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鈥檚 sex trafficking trial, telling him 鈥淚鈥檓 not a rag doll. I鈥檓 somebody鈥檚 child鈥 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鈥 defense attorneys read the couple鈥檚 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.
Cassie cross-examination ends Friday
Cassie, who is pregnant with her third child and nearing her due date, spent four days on the witness stand.
When Judge Arun Subramanian told her she could leave, saying, 鈥淵ou鈥檝e been here a long time,鈥 Cassie glanced once toward the jury but never looked in Combs' direction as she walked out of the courtroom for the final time.
Throughout Friday鈥檚 testimony, Combs kept lowering his head to write a steady stream of messages on small sheets of paper that he passed to his defense attorneys.
Singer Dawn Richard takes the stand
is a singer who appeared on Combs鈥 reality show 鈥淢aking the Band,鈥 which launched her group act Danity Kane. She testified Friday that she witnessed Combs physically attack Cassie on multiple occasions.
Richard said she and another woman saw Combs hit Cassie 鈥渙n the head and beat her on the ground鈥 while at his home studio in 2009. He brought them back the next day, giving Richard flowers and putting a spin on what happened.
鈥淗e said that what we saw was passion and what lovers in relationships do,鈥 she testified. But he also locked them in his recording studio and allegedly threatened them to stay silent or else, she said.
Richard sued Combs last year, accusing him of physical abuse, groping and psychological abuse during the years they worked together.
Cassie's texts to Diddy are a key part of cross-examination
During cross-examination on Thursday and Friday, the defense had Cassie that showed her apparent willingness to participate in the sexual encounters Combs orchestrated.
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's parting words
Cassie released a statement saying she hoped her testimony helps others 鈥渉eal from the abuse and fear.鈥
鈥淔or me, the more I heal, the more I can remember," she said. 鈥淎nd the more I can remember, the more I will never forget.鈥
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Associated Press writer Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.
