Pregnant Cassie Ventura Spotted 4 Days Before Diddy’s Sex Trafficking Trial Starts in N.Y.C
Cassie Ventura, the government’s lead witness in her ex Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ federal trial, was seen in New York City while pregnant with her third child on Wednesday, May 7. Diddy’s trial is set to begin with opening statements on May 12.
The 38-year-old “Me & U” singer, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, stepped out in a light grey sheer sweatshirt and white linen pants, while holding her cell phone outside on the stoop of a brownstone apartment at her friend’s home.
Ventura has been married to Alex Fine for six years and is now expecting their third child. She first teased their relationship in December 2018, two months after she confirmed her breakup with Diddy. The pair married the following August and welcomed their first daughter, Frankie, in December 2019 and their second daughter, Sunny, in March 2021.
Ventura — identified in court documents as Victim 1 — is preparing to take the stand while pregnant and testify by name about what she allegedly endured during her on-and-off relationship with Diddy from 2007 to 2018. Diddy is facing federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
Last year, she broke her silence to express her gratitude for the “outpouring” of support she received in the wake of a bombshell hotel surveillance video showing Diddy physically attacking her on March 5, 2016, reminding people to “open your heart to believing victims the first time.”
She addressed the video in May 2024, nearly a week after CNN published the disturbing footage that showed a towel-clad and barefoot Diddy chasing after her down a hallway at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. Diddy is seen throwing Ventura to the ground, violently kicking and stomping her before attempting to drag her back to the hotel room as she appears to cry out. Moments later, Diddy sits in a chair, grabs an object from a table and forcefully throws it toward her.
He is then seen walking away and turning toward Ventura again when an elevator door opens and someone appears to exit. The video shows Diddy grabbing, shoving and kicking Ventura during an altercation that matched allegations she made in a now-settled lawsuit filed in November 2023. Ventura noted in her complaint that video of the alleged attack existed and that she believed Diddy had paid someone at the hotel $50,000 for the footage.
“Thank you for all of the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet,” Ventura wrote on Instagram. “The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning. Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past.”
“My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time,” she continued. “It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in. I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear. Reach out to your people, don’t cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone. This healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me.”
Although Diddy initially denied Ventura’s allegations of assault and slammed her lawsuit and its claims as “riddled with baseless and outrageous lies,” Diddy released an apology video addressing the physical abuse once the video went public. He said he was at “rock bottom” and called his behavior “inexcusable.”