Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: Cassie says ‘freak-offs’ “became a job for me” and explains what they involved
On May 13th, Cassie Ventura began her testimony during Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs’ trial, delving into the violent nature of their relationship and the infamous ‘freak-offs’.
Combs is charged with five counts of sex trafficking, racketeering, and sexual abuse. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. If he is found guilty, the Bad Boy Records founder could serve the rest of his life in prison.
On May 12th, witnesses who took to the stand included male escort Daniel Phillip, who claimed to have been paid between $700 and $6,000 multiple times to have sex and rub baby oil into Ventura between 2012 and 2014, as Combs watched and masturbated in the same room.
Phillip also claimed to have heard Combs be violent towards Ventura, and said that he filmed sexual encounters. These were known as ‘freak-offs’.
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Now, on May 13th, Ventura, who was in a relationship with Combs from 2007 until 2018, explained the ‘freak-offs’ at the New York court: “It basically entails the hiring of an escort and setting up this experience so that I could perform for Sean.”
Ventura said it would involve Combs “being able to watch me with the other person and actually direct us on what we were doing,” before adding, “Eventually it became a job for me, pretty much.”
At the end of the same session, Ventura elaborated further, revealing ‘freak-offs’ could last between 36 hours and four days. She confirmed they involved heavy drug taking, as well as sex with “strangers”, which “took a big chunk of my life.” Ventura added: “The freak-offs became a job where there was no space to do anything else but to recover and just try to feel normal again.”
The singer said she was full of “nervousness and confusion” but felt a “responsibility” to Combs to engage in the activities, noting, “I was confused, nervous, but also loved him very much”.
The ‘freak-offs’ were also recorded by Combs, which Ventura believed could be used as “blackmail materials” and said, “He had many resources to do that.” Additionally, according to the New York Times, she conceded that he “controlled a lot of my life”.
Reflecting on the beginning of their relationship, when she was only 19, Ventura told the court his “lifestyle was much different”, and added, ‘I think I was just enamored by him. We were just having a good time.” In addition to being Combs’ romantic partner, Ventura also signed a ten-album deal with Bad Boy Records.
Ventura, who is eight-and-a-half months, also discussed the violent nature of their relationship: “There were violent arguments that would usually result in some sort of physical abuse. Dragging, different things of that nature.”
Her testimony is expected to continue for several days.
Combs denies all of the charges.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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