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Opening statements in the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs began on Monday, May 12. To bring things up to speed, the Bad Boy Records founder is on trial for his role in a long-running sex trafficking ring.
Cassie Testifies Against Diddy in Federal Trial
One of the key components in this trial will be former R&B star, Cassie Ventura. Ventura was a former artist on Diddy’s Bad Boy Records label. She and Combs also had an 11-year relationship that spanned from 2007 to 2018.
Cassie took the stand against Diddy on May 13. As many anticipated that she would. On the stand, she recalled gruesome details about the abuse she suffered during her and Combs’ relationship.
“He would back me on my head. Knock me over, drag me, kick me, stomp me on the head,” Ventura testified. She also added that the abuse would occur “too frequently.”
She also said: “Ultimately, at that point, Sean controlled a lot of my life. Whether it was career or the way I dress, like everything, everything. And I just didn’t feel like I had much say in it at that time, being super young, naive, a total people pleaser. I didn’t know enough if he would be upset to be violent or write me off.
Combs’ Attorneys Plan To Argue Mutual Abuse in Relationship
The importance of Cassie in Diddy’s trial cannot be understated. In fact, one could argue that she is the catalyst of this federal trial. Ventura slapped Diddy with a civil suit in November 2023, alleging that she was assaulted and forced into prostitution during the course of her and Combs’ 11-year relationship.
But Combs’ defense team says they will argue that the abuse between Diddy and Cassie was mutual, saying that there was “hitting on both sides,” during their relationship.
“[The defense team]is going to take the position there was mutual violence in their relationship… hitting, on both sides: DV (domestic violence),” Diddy’s attorney Marc Agnifilo said in court per TMZ.
He also added: “We are absolutely going to admit to domestic violence. But at what point does it become coercive?”
However, after Combs settled with Ventura, several other people came forward alleging similar abuse at the hands of the music mogul. And many of them are set to testify during the trial.
