Cassandra Ventura, also known as Cassie, and Diddy’s relationship already began with a power imbalance. When the young, aspiring musician met hip-hop great Sean Combs, she was 19 and he was 37. Not only that: Combs, who had already used the nicknames Diddy, P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, Puffy, Swag, Love and Brother Love was one of the most important decision makers in the industry. In 1993 he founded his label Bad Boy Records and represented, among others, The Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige.
Cassie also became part of Bad Boy Records – and Diddy noticed her. He invited himself to her 21st birthday and forced Ventura to kiss her, the Guardian quotes from the lawsuit. In the years that followed, the musician seduced the young woman into a “showy, fast-paced and drug-fueled lifestyle”. Tantrums on Diddy’s part were just as much a part of the relationship as drugs that were supposed to make Cassie “soft.”
In one incident, Diddy allegedly ran out of his apartment armed “in pursuit of a rival industrial manager who he learned was nearby.” He also demanded “that Ms. Ventura carry his firearm in her purse just to make her uncomfortable and show how dangerous he is.” He also instructed her to get him drugs.
The complaint not only speaks of psychological violence, but also of physical violence. Diddy is said to have been prone to tantrums and regularly hit his girlfriend. “These beatings were witnessed by Mr. Combs’ associates and employees of Bad Boy Entertainment and Mr. Combs’ associated companies, but no one dared to defend themselves against their fearsome and cruel boss… After these episodes of horrific abuse, Mr. “Combs immediately tried to hide Ms. Ventura and the evidence of his violent rage. He often showered her with gifts after incidents of physical violence, a typical pattern of behavior among serial offenders,” the lawsuit says. Throughout this time, Diddy was in control of her career, the lawsuit alleges: “Her volatile and abusive partner – who also owned her label and therefore controlled her future success – had exercised complete control over every aspect of her life .”
Attempts to end the relationship failed. When Cassie briefly met fellow musician Kid Cudi in 2012, he also felt Diddy’s power. According to the lawsuit, he allegedly blew up Cudi’s car. “This is all true,” Cudi said after the indictment was published.
The musician’s allegations against her ex-partner sound horrible. She also accuses Diddy of forcing her to have sex with male prostitutes. He filmed the act. The two met for dinner in 2018. According to the lawsuit, Cassie hoped to finally break away from him, “whereupon he forced her into her apartment and raped her while she repeatedly said ‘no’ and tried to push him away.” The now 37-year-old wants “justice for the decade of her life […] that Mr. Combs took away from her with threats of violence, excessive drug use, physical and psychological abuse and sexual slavery.”
Diddy denies all allegations. “Ms. Ventura has filed a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies designed to tarnish Mr. Combs’ reputation and secure a payday,” his attorneys said.
Quellen: “The Guardian” / “Variety”
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