Cassie testifies Sean 'Diddy' Combs overdosed at Playboy Mansion party during drug-fueled relationship
In a harrowing revelation during Thursday’s federal sex trafficking trial, singer Cassie Ventura testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs overdosed on painkillers the night he attended a Playboy Mansion party in 2012, amid ongoing drug use and an abusive relationship that spanned over a decade.
'Cassie Ventura.'
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The testimony came as Ventura, 37, took the stand for a fourth consecutive day in a Manhattan federal courtroom, facing cross-examination from Combs’ defense team. The former Bad Boy Records artist has been the prosecution’s central witness in its case against Combs, who faces five federal charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and abuse spanning two decades.
“Was that around the time Whitney Houston died? I believe so,” Ventura recalled when questioned by defense attorneys. She described a chaotic sequence of events that night—beginning with a “freak-off” at a San Bernardino sex club and ending at the Playboy Mansion. “From what [Combs] told me, he took a really strong opioid that night,” she said. “We didn’t know what happened. So, we took him to the hospital.”
Ventura testified that drug use—particularly opioids and painkillers—was rampant in their relationship, characterizing Combs as “an addict” and describing how she herself began using to cope with “freak-offs,” drug-fueled group sex sessions allegedly orchestrated by Combs, in which he would watch and masturbate.
The defense attempted to undermine Ventura’s credibility by introducing text messages suggesting she willingly engaged in the encounters. “I am always ready to freak-off Lol,” read one message from Ventura. In another, Combs texted, “I’m so horny,” to which she replied, “Omg I was just about to text you the same thing.” Prosecutors objected to the graphic nature of some messages, prompting Judge Arun Subramanian to call a recess.
Despite the defense’s strategy, Ventura remained composed, labeling her behavior as symptomatic of a toxic dynamic with Combs—both professional and romantic. She said she participated in “freak-offs” to please Combs, who she once hoped to have children with.
Cassie also disclosed their mutual drug struggles and her own stint in a rehabilitation facility in Arizona. She described the pair's ongoing discussions about recovery, though neither sustained sobriety during their relationship. She also referenced their secret code—"the matrix"—which they used when too intoxicated to engage in sex.
The defense raised Ventura’s past affairs with rapper Kid Cudi and actor Michael B. Jordan, and alleged jealousy over Combs’ relationship with the late model Kim Porter. Ventura admitted jealousy but emphasized the emotional abuse and manipulation she endured, characterizing herself not as a willing participant, but a woman surviving a deeply dysfunctional relationship.
Combs, who was arrested in September, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and maintains his innocence. He faces a minimum of 15 years in prison if convicted.
With one day remaining in Ventura’s scheduled cross-examination, Judge Subramanian has urged the defense to conclude questioning by Monday. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said they will aim to narrow their approach, acknowledging Ventura’s testimony as “critical” in what he described as “a very important case.”
