Cassie Sues Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Alleging a Decade of Sex Abuse

Music mogul Sean P. Diddy Combs was hit with a sex-trafficking and sex-harassment lawsuit by Casandra Ventura, a former singer for his Bad Boy Records label, who alleged he trapped her for more than a decade in a life of sexual slavery, drug abuse, physical and psychological abuse, and threats against her career.

Combs vehemently denied her allegations in a statement from his attorney Benjamin Brafman, a prominent criminal defense attorney who claimed that Ventura sued after Combs rejected her attempt to extort $30 million from him.

“Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’ reputation and seeking a pay day,” Brafman said.

Ventura, known professionally as “Cassie,” alleged Combs punched, beat and stomped on her during the years of their relationship, blew up a man’s car after learning he was romantically interested in her, forced her to engage in sex acts with male prostitutes while he watched, introduced her to a lifestyle of excessive alcohol and drug abuse, and raped her at the end of their relationship after she tried to leave him.

The beatings she endured from Combs were witnessed by his staff and employees of Bad Boy Entertainment and his other businesses, but “no one dared to speak up against their frightening and ferocious boss,” according to a complaint filed Thursday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The abusive relationship lasted from 2007-2018, and left her struggling with drug and alcohol addictions and lasting emotional trauma, the complaint said.

Ventura also named Bad Boy Entertainment, Bad Boy Records, Epic Records, and Combs Enterprises LLC as defendants.

The lawsuit brings claims of sex trafficking under 18 USC § 1591, violation of the New York Services for Victims of Human Trafficking law, the New York Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Act, the California Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the California Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, and sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and hostile work environment under the human rights laws of New York City and New York State.

Ventura is seeking compensatory damages; consequential damages; punitive damages; exemplary damages; lost wages; a money judgment for mental pain, anguish and severe emotional distress; attorneys’ fees and costs; and pre- and post-judgment interest.

Wigdor LLP represents Ventura. Brafman & Associates PC represents Combs.

The case is Ventura v. Combs, S.D.N.Y., No. 1:23-cv-10098, complaint filed 11/16/23.