Kaylah Walton
In the ongoing federal trial regarding Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’, the testimony of a former personal assistant has provided insight into the rapper’s lengthy relationship with Cassie Ventura, who was not only his girlfriend for over a decade but also a protégé.
James, the assistant, closely interacted with Combs and had an understanding of his private life. He recalled a conversation in Manhattan where Combs discussed Ventura along with Kim Porter, the mother of four of his children.
Combs reportedly referred to Porter as “my queen” while characterizing Ventura as “moldable.”
“I had her right where I wanted her – she was young,” he said, noting how their relationship began in 2006 when she was just 19.
Porter passed away in 2018 at 47 due to pneumonia, but the contrast Combs drew between the two women raises concerns about the complicated nature of his relationship with Ventura.
Testimony reveals alleged control and abuse towards Ventura
James went on to narrate an episode from 2007 during a stay at Combs’ Miami property on Star Island. While sharing cigarettes with Ventura and her friend, model Kerry Morgan, Ventura remarked on how “crazy” her life had become. When asked why she didn’t escape the situation, Ventura replied, “I can’t get away. Mr. Combs controls so much of my life.”
The assistant shared that Combs also managed Ventura’s finances, funding her apartment and granting her an allowance, leading to her financial reliance on him.
Furthermore, former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard testified she saw Combs strike Ventura in the head with a frying pan and threaten both women. These accounts bolster the prosecution’s claims of a recurring pattern of manipulation and violence.
Combs, who was taken into custody in September 2024, is facing charges such as racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. Prosecutors allege that Combs misused his celebrity status to attract women, including Ventura, under the guise of offering them fame and romance.
The allegations further claim that once he had them under his control, Combs would drug these women and coerce them into sexual activities, sometimes involving other men, which he recorded. These videos allegedly served as a means to blackmail the victims into silence.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to all allegations and is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. If found guilty, he may face a life sentence.
As the trial progresses, the courtroom testimony continues to unravel a disturbing narrative of manipulation and domination within the entertainment industry.
