Ex-girlfriend sues Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs for rape

American rapper and producer Sean Combs (aka P. Diddy, 54) is facing a civil lawsuit for rape, assault and bodily harm. American singer Cassie (37), an ex-girlfriend of the hip-hop mogul, filed the lawsuit on Thursday in a federal court in New York. Combs denied the allegations through his attorney.

The accuser, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, accuses Combs of sexual abuse, rape, intimidation and physical violence during their years of relationship. The 35-page indictment contains numerous serious allegations. “After years of silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story,” said a statement from the prosecutor, which was made available to the German Press Agency. She wants to talk about the trauma she has experienced, also to help other victims of violence and abuse in relationships.

Combs strongly denies these “disgusting and outrageous” allegations, his attorney Ben Brafman said. Ventura threatened to write a book about their relationship and demanded $30 million from Combs. The rapper dismissed this as “clear blackmail,” Brafman wrote. Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, responded in a statement that Combs offered the singer money to avoid the lawsuit. Ventura rejected this.

According to the lawsuit, Ventura met the then 37-year-old musician in 2005, when she was 19. Combs signed her to his Bad Boy Records label. During their long relationship, which ended in 2018, he controlled her with drugs, abuse and threats of violence, among other things. As part of the lawsuit, Ventura is seeking undisclosed damages.

Rapper Combs (“Bad Boy for Life”, “I’ll Be Missing You”), who is also an actor and businessman, is one of the most successful representatives of the hip-hop industry. At the MTV Video Music Awards in September, Combs was honored with the Global Icon Award as a pioneer and for his influential career. (sda/dpa)