Sean “Diddy” Combs lawyers tried to discredit central testimony from singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura on Thursday, claiming that she freely engaged in the hip-hop billionaire’s legendary sex parties, dubbed “Freak Offs.” The action comes as Combs is charged with five felonies, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution.
Ventura, 38, is the lead witness for the prosecution. She has claimed Combs emotionally manipulated, pressured, and blackmailed her during their 11-year relationship, which she ended in 2018. She testified previously that she was coercively made to go and take part in the “Freak Offs,” which she said left her feeling humiliated and helpless.
But under cross-examination in the Manhattan federal courtroom, Combs defense lawyer Anna Estevao presented earlier emails and text messages between Ventura and Combs. There were sexually explicit messages and messages expressing mutual affection. In one of the messages, Ventura wrote that she was always up for sex or a “Freak Off,” a statement the defense pointed out to discredit the prosecution’s image of her as a victim.
Ventura admitted to her previous displays of desire and love but insisted that she was genuine in her feelings at the time. “I wanted to spend so much time with him, at this point in 2010, because I’d fallen in love with him and I cared about him very much,” she told the court.
The defense is trying to flip the story on its head and imply that Ventura was not just a willing but also partly a culpable actor in the twisted relationship. They also indicated that there might have been money on her mind at a later time, prompting some of the activities such as the civil case where she settled for $20 million.
The trial still goes on in Manhattan, with Combs insisting he is innocent. The jury will finally decide if the evidence tells a tale of coercion by Ventura or the defense’s account of a complicated but consensual relationship.
