Rap star 'Diddy' denies abuse claims made by ex-girlfriend
The Guardian|November 18, 2023
The rap star and record label founder Sean "Diddy" Combs is vehemently pushing back against allegations by his ex-girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, that he subjected her to physical abuse, sexual slavery and rape.
Dave Simpson
Rap star 'Diddy' denies abuse claims made by ex-girlfriend

Casandra Ventura, known as Cassie, filed a major lawsuit accusing Combs of using his powerful network to keep her trapped in a violent relationship with him.

She alleges that over the course of their 10-year relationship, Combs assaulted her multiple times viciously beating and raping her - and controlled every aspect of her life, the New York Times first reported on Thursday. She faced "a cycle of abuse, violence, and sex trafficking" until their relationship ended in 2018, according to the lawsuit.

The high-profile New York lawyer Benjamin Brafman, representing Combs, has in turn accused Ventura of trying to blackmail his client. In a statement, Brafman said his client "vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations". He said Ventura resorted to filing a lawsuit "riddled with baseless and outrageous lies" after a failed attempt to blackmail Combs into paying her $30m (£24m) by threatening to write a damaging book about their relationship.

Combs, more widely known by his stage names Puff Daddy, P Diddy, or Diddy, is the founder of Bad Boy Records and a leading producer in hip-hop as well as a hugely successful performer. He is also the creator of his own Sean John clothing line.

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