Cassie Ventura, the former girlfriend of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, is preparing to take the stand in his upcoming sex crimes trial. She plans to testify under her own name, a bold choice that sets her apart from three other victims who will remain anonymous. The trial, scheduled to begin with opening statements on May 12, 2025, in a New York federal court, stems from serious charges against Combs, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Federal prosecutors recently confirmed Ventura’s role as a key witness in a court filing submitted on April 4, 2025.
Ventura’s testimony will likely revolve around a highly publicized 2016 incident. Videotaped evidence, made public in May 2024, depicts Combs allegedly assaulting her at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles. He can be seen on the tape grabbing her by the neck, throwing her onto the ground, kicking her, and pulling her across the floor. This horrific video corroborated allegations she made in a November 2023 civil suit brought against Combs, accusing him of years of abuse, rape, and forcing her into sex trafficking. The suit settled the day after it was filed for a sum that was not disclosed, but the video has kept her claims in the news.
Unlike Ventura, the other three victims, labeled Victim-2, Victim-3, and Victim-4 in court documents, have requested their identities be kept secret from the public and press. The April 4 filing states that the government anticipates all four will testify, with Ventura identified as Victim-1. Her decision to use her real name reflects her willingness to confront Combs openly, a move that could strengthen the prosecution’s case. Legal experts suggest her testimony may help establish a pattern of abusive behavior, a critical element in the charges against the Bad Boy Entertainment founder.
Combs, who has been detained at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since his September 2024 arrest, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His attorneys contend that any interactions were sexual in nature and consensual, countering the century-long span of coercion, violence, and manipulation the prosecution has accused him of. The trial has generated widespread media coverage, driven by well over 100 civil lawsuits brought against Combs accusing him of sexual abuse, with the Ventura case being used as a catalyst in many instances as encouragement for others to come forward.
The road to this trial has been marked by several key moments. Below is a timeline of significant events tied to Ventura and Combs’ legal battle:
Ventura’s determination to speak out in public was given even more momentum by the 2016 video. In May 2024, on Instagram, she posted a statement thanking supporters and discussing the strength it took to reveal what happened to her. She wrote about the cost of domestic violence and the healing process that continued, previewing the emotional risks of her testimony to come. In the meantime, Combs posted an apology on Instagram following the release of the video, calling his own behavior “inexcusable” but refusing to issue a statement of forgiveness.
The prosecution added a second count of sex trafficking last week, tied to 2021 to 2024, which escalated the stakes at trial with a mandatory minimum 15-year sentence. The new count involves a second victim, yet Ventura’s testimony regarding the 2016 incident continues to be a linchpin of the prosecution. Her testimony, supported by videotaped evidence, may resonate particularly with jurors.
All eyes are on Ventura and the other witnesses as the May 2025 trial draws near. The fact that she has opted to testify under her own name highlights the personal and legal gravity of her claims. For further information on the case, including court proceedings, visit the official United States District Court for the Southern District of New York website. The result of this highly publicized trial could have long-term effects on the handling of such cases, particularly for victims going into the spotlight.
