Sean Combs Accused of Rape and Severe Physical Abuse—Lawsuit Settled
A lawsuit filed by Sean Combs' ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura, also known as singer Cassie, alleges he abused her for more than a decade. The lawsuit has been settled on day after it was filed.
Update: The lawsuit has been settled one day after it was filed. They did not disclose terms of the settlement.
Sean Combs, better known under his various pseudonyms like Diddy, P. Diddy, or Puff Daddy, has been accused of rape and abuse in a significant lawsuit filed by the singer and ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura, aka Cassie. The lawsuit alleged Combs used his powerful network to keep her trapped in a violent relationship with him.
Cassie dated Sean Combs for more than ten years. She alleges that during this period, Combs assaulted her multiple times—from beatings to rape—and controlled her entire life, as the New York Times first reported on Thursday.
In a statement to the Times, she said that she was «finally ready to tell my story and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships.»
The lawsuit seeked damages for lost wages as well as mental pain and severe emotional distress.
A Sinister Picture Is Painted
The lawsuit offered detailed descriptions of how Sean Combs seems to have created a controlling environment—from buying designer clothes, homes, and cars to drugs. He lured her into an «ostentatious, fast-paced, and drug-fueled lifestyle,» according to the lawsuit, and also subjected her to beatings, forced sexual encounters, and threats of violence.
Sean Combs, also founder of Bad Boy Records, began pursuing Cassie aggressively after she signed to the label at the age of 19, even inviting himself to her 21st birthday and forcibly kissing her, the lawsuit stated.
Threats of violence and his network were used by Combs to keep Ventura in the relationship, the lawsuit alleged, offering an example of what that meant: In 2012, after Ventura began a brief relationship with rapper Kid Cudi, Combs allegedly blew up the rapper's car. The New York Times contacted Kid Cudi, who confirmed the incident: «This is all true.»
A representative for Combs denied the lawsuit's claims, writing that the allegations were «offensive and outrageous.» According to the statement, Ventura filed the lawsuit after demanding $30m: «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.»
Conversely, a lawyer for Ventura told the Times that she was offered «eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit», which she rejected.
