The Latest Update On Cassie Ventura Amid The Chaos Surrounding Diddy's Arrest And Triple Indictment
Warning: Discussion of rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
Singer Cassie is "very hopeful justice would come" amid the latest news of Sean "Diddy" Combs's arrest.
Back in November 2023, Casandra "Cassie" Ventura filed a federal lawsuit against Diddy, accusing the rap mogul of rape, sex trafficking, and domestic violence. The lawsuit was settled the following day, but his legal troubles were far from over.
A month later, CNN aired hotel security footage from the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles that appeared to show Diddy punching and kicking Cassie and throwing her against a hotel floor as she tried to escape him.
Since Cassie's lawsuit, seven more women and two men have sued Diddy, accusing him of sexual harassment, nonconsensual pornography, sex trafficking, and rape.
On Sept. 10, Dawn Richard filed another federal lawsuit accusing Diddy of sexual battery, harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and unlawful imprisonment, and claimed she witnessed him abusing Cassie.
In March 2024, federal agents raided Diddy's properties in Miami and Los Angeles.
On Monday, Sept. 16, Diddy was arrested at a Manhattan hotel and charged in a three-count indictment with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty, and the judge ruled that he would be held without bail until his trial.
The unsealed indictment alleged that Diddy "abused, threatened and coerced woman and others, and led a racketeering conspiracy that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction justice, among other crimes," according to a press release from Homeland Security.
While Diddy and his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, maintained his innocence amid these legal troubles, details from Cassie’s 2023 lawsuit closely match the graphic security footage released and his subsequent video apology.
BuzzFeed reached out to a rep for Diddy for a comment.
According to a source obtained by People, here's where Cassie currently stands amid the latest news of Diddy's arrest. "The amount of courage it took Cassie to speak out, and be one of the first to speak out, can't be underscored enough," they said.
"It was terrifying in a very real way. There have been so many people protecting Diddy for so long, and it's not an exaggeration to say her life was in danger through all this."
The source explained that the past year has been challenging for Cassie and her supportive husband of five years, Alex Fine, with whom she shares two daughters. "It's been really, really hard for her and for Alex as well, but he has been the biggest support," the source continued. "She was very hopeful that justice would come."
Over the past year, Cassie has maintained this perspective of hope. Following the release of the 2016 footage that showed her being physically abused, Cassie wrote in a May 23 Instagram post, "The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning."
"Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past."
Gotham / GC Images, Rob Kim / Getty Images
"My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in," she continued. "I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear. Reach out to your people, don't cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone."
BuzzFeed has reached out to reps for Cassie for comment.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger as a result of domestic violence, call 911. For anonymous, confidential help, you can call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or chat with an advocate via the website.
