Cassie Testifies to Diddy’s 2012 Opioid Overdose and Drug-Fueled “Freak-Offs” in Sex Trafficking Trial

In federal court, Cassie Ventura recounts years of abuse, addiction, and coercion during her relationship with Sean “Diddy” Combs, as defense attempts to frame her as a willing participant.

New York, May 16 – Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial took a dramatic turn on Thursday as ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura revealed that the music mogul overdosed on opioids the night of a Playboy Mansion party in 2012, amid their shared battle with addiction and years of alleged abuse.

Testifying under cross-examination in a Manhattan federal court, Ventura detailed Combs’ downward spiral during their decade-long, on-and-off relationship, which she characterized as abusive and manipulative. “From what [Combs] told me, he took a really strong opioid that night,” she said, recounting the evening following a “freak-off” and sex club visit. “We took him to the hospital.”

Ventura has alleged that Combs orchestrated and coerced her into drug-fueled group sex sessions with male sex workers—termed “freak-offs”—over the years. She admitted to using painkillers to numb herself from the trauma, while asserting that Combs was addicted throughout their relationship.

The 2012 overdose occurred around the time of Whitney Houston’s death, Ventura recalled, adding that “the matrix” was their code for getting too high for sex to occur—something Combs worried about during these encounters.

Combs, 54, is currently facing a five-count federal indictment alleging two decades of sex trafficking, coercion, and abuse of women, all while using his music and fashion empire as a front. He has pleaded not guilty and denies all allegations.

While the defense has focused on text messages and past relationships to argue Ventura’s willing participation, she has consistently emphasized the psychological and emotional toll of maintaining a toxic relationship. One such message read, “I am always ready to freak-off Lol,” which the defense presented to imply consent. Prosecutors objected to some of the content, with one graphic message causing the judge to call a recess.

Now eight months pregnant and married with two children, Ventura described her behavior during that time as survival-driven: “It was a job,” she said of participating in the sessions to keep Combs satisfied. She also testified to episodes of jealousy, emotional volatility, and her longing to be part of his family life, including hoping to have a child with him.

Ventura also spoke about a failed stint in rehab and said both she and Combs expressed a desire to clean up multiple times, though the addiction often returned. The defense highlighted her previous affairs with rapper Kid Cudi and actor Michael B. Jordan, claiming she, too, was unfaithful. Ventura maintained that Combs reacted with “explosive” rage when learning of her relationships with other men.

With one final day of cross-examination remaining, Judge Arun Subramanian pressed the defense to narrow its focus, calling Ventura a “critical witness in a very important case.” Her testimony will resume Monday as the trial continues to unfold.