Kaylah Walton
In a pivotal moment during the ongoing trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, shocking testimony has identified the NFL player at the heart of a jealous incident involving the renowned music producer.
As per courtroom accounts, Andre Branch, a former linebacker with the Miami Dolphins, purportedly had a romantic relationship with singer and model Cassie Ventura while she was in a rocky relationship with Combs.
This information was disclosed by Deonte Nash, a former stylist for Diddy who worked closely with him from 2008 to 2018. During his testimony, Nash referred to Branch as “the attractive football player” and validated that there was indeed a relationship between Cassie and the NFL player.
Nonetheless, Nash refrained from providing detailed information regarding the timeline or nature of their alleged affair, according to reports from TMZ.
Diddy reacts to Cassie’s alleged involvement
Cassie herself commented on the situation during her testimony, detailing an incident from 2016 when Combs grew wary of her possibly dating someone else.
During a car ride, the tension escalated when Combs suddenly seized her phone, convinced she was communicating with an NFL player.
“He was trying to access my phone,” Cassie testified. “My mother had to call the police after I got home without my phone,” she recounted.
This purported confrontation was part of a larger pattern of controlling behavior that Cassie described while testifying.
When defense attorney Anna Estevao inquired if her relationship with the football player constituted infidelity, Cassie replied, “I wouldn’t necessarily label it as cheating.”
“If you aren’t in a committed relationship, then it isn’t cheating… We weren’t married. He would get upset even during breaks or when we were apart.”
Andre Branch, a former NFL player active from 2012 to 2019, gained recognition primarily with the Jacksonville Jaguars and subsequently with the Miami Dolphins, where he inked a multi-year contract.
After hanging up his cleats, Branch has maintained a private lifestyle and has not publicly addressed the recent trial developments or new allegations that have emerged.
The accusations involving Branch and Cassie contribute to the growing concerns surrounding Combs, who is currently facing significant legal hurdles related to allegations of sexual trafficking and misconduct.
Ventura, who initiated a civil lawsuit against Combs in 2023 that was eventually resolved, remains a key figure in the federal investigation currently in progress.
As the case unfolds, testimonies from those close to Combs—including former staff like Nash—are providing a clearer insight into the entertainer’s private affairs and the troubling relationships reportedly defining his connection with Cassie.
