Diddy Paid Cassie $20 Million In Hush Money, Testimony Reveals

Cassie Ventura, the R&B singer and former partner of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, delivered testimony on May 14th in the rap mogul’s ongoing trial. The testimony revealed a jaw-dropping $20 million payment to settle her civil lawsuit.

In a dramatic moment that closed her second day on the witness stand, Ventura confirmed for the first time that Diddy and his companies paid her $20 million to settle the civil lawsuit she filed in November 2023.

The $20 million settlement is a figure that was previously undisclosed to the public and was revealed during Ventura’s direct examination by prosecutors in Manhattan. Ventura stated unequivocally that the payment came from Diddy and his associated companies, bringing to light the substantial financial agreement that led to the swift dismissal of her civil lawsuit just one day after it was filed.

Ventura’s lawsuit accused Combs of a decade-long pattern of physical abuse, sexual assault, and coercion. Those allegations include that Combs drugged her, forced her into sexual encounters with male prostitutes, and orchestrated what he dubbed ‘freak-offs’—drug-fueled sex parties that he directed and filmed. That initial civil action and its swift settlement sparked a wave of additional lawsuits and triggered a federal criminal investigation that led to Combs’ arrest on charges including sex trafficking and racketeering.

While on the stand, Ventura recounted harrowing details of her relationship with Diddy from 2005 to 2018, describing incidents of rape, beatings, and psychological manipulation. She testified that the abuse left her feeling ‘disgusting’ and ‘humiliated’ and explained her decision to testify as a desire to “do what is right” after years of trauma.

Ventura’s testimony is central to the prosecution’s case, providing firsthand accounts of the alleged abuse and the circumstances that led to criminal charges against the rap mogul. The revelation of the $20 million settlement underscores the gravity of her claims and the high stakes involved in the trial. If convicted, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs could face a life sentence in prison.

Cross-examination by the defense team is expected to focus heavily on her credibility and the nature of Cassie’s relationship with Combs. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo has indicated that infidelity and related text messages will be central topics, aiming to portray the relationship as mutually damaging rather than one-sidedly abusive. The defense’s questioning is anticipated to last through at least Friday, as the defense attempts to poke holes in Cassie’s testimony.