Introduction to the Case
The ex-girlfriend of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, Casandra Ventura, testified against him in court on Tuesday. Mr. Combs has been charged with extortion, sex trafficking, and transporting individuals for prostitution. Family and friends of Mr. Combs showed up to court in large numbers to support him, while his legal team has not yet questioned Ms. Ventura.
The Relationship Between Ms. Ventura and Mr. Combs
Ms. Ventura, who is 38 years old and pregnant with her third child, met Mr. Combs when she was 19 years old and working as a stand-in singer. She described their relationship as monogamous at first, but later realized that Mr. Combs had other girlfriends. Ms. Ventura said she "fell in love" with Mr. Combs, who she described as a larger-than-life entrepreneur and musician. However, she soon noticed another side of him.
Allegations of Abuse and Control
Ms. Ventura alleged that Mr. Combs wanted to "control" every aspect of her life. She claimed that he paid for her home, cars, phone, and other technology, which he would sometimes take away to "punish" her. Ms. Ventura stated that the control was all-encompassing, from the way she looked to what she worked on. She also alleged that the control became violent, with Mr. Combs hitting her, pulling her, and stepping on her. Ms. Ventura claimed that she was left with swollen lips, black eyes, and knots on her forehead.
The "Freak-Offs"
The prosecution spent hours questioning Ms. Ventura about the so-called "freak-offs," which were sexual encounters between Ms. Ventura and male escorts or strippers while Mr. Combs watched. Ms. Ventura told the court that she had tried to make Mr. Combs happy by participating in these encounters, but they left her feeling humiliated and worthless. She claimed that she never wanted to have sex with anyone outside of Mr. Combs, but would take drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy, and ketamine to help her cope with the situations.
Mr. Combs’ Involvement in the "Freak-Offs"
Ms. Ventura alleged that Mr. Combs would instruct her to find male escorts or strippers and would pay them between $1,500 and $6,000 in cash depending on their performance. She claimed that Mr. Combs would fly these men in from different cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, and Ibiza, Spain. Ms. Ventura stated that Mr. Combs would put her in charge of arranging the encounters, but would always direct her on what to do.
Ms. Ventura’s Feelings About the "Freak-Offs"
Ms. Ventura told the court that she felt "pretty terrible" about herself during these encounters and would often try to dissociate from the situation. She claimed that Mr. Combs would choose her outfits, including extremely high heels that she would wear for hours, and would direct the sexual acts that took place. Ms. Ventura stated that she couldn’t say no to Mr. Combs and would only follow his directions.
The Prosecution’s Case
The prosecution is trying to prove that Mr. Combs engaged in sex trafficking and transported individuals for prostitution. They allege that Mr. Combs controlled every aspect of the "freak-offs" and would direct Ms. Ventura on what to do. The prosecution is expected to continue questioning Ms. Ventura on Wednesday, and she may also face cross-examination.
