American rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is facing a lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, also known as Cassie, alleging physical and sexual abuse. The federal court case, reported by CNN, claims that Combs lured Ventura into a drug-fueled lifestyle and a romantic relationship shortly after signing her to his record label, Bad Boy Records, in 2005 or 2006. The complaint asserts that Combs, who was 37 at the time, exerted power and influence over Ventura throughout their business and emotional relationship, controlling her personal life and introducing her to excessive alcohol and substance abuse.
Ventura alleges that Combs forced her into numerous sex activities with other men and, in 2018, broke into her home and sexually assaulted her after she attempted to end the relationship. The lawsuit details Ventura’s struggles with alcohol and drug addictions during their partnership, including a stint in rehab due to suicidal thoughts linked to the abuse. Ventura, now a mother of two, claims she still experiences immense emotional distress.
Ben Brafman, Combs’ lawyer, angrily refuted the charges, claiming that Ventura had repeatedly requested $30 million from Combs under the threat of publishing a negative book about their relationship. The case, filed shortly before the Adult Survivors Act in New York expired, demands unspecified monetary damages and accuses Combs of human trafficking, sex trafficking, sexual assault, gender-motivated violence, sexual harassment, and creating a hostile work environment. Combs, a hip-hop pioneer, formed Bad Boy Records in 1993, while Ventura, an R&B singer, rose to prominence with her debut album ‘Cassie’ in 2006.