Sean Combs has been accused of raping and physically abusing his ex, singer Cassie (Picture: PA)
Sean Combs, known by his stage name Diddy, has been accused of raping and physically abusing his ex, singer Cassie, over a period of ten years.
Cassie, real name Casandra Ventura, filed a lawsuit against Combs on Thursday.
Ventura was 19 when she met Combs and alleges he started a pattern of abuse and controlling behaviour that, according to the New York Times, included ‘beating her, plying her with drugs and forcing her to have sex with male prostitutes as Combs filmed’.
Ventura’s suit claims that in 2018, when their relationship was coming to an end, Combs raped her after forcing his way into her home.
Ventura’s lawsuit says she was ‘swept into Combs’s jet-set lifestyle’ after they met.
His label Bad Boy, founded in 1993, released Ventura’s debut album in 2006 and the pair dated on and off between 2007 and 2018.
Cassie, real name Casandra Ventura, filed a lawsuit against Combs on Thursday (Picture: FilmMagic)
Ventura further claims Combs was incredibly controlling, not only over her career, but also over personal details including medical records.
The singer claims that she had an MRI scan for memory loss that she alleged may have been caused by a ‘beating’ Combs gave her and that the results went straight to him.
The suit also claims Combs gave Ventura ‘copious amounts of drugs’ – including ketamine and ecstasy, that he urged her to consume – and would ‘beat her multiple times a year’.
Ventura said she never went to the police because she was scared Combs would then have another ‘excuse to hurt her’.
In a statement released on Thursday, she said: ‘After years in silence and darkness I am 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.’
Combs’ lawyer told Metro.co.uk: ‘Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations.
Ventura said she never went to the police because she was scared Combs would then have another ‘excuse to hurt her’ (Picture: James Devaney/GC Images)
‘For the past 6 months, Mr. Combs, has been subjected to Ms. Ventura’s persistent demand of $30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail.
‘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.’