During the federal proceedings against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, the plaintiff in a previously settled civil lawsuit, took the stand and delivered an emotional and detailed account of her past relationship with Combs.
Her testimony, part of the prosecution’s case in an ongoing criminal trial, included new public revelations regarding her mental health, a multi-million-dollar settlement, and her motivations for testifying.
Ventura testified that in February 2023, she voluntarily entered a rehabilitation facility after what she described as a mental health crisis linked to her time with Combs.
“I didn’t want to be alive,” she told the court, recounting an incident where she nearly walked into traffic following flashbacks triggered during a music video shoot.
She credited her current husband with intervening and helping her seek professional help.
While in treatment, Ventura said she began documenting her experiences, which later became the basis of a memoir she hoped would bring Combs to account privately. “I wrote a book and I wanted Sean Combs to read it,” she testified. “I wanted him to understand what he put me through. I was 22. I would have done anything for him.”
According to Ventura, she initially requested $30 million for the rights to the book—a figure she admitted was arbitrary.
“I didn’t do any research. I just picked a number. I thought it would alert him.” The request ultimately led to a civil lawsuit filed in November 2023, which she confirmed for the first time in court was settled for $20 million.
Under direct examination, Ventura explained why she chose to testify despite having settled the civil matter.
“I cannot carry this anymore,” she said. “The shame, the guilt. What’s right is right. What’s wrong is wrong.”
Her testimony concluded the prosecution’s questioning. The defense will begin cross-examination in the next session, where Ventura’s credibility and motivations may be further scrutinized by Combs’ legal team.
Ventura’s civil suit, which accused Combs of rape, sexual trafficking, and domestic abuse, was one of several recent cases to surface against the music executive. The current federal case includes allegations of racketeering, witness intimidation, and other crimes reportedly committed over a span of several years.
The trial continues this week in federal district court, where the outcome could have far-reaching implications for the handling of domestic violence and abuse allegations in high-profile entertainment cases.
