Cassie Opens Up in Court: “I Couldn’t Carry the Pain Anymore”
In an emotional testimony, singer Casandra Ventura, widely known as Cassie, returned to the witness stand on Wednesday and spoke candidly about her past relationship with Sean “Diddy” Combs. What she shared painted a devastating picture of years marked by fear, control, and trauma.
Now 38 and expecting her third child, Cassie’s voice broke as she recounted some of the darkest moments from her time with the music mogul. Though their relationship ended in 2018, she revealed the emotional scars still linger—scars that once left her considering taking her own life.
“I just didn’t want to be here anymore,” she said through tears, explaining how the weight of everything she’d been through finally became unbearable. It was her husband, fitness trainer Alex Fine, who helped stop her from acting on those thoughts and encouraged her to seek professional help.
Over the course of two days, Cassie described a relationship that spiraled far beyond what anyone saw in public. She spoke of violence, manipulation, and a deep sense of fear that followed her throughout the years. According to her, Diddy used his influence and resources to maintain control, pushing her into situations she never truly consented to, including disturbing parties and abusive encounters.
One particular moment she recalled was a frightening incident in 2011. After discovering she had been in contact with another artist, Diddy reportedly flew into a rage and lunged at her with a corkscrew. Another time, he allegedly threatened to leak private footage in an effort to shame and silence her.
Cassie admitted to turning to drugs—ecstasy, ketamine, and opioids—to escape the reality of what she was going through. “It was the only way I could get through it,” she said, explaining that the substances helped her disconnect from the pain. “It made me numb, and at that time, that felt like safety.”
The courtroom also viewed hotel footage from 2016 that appeared to show Diddy violently dragging Cassie down a hallway. The clip was played multiple times as she sat on the stand, visibly shaken. When asked why she didn’t resist, she said, “Staying on the floor felt safer.”
Despite the violence, she was still made to appear at a movie premiere just days later—bruises hidden under makeup and sunglasses—smiling for cameras beside the very man she says caused her pain.
Combs’s legal team has pushed back on the accusations, arguing that while some of his actions may have been inappropriate, they do not rise to the level of criminal charges. He has denied all allegations.
In 2023, Cassie filed a civil suit against Combs, which ended in a swift settlement reported to be around $20 million. But for her, the money was never the point.
When asked why she chose to testify in the ongoing criminal case—knowing the emotional toll it would take—Cassie paused for a long moment before responding.
“I’m doing this because I can’t carry it anymore,” she said quietly. “I want to let go of the shame and the guilt. I’m here because I want to do what’s right.”
Her words left the courtroom in silence—a powerful reminder of the strength it takes to speak up, and the weight survivors often carry long after the abuse ends.
