In a swift resolution to a legal dispute, rap tycoon Sean “Diddy” Combs and R&B songstress Casandra “Cassie” Ventura have reached an agreement just one day after Ventura accused Combs of sexual assault and sex trafficking.
The high-profile couple released a joint statement on Friday, announcing the settlement but refraining from divulging specific details of the agreement.
Ms. Ventura, in tandem with Mr. Combs, expressed in the statement, “We have chosen to bring this matter to a peaceful resolution, on terms that afford me a degree of control. I extend my gratitude to my family, fans, and legal counsel for their unwavering support.”
Mr. Combs added, “Our decision is to settle this matter amicably. I extend my best wishes to Cassie and her family. Love.”
The legal saga unfolded when Ms. Ventura filed a lawsuit on Thursday, claiming a decade-long entrapment by Combs, her former romantic partner, within a cycle of abuse and violence.
Denying the accusations, the renowned rapper and record executive, also known by his stage moniker Puff Daddy, counter-alleged that Ventura was attempting to exploit him. His legal representatives characterized her claims as “outrageous and baseless.”
Confirming the resolution, Douglas Wigdor, attorney for Ms. Ventura, stated, “I commend Ms. Ventura for finding the strength to bring this lawsuit into the public domain. She deserves acknowledgment for doing so.”
Ms. Ventura’s allegations paint a harrowing picture of assault and mistreatment over a ten-year span, beginning when she was 19 and Combs 37. Her statement on Thursday declared, “After years of silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story.”
The lawsuit details explicit instances of abuse that allegedly commenced in 2005 after Ventura entered into a contract with Combs’ record label, Bad Boy. It contends that Combs “administered drugs and alcohol to the vulnerable Ms. Ventura, causing her to fall into a dangerous addiction that controlled her life.”
Describing the musician as a “repeated domestic abuser,” the lawsuit claims that Combs routinely physically harmed Ventura, resulting in black eyes, bruises, and blood.
Responding to the allegations, Mr. Combs’ legal representative informed BBC News that Ms. Ventura demanded $30 million (£24 million), “under threat to write a damaging book about their relationship.”
Benjamin Brafman, Combs’ lawyer, dismissed the lawsuit as “filled with baseless and outrageous lies,” firmly rejecting the claims as “a clear case of extortion.”
In a rejoinder to Brafman’s statement, Doug Wigdor, Ventura’s attorney, alleged that Combs had offered a “seven-figure payment to keep her quiet and prevent her from filing this lawsuit.”
Ventura, known for several chart-topping hits in the 2000s, including collaborations with Diddy, released notable songs such as “Me & U,” “Long Way to Go,” and “Official Girl” featuring Lil Wayne.
