offs,” which left her feeling exposed and hunted. Ventura stated, “Whatever was going to not make him angry or threaten me I was going to do.”
“This pressure to keep their relationship together was intense. “We’d been together 10 years, you just don’t turn feelings off that way,” she testified, highlighting the emotional complexity of leaving an abusive partner.
Ventura admitted to having consensual sex with Combs after the alleged rape occurred. This blatant admission further complicates her story of consent vs coercion in their relationship. By the time of the alleged assault, Ersoff was seeing Alex Fine. This relationship created further complication to her emotional state.
Settlement and Broader Implications
Ventura dropped his trial bombshell well before the final curtain call. She revealed that she reached a settlement with Combs for an eye-popping $20 million. This settlement taps into deep racial and class trauma around accountability, and at what lengths people will go to flee from abuse.
I was scared for my professional life and for my personal life with my kids,” she said. It’s awful and it’s gross. No one can get away with lying to you and mistreating you like this. Sitting behind that decision was the fear of public scrutiny — shock, rage — as well as personal backlash, as the city marked her decision to sue.
Ventura’s testimony shows us just how oppressive power dynamics and abusive relationships can be. It showcases the dangers when one political party holds enormous power. Her criminal trial has reopened national conversations—yet again—about consent, accountability, and the consequences for abusive behavior in highly visible, powerful contexts.