Sean Combs, known professionally as Diddy, has settled a bombshell lawsuit levied against him by Cassie Ventura that claimed he raped her and was physically abusive towards her.
The musician wasted no time settling the case, which was filed on Thursday, November 16 and was settled on Friday, November 18. Ventura, an R&B singer, alleged that the incident took place for over a span of 10 years.
“I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control,” a statement by Ventura read. “I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support.”
“We have decided to resolve this matter amicably,” Combs, 54, added in his own statement. “I wish Cassie and her family all the best.”
The lawsuit had been filed in a Manhattan federal court and led to Ventura receiving a wealth of report from industry. She was only a teenager when she began a relationship with Combs, then 37, in 2005.
Combs intensely controlled Ventura‘s money, healthcare, living situation and career. He reportedly went off the rails and blew up Kid Cudi’s car after learning of a brief hook-up when they were not dating.
She finally found the strength to leave Combs in 2018, but she says he forced his way into her property and allegedly raped her one more time.
What did Combs do?
“After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story,” Ventura said via her attorneys at Wigdor LLP. “And to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships.”
She said that on the times she attempted to leave, the massive hip-hop name would threaten to end her own career and as a result she would stay with him out of fear of that.
“Ms. Ventura was repulsed by Mr. Combs‘s demands,” the legal document said. “But between the physical beating and recognizing his incredible power and incredible temper, Ms. Ventura became petrified of her partner and boss, and felt that she could not say no.”
Combs had denied the allegations and said that she had been chasing him for $30m for six months, before he decided to settle in what is at least the third instance of allegations of violence against his name.