In a significant development in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial, R&B singer Cassie Ventura took the stand on May 13, 2025, delivering emotional testimony about the alleged abuse she endured during their relationship. Her husband, Alex Fine, was permitted to be present for most of her testimony but was asked to leave the courtroom during discussions of a 2018 r@pe allegation, as he may be called as a witness later in the trial. When the prosecutor questioned her about “freak offs,” she said she was barely 22 when Combs first asked her to do them. She said she was “confused, nervous, but also loved him very much.” When asked how she felt when Combs first proposed engaging in a “Freak Off,” Cassie said: “I just remember my stomach falling to my butt. Just the nervousness and confusion in that moment.” She said she didn’t feel like she could say no to Combs because she “didn’t know what ‘no’ could be, or what ‘no’ could turn into,” which she said she learned could include violence and blackmail threats. “I just didn’t know. I didn’t know what would happen” Cassie elaborated on why she felt it was so difficult to refuse Combs’ demands, reiterating her fears of violence and blackmail videos from “freak offs” being disseminated on the internet. “Sean is a really polarizing person, also really charming,” Cassie said. “It’s hard to really be able to decide in that moment what you need when he’s telling you what he wants. I just didn’t know. I didn’t know what would happen.”
