Cassie & Diddy ‘Amicably’ Settle Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and Sean “Diddy” Combs have decided to settle the sexual assault lawsuit filed by the “Me And U” singer amicably. Ventura filed a lawsuit against the Bad Boys Record founder Thursday (Nov. 16), alleging that he raped, forced her into human trafficking, and plied her with drugs during their 11-year relationship.
In a statement per TMZ, Ventura stated: “I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control. I want to thank my family, fans, and lawyers for their unwavering support.”
Diddy stated: “We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love.”
The details behind their settlement have not been disclosed.
Cassie Files A Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against Diddy
Cassie claims that after she and Diddy met in 2005 — at the time the “Me and U” singer was 19 — “he began a pattern of control and abuse that included plying her with drugs, beating her, and forcing her to have sex with a succession of male prostitutes while he filmed the encounters.”
She and Diddy had an on-and-off-again relationship for 11 years. During the end of their relationship, which dissolved in 2018, she claims that he forced himself into her home and raped her.
“After years in silence and darkness,” Ms. Ventura said in a statement, per The New York Times, “I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships.”
Diddy’s Legal Team Responds To Cassie’s Sexual Assault Claims
Combs’ attorney, Ben Brafman, responded to Ventura’s claims in her suit. “Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations. For the past six months, Mr. Combs has been subjected to Ms. Ventura’s persistent demand of $30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail,” Brafman wrote.
He added: “Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’s reputation and seeking a payday.”
Cassie’s attorney denied those allegations, claiming that he offered to pay for the model’s silence.
“Mr. Combs offered Ms. Ventura eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit,” Douglas Wigdor, Ventura’s attorney, said. “She rejected his efforts.”