Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, formerly known as Puff Daddy or P. Diddy, was once a world-renowned rap mogul credited with the rise of the likes of Mary J. Blige, the late Notorious B.I.G., and Usher. Now, after more than a hundred sexual assault allegations, he’s on trial for charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution in the infamous Diddy trial. He was arrested on Sept. 16 last year.
Diddy’s dark empire has lorded over the entertainment industry for decades. Prosecutors say he used his “power and prestige” to get away with years of sexual, emotional, and physical torment toward his victims. The conclusion of his trial reveals the deep-seated perversion of his life as a self-proclaimed Great Gatsby.
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Cassie’s civil lawsuit against Diddy
In November 2023, Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura filed a sex trafficking and sexual assault lawsuit against Diddy, whom she publicly dated for more than a decade. As a singer and model signed to his record label Bad Boy Records, she alleged that he had used his power over her to establish a “manipulative and coercive romantic and sexual relationship.”
The civil lawsuit contained stomach-turning allegations of abuse and sexual exploitation, stating that Ventura was “regularly beat and kicked” and forced to participate in days-long drug-induced sex parties known as ‘freak-offs.’
Diddy was 37 when he met then 19-year-old Ventura and pursued a professional and romantic relationship with her. The complaint against Diddy alleges that he “took control” of her life after luring her into an “ostentatious, fast-paced and drug-fueled lifestyle.” He had allegedly seized control of a range of her liberties, from her healthcare to her career opportunities. In return for professional favors, he demanded her obedience, loyalty, and, most devastatingly, her silence.
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Employees at Bad Boy Entertainment were also bound by their loyalty to him. Though it was an open secret that Diddy was prone to fits of rage and “frequently beat Ms. Ventura savagely” in the presence of several witnesses, nobody on his team was willing to intervene and advocate for her.
The most harrowing of her allegations includes an accusation of rape. In 2018, following a dinner between the two at an Italian restaurant in Malibu, Diddy allegedly forced his way into her apartment and proceeded to rape her.
Legal action was dismissed the next day when Diddy agreed to a $20 million payout. In May 2025, Ventura, who is currently pregnant with her third child, testified against Diddy for a different lawsuit.
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Several other allegations
The floodgates blew wide open following Ventura’s initial lawsuit. One of note was filed in December 2023 when an anonymous woman claimed she was “sex trafficked” and “gang raped” by Diddy and former president of Bad Boy Records, Harve Pierre, when the victim was underage.
Court papers state that the woman was given “copious amounts of drugs and alcohol” and was left in so much pain after the attack that she had trouble standing or even remembering how she got home.
Diddy would vehemently deny the allegations in a statement he made on a since-deleted post on Instagram, writing, “Enough is enough.” He continued, “Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family, and for the truth.”
But the accusations did not slow down.
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In May 2024, former model Crystal McKinney accused Diddy of forcing her to perform oral sex in the bathroom of a recording studio in New York City in 2003. Only two days later, another woman, April Lampros, sued him for four instances of sexual assault, which allegedly took place sometime between 1995 and 2000. She alleges that during one of the instances, she was drugged with ecstasy and forced to have sex with Diddy’s then-girlfriend.
In September 2024, Dawn Richard, a former member of Danity Kane, filed another legal complaint against the disgraced rapper. Richard was one of the five vocalists of the girl band signed under Bad Boy Records. She later joined Diddy in the band Diddy Dirty Money. She alleges that he subjected her to verbal abuse, overwork, and sexual assault.
Following his arrest that same month, more than a hundred new allegations surfaced, including that of a man who claimed to have only been 16 years old at the time of his assault. The man alleged that Diddy instructed him to undress at one of his parties while discussing the aspiring musician’s potential career in the music industry.
In October 2024, yet another horrifying accusation was made. Ashley Parham filed a lawsuit in California stating that she was raped by Diddy as “payback” for a comment she made suggesting his involvement in the murder of beloved rapper Tupac Shakur. Her allegations claim he held a knife to the side of her face and threatened to give her “a ‘Glasgow smile’ in retaliation for her previous statements.”
Countless allegations have been made against Diddy since, and he has consistently been denied bail after a judge proclaimed him untrustworthy in the proceedings of the trial.
Significant moments in the ongoing trial
As the case against Diddy thickens, his legal team attempted to get incriminating evidence dismissed at his trial. CCTV footage that went viral on social media last year showed Diddy shoving Ventura to the floor in the hallway of a hotel in Los Angeles in 2016.
Diddy’s legal team argued that the footage, released by CNN, had been altered. They suggested it had been edited to depict the sequence out of order and sped up from its original source. CNN denied altering the original footage.
Apart from Ventura’s testimony, many other witnesses, including Daniel Phillip, a male escort, Kerry Morgan, Ventura’s former best friend, Regina Ventura, Cassie Ventura’s mother, and more, came forward.
Deonte Nash, Diddy and Ventura’s former stylist, testified that he witnessed him beat Ventura on several occasions. In one incident, Nash testified that Diddy had beaten Ventura so badly that she needed stitches. He reportedly witnessed him beat her until she was bleeding profusely after hitting her head on a bed frame.
Kid Cudi’s testimony
Rapper and actor Kid Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, took the stand on May 22. He testified that his relationship with Ventura was short-lived, largely due to threats of violence from Diddy. He explained to jurors that he had reason to believe he broke into his home and planned the firebombing of his sports car.
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Mescudi said that when he was notified that Diddy was in his home, he immediately drove to his house only to find traces of his alleged visit. Mescudi alleged he found the Christmas gifts he had bought for his family opened, and his dog locked in the bathroom. Mescudi proceeded to report the incident to the police.
Ventura previously testified that Diddy threatened to harm her and Mescudi if they continued their relationship, even vowing to blow up his car. Mescudi testified that he believed Diddy made good on his threat when he found that someone cut the soft top of his Porsche and left a lit Molotov cocktail inside. Diddy’s legal team denied any involvement in the incident.
The current state of the trial
With the evidence stacked against him, Diddy has admitted to domestic violence but continues to plead not guilty to the prosecution’s charges.
Over the course of the seven-week Diddy trial, legal experts say that the prosecution has presented a compelling case. The defense rested its case after only about 20 minutes.
They argued that the judge should drop the case against Diddy after federal prosecution supposedly failed to prove any of the charges against him. While the prosecution called 30 witnesses to the stand, the defense called none.
Diddy has confirmed that he will not take the stand in court, claiming that it was his “decision with [his] lawyers.” He faces a minimum of 15 years to life in prison should he be convicted.
