Takeaways from Cassie Ventura’s testimony in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ racketeering trial

The government calls Cassandra Ventura.

With those words, the prosecution began its case against Sean “Diddy” Combs. Ventura, known as “Victim 1” in the indictment and “Cassie” in music, testified on Tuesday. She is pregnant and in her third trimester. Her testimony is expected to last several days. On Tuesday, she was on the stand for about 4.5 hours.

Prosecutors allege that Combs and his associates used threats and violence to coerce Ventura and another woman into sexual performances called “Freak Offs.” They claim this was done to protect Combs’ reputation. The defense admitted that Combs has been violent but argued that the women consented to these arrangements. They stated that evidence of domestic violence does not prove racketeering or sex trafficking.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to five charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

First meeting since 2018

Tuesday’s testimony marked the first time Ventura and Combs met in over six years. They began dating around 2007 and went public in 2012 but split in 2018. Their last encounter was at Kim Porter’s funeral in November 2018.

As Ventura entered the courtroom, she walked down the aisle without looking at Combs. Dressed in a brown dress, she passed by the jury box to take her seat while Combs watched her closely.

The start of their relationship

Ventura detailed how she met Combs when she was about 19 years old. She signed with Bad Boy Records in early 2006, starting a platonic relationship with him. After a boat party in Miami, their relationship became intimate.

“I wanted to be around Sean because he was exciting,” Ventura said. She soon fell in love with him and traveled everywhere with him like his shadow.

Combs was controlling and abusive

Over time, Ventura noticed Combs’ controlling behavior. “Control was everything,” she said about her appearance and interactions with others. He had mood swings that led to physical abuse.

“If I made the wrong face, I would get hit,” she testified. If he disapproved of something she did, he would take away her belongings or kick her out of their home.

‘Bruises all over my body’

Ventura described violent arguments with Combs during which he physically assaulted her. “He would smash me in my head or kick me,” she said, detailing injuries like knots on her forehead and bruises all over her body.

When asked how often this happened, she replied it was "too frequently."

How ‘Freak Offs’ turned into a job

Early on, Combs proposed “Freak Offs,” where he watched her have sex with other men while pleasuring himself. Each session lasted one to three hours and involved multiple men.

“It’s his fantasy; he controlled everything,” Ventura explained about these events which became almost weekly until 2017 or 2018.

When she expressed wanting to stop doing them, Combs dismissed her concerns: “I didn’t feel like I had much choice.”

She took drugs provided by Combs during these events as a way to cope with the situation.

“The ‘Freak Offs’ became a job,” she said about feeling trapped by them.

Ventura breaks down in tears

While describing these acts stoically at first, Ventura broke down when asked how they made her feel: “I felt disgusting; I was humiliated.”

She added that spending time with him felt special despite everything else happening around them.

Hotel assault after trying to leave a ‘Freak Off’

Key evidence includes surveillance video showing Combs attacking Ventura at a hotel in Los Angeles back in 2016. She shared details leading up to that incident during court testimony.

At some point during a "Freak Off," things turned violent after she tried leaving early: "Sean followed me into the hallway... kicked me."

She managed to escape without shoes while he showered but noted similar attacks happened too many times before this one occurred.

Some ‘Freak Offs’ arranged across state lines

Ventura testified about how staff helped arrange these events as part of an alleged criminal enterprise involving Combs' inner circle.

His employees sometimes booked hotel rooms for these encounters while directing which escorts were hired.

Escorts received cash payments ranging from $1,500 to $6,000 after each event.

Some escorts participated across multiple states; travel requests were concealed under different reasons per Combs' instructions.

“Sean wanted their identities kept secret,” Ventura stated clearly regarding their arrangements for travel logistics.


A blow-up pool of baby oil

Combs' staff also provided materials like baby oil for use during "Freak Offs." Law enforcement found over 1,000 bottles of baby oil during searches last year.

“If you were too dry," he'd say you needed more oil," Ventura recalled.

They used large quantities each time; once there even was an inflatable pool filled with baby oil for use during an event.


Ventura says she was ‘insanely jealous’ of his girlfriends

The defense claims jealousy drives this case; Ventura admitted feeling "insanely jealous" of other women around him.

“I didn’t understand who he really was—Puff Daddy has many women," she explained.

Despite what he told her privately about their relationship status being monogamous—it wasn’t true.


Witnesses testify about drug use before encounters

Daniel Phillip also testified Tuesday regarding sexual encounters involving both him and Ventura while Diddy watched.

Phillip noted that except once when she appeared intoxicated—she seemed sober throughout most interactions they had together.

Later on Tuesday afternoon—Ventura confirmed taking narcotics before escort arrivals regularly occurred too.