Los Angeles, November 16, 2023 – Renowned R&B vocalist Cassandra Ventura, widely known as Cassie, filed a lawsuit in the federal court on Thursday against Sean “Diddy” Combs. The rapper and hip-hop mogul, with whom she shared a professional and romantic history, is accused of subjecting her to a decade-long ordeal involving serial physical abuse, sexual slavery, and rape.

Ventura’s central allegation is that Combs coerced her into engaging in explicit acts with male prostitutes while he observed and recorded the encounters for his own gratification.

The lawsuit, lodged in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, details a disturbing pattern of behavior, accusing Combs of inflicting regular beatings on Ventura throughout their 10-year relationship. It suggests that Combs maintained control through intimidation, substance influence, and physical force. Ventura, now 37, contends that Combs sexually assaulted her in 2018 when she expressed her intention to end the relationship.

In response to the allegations, Combs’ legal representative, Ben Brafman, issued a statement vehemently denying the claims. Brafman asserted that Ventura resorted to filing a lawsuit filled with “baseless and outrageous lies” after an unsuccessful attempt to extort $30 million from Combs by threatening to publish a damaging book about their relationship.

Sean Combs, 54, the founder of Bad Boy Records and a prominent figure in the hip-hop industry, is known for his successful music career and entrepreneurial ventures. Forbes magazine previously ranked him as the world’s highest-paid musician in 2017, with an estimated annual income of $130 million.

The lawsuit portrays Combs as an erratic and controlling individual with violent tendencies, citing instances where he forced Ventura to carry his handgun, engaged in dangerous behavior at high-rise hotels, and reportedly vandalized a car belonging to rapper Kid Cudi.

Ventura’s legal action does not specify a monetary amount but instead seeks “justice for the decade of her life that Mr. Combs took away from her.” The lawsuit invokes federal, New York, and California sex trafficking and human trafficking statutes.

Combs joins a list of high-profile figures in the music industry facing allegations of sexual misconduct, including Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, record producer L.A. Reid, and former Recording Academy CEO Neil Portnow. The lawsuit brings to light the pressing need for accountability and transparency within the entertainment sector.