Cassie Ventura revealed that she reached a settlement of about $10 million with the California hotel where Sean “Diddy” Combs was seen abusing her on surveillance footage as she wrapped up her emotional testimony on Friday.
Ventura said she reached a settlement with the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in the past month. CNN published footage of the 2016 incident from the hotel’s surveillance system last year.
Ventura became emotional as she testified that she felt “worthless, like dirt” when Combs abused her. She spoke about the attack at the InterContinental Hotel during her first day on the stand.
“Sean followed me into the hallway, and grabbed me, shoved me to the ground, kicked me and dragged me back to the room and took my stuff,” Ventura said on Tuesday.
The Context
Ventura and Combs dated for 11 years before their relationship ended in 2018. In 2023, Ventura sued Combs over allegations of trafficking, sexual assault and physical abuse. Combs agreed to pay Ventura $20 million to settle the suit the day after it was filed.
Combs is charged federally with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Prosecutors accuse Combs of organizing dayslong drug-fueled parties called “freak-offs,” where participants were allegedly coerced into performing sexual acts.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges and denies any wrongdoing.
What To Know
Ventura said she tried to tell Combs multiple times that she did not want to do freak-offs, but she felt like she could not say no.
“I worried for my safety. I worried for my career,” Ventura said.
Ventura said the freak-offs opened her up to “a world of just chaos.”
“I wanted to have sex just with him,” Ventura said.
She was asked if she and Combs had shaped each other, to which she responded, “yes.” Combs nodded affirmatively at the same time.
Ventura also acknowledged that her relationship with Combs gave her access to celebrities like Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj.
Inside the courtroom, Combs was joined by his three sons. His daughters were not in attendance.
At various points during the testimony, Combs put on and took off his glasses and looked at pieces of evidence on the courtroom monitor.
What People Are Saying
Cassie Ventura, during her testimony on Friday: “I don’t hate him. I have love for the past.”
Defense attorney Teny Geragos, during opening statements: “Sean Combs is a complicated man, but this is not a complicated case. This case is about love, jealousy, infidelity and money.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson, in the prosecution’s opening statement: “[Combs] used lies, drugs, threats and violence to force and coerce first Cassie and later Jane [another former girlfriend and prosecution witness whose identity is being withheld] to have sex with him in front of male escorts.”
What Happens Next
The prosecution is expected to call more witnesses as the trial enters its second week on Monday. The trial is expected to last eight to 10 weeks.
Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
Read the full article here
