NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 R&B singer Cassie delved further into text messages with former boyfriend Sean 鈥淒iddy鈥 Combs during her cross-examination Friday in the music mogul's sex trafficking trial, telling 鈥淚'm not a rag doll. I'm somebody's child" after he beat her at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.
However, as they tried to recover from the episode, she and Combs were expressing love for each other just days later, with Cassie writing in one text: 鈥淲e need a different vibe from Friday.鈥
She and one of Combs' defense attorneys read the couple's messages aloud during two days of in a Manhattan courtroom, which ended Friday afternoon. The defense also tried to discredit Cassie鈥檚 testimony that Combs raped her in 2018 after she ended their nearly 11-year relationship.
In the 鈥渞ag doll鈥 text, Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, told Combs he was out of control from drugs and alcohol that day. After hotel security video of the assault was released last year, and said he was 鈥渄isgusted鈥 by his actions.
Federal prosecutors allege Combs as a music executive and businessman to force women into drug-fueled encounters with male sex workers, called 鈥渇reak-offs,鈥 that he watched and directed. Cassie is one of several accusers expected to testify.
However, Combs鈥 lawyers want the jury to see Cassie as a willing and eager participant in his sexual lifestyle. He has pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
His defense says that, although he could be violent, nothing he did amounted to a criminal enterprise. And Combs insists all the sex at the freak-offs was consensual.
Cassie, the prosecution鈥檚 star witness, testified she was ashamed and loathed taking part in 鈥渉undreds鈥 of the freak-offs, which could go on for days. But she said she felt compelled because Combs threatened her with violence, and was physically abusive 鈥渁 lot鈥 during the encounters. He also threatened to publicly release sex videos of her if she made him angry, she said.
Combs, 55, has been jailed since September. He faces at least 15 years in prison if convicted.
Defense questioning of Cassie ends Friday
Cassie, who is pregnant with her third child and nearing her due date, spent four days on the witness stand. After her testimony finished, she stood in the witness box and appeared unsure whether to wait for the jury to leave first. Judge Arun Subramanian told her: 鈥淲hy don鈥檛 you go ahead. You鈥檝e been here a long time.鈥
Throughout her cross-examination on Thursday and Friday, she that showed her apparent willingness to participate in the sexual encounters.
In a 2012 exchange, Combs told Cassie he wanted to 鈥淔O one last time tonight,鈥 using initials for freak-off. Cassie replied, 鈥淲hat?鈥 Combs said, 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 read?鈥 Then Cassie replied, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to freak off for the last time. I want it to be the first time for the rest of our lives."
Estevao ended her questioning there, but prosecutor Emily Johnson had Cassie read more messages for context.
鈥淚 want to see you, but I鈥檓 emotional right now,鈥 Cassie wrote. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to do one last time. I鈥檇 rather not do it at all.鈥
Cassie testified she was initially open to the encounters because she wanted to make him happy and spend time with him, but grew weary as the years went on.
The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Cassie has.
Cassie filed a lawsuit in 2023 accusing Combs of physical and sexual abuse, but they settled within hours for $20 million 鈥 an amount she disclosed publicly for the first time this week. Dozens of other women have since made similar legal claims.
Cassie鈥檚 testimony ended with another bombshell disclosure: She said she recently reached an estimated $10 million settlement with Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles, where she was assaulted. She didn鈥檛 disclose the nature of her claim.
Scrutiny on the 2018 rape claim against Combs
Estevao also raised questions on Friday about Cassie's rape claim against Combs, noting that Cassie gave differing descriptions of his demeanor and the timing of the alleged assault in interviews with investigators and in her trial testimony.
Cassie contends the rape happened at her Los Angeles home after she and Combs had dinner in Malibu, California, to discuss their breakup, either in August or September 2018.
While Cassie testified this week that Combs was 鈥渞eally nice鈥 and 鈥減layful鈥 at the dinner, Estevao pointed out that Cassie told investigators in 2023 that Combs had been 鈥渁cting very strangely鈥 that night. Cassie clarified, 鈥淣ice, but strangely."
Cassie also testified this week that Combs, during the dinner, was trying to get her to go to the Burning Man festival in Nevada, but previously told investigators that the dinner and rape happened after Combs returned from Burning Man.
Cassie acknowledged she stayed in touch with Combs and had consensual sex with him a few weeks after she says he raped her. She also exchanged warm messages with Combs after they broke up, even after she marrying Alex Fine in 2019.
Cassie is asked about her time in a treatment center
Estevao also questioned Cassie about her weeks-long stint in a treatment center for women in 2023. Estevao noted the center offered treatment for sex addiction, sexual compulsion and love addiction, and she asked Cassie if she was treated for any of those things.
Cassie replied that she was not, but rather was there for therapy to help her process trauma. She testified earlier that she experienced post-traumatic stress disorder before breaking up with Combs in 2018, and was blacking out and sleepwalking. She also said she broke down in 2023 and tried to walk into traffic outside her home, but her husband stopped her.
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Associated Press writer Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.
