Day 16: Held Over the Edge — Bryana Bongolan Testifies to Violence, Drugs, and Fear
By Trinity Barnette
Today’s testimony was a gut punch. Bryana Bongolan, a longtime friend of Cassie Ventura, took the stand under an immunity order and described harrowing moments she says she endured at the hands of Sean “Diddy” Combs—including one incident where she says he held her over the railing of a 17-story balcony in Los Angeles.
Bongolan was close to Cassie during the height of her relationship with Combs. Their shared social circle gave her firsthand access to moments the public never saw—moments that, according to her testimony, were full of violence, threats, and manipulation.
Balcony Incident: “He lifted me up and had me on top of the rail.”
Bongolan testified that in 2016, while at Cassie’s LA apartment, Diddy arrived unexpectedly, banging on the door. She stepped out onto the balcony alone. That’s when she says he came up behind her, grabbed her, and lifted her over the railing.
“He held me by my armpits and chest… for about 15 seconds… yelling, ‘Do you know what the f**k you did?’”
“I was shaking a lot,” she testified, adding that she didn’t even know what he was referring to.
She didn’t report the incident to police—she said she was terrified.
“I’m the devil and I could kill you.”
In another incident, Bongolan described a chilling confrontation during a 2016 photo shoot with Cassie in Santa Monica. According to her testimony, Combs approached her, got in her face, and said:
“I’m the devil, and I could kill you.”
She had no idea what triggered the threat. When prosecutors asked why she continued associating with Combs afterward, her voice cracked as she admitted:
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
Substance Use and Emotional Control
Bongolan also described frequent drug use involving Combs and Ventura—including marijuana, cocaine, ketamine, and acid. She admitted she and Cassie would sometimes try to quit, even cooking together as a way to distract themselves.
“We had a problem,” she said. “We wanted to do better, but we never lasted long.”
Civil Lawsuit and Alleged Intimidation
In 2024, Bongolan filed a civil suit against Combs for $10 million related to the balcony incident. She testified that before filing, her original attorney made a “money demand” to Combs that she later withdrew due to incorrect paperwork.
She also claimed that a music producer contacted her on Combs’ behalf to discuss a “settlement,” which she interpreted as an attempt to silence her.
“I wanted to seek justice for what happened to me.”
“Sporadic” Contact and a Final Goodbye
Bongolan said she stopped hanging out with Cassie and Combs after a drug-fueled night on New Year’s Eve 2018. She chose to get sober. Her friendship with Ventura faded after that, but they reconnected in 2023—after Bongolan filed her lawsuit.
What’s Next?
The defense will continue cross-examining Bongolan tomorrow.
Afterward, prosecutors plan to call radio host Enrique Santos, followed by a witness referred to as “Jane,” another accuser testifying under a pseudonym.
Combs still faces federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and conspiracy. If convicted on all counts, he could face life in prison.
