Diddy Trial Day 5: Cassie Ventura’s Final Testimony Marks the End of an Era

By Trinity Barnette

Cassie Ventura’s Final Day on the Stand: Emotional, Explosive, and Historic

After four grueling days of testimony, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura officially concluded her time on the witness stand Friday afternoon in the federal criminal trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs. Her testimony, which spanned nearly 20 hours, was nothing short of devastating—detailing years of alleged sexual violence, physical abuse, blackmail, and emotional control.

But Day 5 marked a pivotal shift: Cassie broke down in court, sobbed openly about reclaiming her autonomy, and ultimately reclaimed her voice.

The Final Cross-Examination

Diddy’s legal team used the last day to double down on their attempt to discredit her. They presented a slew of affectionate text messages from around the time of the alleged 2018 rape. They also referenced an audio recording of Cassie angrily confronting a man over an explicit video—attempting to paint her as unstable and inconsistent.

But the prosecution countered effectively, asking Cassie to clarify her fear, her trauma, and her silence. She was asked point-blank: Do you have any doubt that Combs raped you? Her response: “No.”

Graphic Details and the Weight of Coercion

Cassie described being forced to engage in drug-fueled sex acts with male prostitutes—known as “freak-offs”—often under emotional manipulation, blackmail, and fear. She said Combs controlled her career, isolated her from opportunity, and treated her “basically like a sex worker.”

She revealed that he would schedule freak-offs even when she was sick with urinary tract infections, and at times, he physically beat her during them. Cassie added that while she was initially open to exploring these activities, her consent waned—and Diddy knew it. “I was worried for my safety, for my career. But I also was in love with him.”

From Music Star to Silenced Survivor

During questioning, she shared how her music career drastically changed once she started dating Combs. She said she felt like she had “another job”—one that had nothing to do with music and everything to do with serving his needs. “Hard because I had to give him all my attention,” she said.

Combs allegedly made her turn down opportunities and cancel commitments in favor of the freak-offs. In her words, he dictated her time, her body, and her future.

The Civil Suit and Her Final Breakdown

The defense also grilled her about the $20 million civil settlement, attempting to frame her motive as financial. But Ventura firmly responded, saying, “That wasn’t the reason why.” She explained that after filing her civil suit, she was emotionally overwhelmed and wanted to stay close to her kids.

When asked by prosecutors if she would give the money back to never have endured the abuse, she broke down crying and said: “I wouldn’t have had to work so hard to get [my autonomy] back.”

A Statement That Echoes Beyond the Courtroom

After leaving the stand, Ventura issued a powerful public statement:

“This week has been extremely challenging, but also remarkably empowering.”

Her voice—once silenced—is now amplified on the national stage.

What’s Next

While Cassie’s testimony is now complete, the trial continues. Homeland Security Special Agent Yasin Binda is the next witness to take the stand. Prosecutors will now work to prove Combs’s alleged involvement in sex trafficking and racketeering under RICO law, using Ventura’s testimony as the foundation—but not the entirety—of the case.

As former prosecutor Paul Martin told CNN, “She is a linchpin, but it’s not the whole case… There will be other witnesses who will come in to corroborate.”

In a developing update, reports also indicate that Cassie is in talks to receive a $10 million settlement from the hotel where one of the assaults allegedly took place—another potential step toward accountability in a case that continues to unfold.