STORY: :: Cassie Ventura's lawyer says she showed 'great courage' at the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs
:: New York City
:: May 16, 2025
:: Douglas Wigdor, Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura's attorney
"It's hard to put into words how honored I have been to represent Cassie Ventura since we filed her civil complaint in November of 2023. She has shown such great courage and bravery for stepping forward, and she has now testified throughout this entire week. She's done so under the most difficult of circumstances, just about to give birth to her third child and under some very difficult circumstances because of the subject matter of what she testified to."
(FLASH)
"This week has been extremely challenging, but also remarkably empowering and healing for me. I hope that my testimony has given strength and a voice to other survivors and can help others who have suffered to speak up and also heal from abuse and fear. For me, the more I heal, the more I can remember. And the more I can remember, the more I will never forget." (FLASH) "I'm glad to put this chapter of my life to rest as I turn to focus on the conclusion of my pregnancy. I ask for privacy for me and for my growing family."
The 38-year-old Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known as Cassie, previously told jurors that Combs coerced and blackmailed her into taking part in days of drug-fueled sex parties he called "Freak Offs" that are central to the prosecution's case.
During her direct testimony earlier in the week, she said Combs physically and emotionally abused her throughout their tumultuous 11-year relationship and raped her in August 2018 after they had broken up. On Wednesday, she recounted through tears how Combs allegedly raped her in her living room.
During cross-examination on Friday, defense lawyer Anna Estevao showed Ventura texts from September 2018 where she and Combs talk about potentially meeting up and hugging after having not seen each other in a while.
