A lawsuit filed by singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura accuses music mogul Sean Combs of rape, kidnapping and years of physical abuse.
The shocking allegations were revealed in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, Nov. 16 by Ventura, an R&B singer once signed to his record label.
In court documents obtained by the NY Times, Ventura accused Combs, 54, of rape, and of repeated physical abuse.
Combs, also known as Puff Daddy, Puffy and Diddy, vigorously denied the allegations through his attorney.
Ventura, 37, says that not long after she met Combs in 2005, when she was only 19, Combs began a pattern of control and abuse that included drugging her, plying her with alcohol, beating her and forcing her to have sex with male prostitutes while he filmed their encounters.
In 2018, before she left him for good, Ventura claims Combs forced his way into her home and raped her.
“After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships,” Ventura said in a statement released on Thursday.
Attorney Douglas Wigdor, who represents Ventura, said Combs tried to settle the case quietly before the suit was filed.
“Mr. Combs offered Ms. Ventura eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit,” Wigdor said.
“She rejected his efforts.”
The lawsuit names Combs and his associated companies as defendants. Ventura seeks unspecified damages.
