Online Reporter
NEW YORK. — Sean “Diddy” Combs lawyers yesterday introduced sexually explicit text messages which were sent by his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in which she said was excited before the “freak-off” parties which the hip hop mogul used to stage.
Cassie is the star witness in this high-profile case which is being followed throughout the world.
After the prosecution spent the last two days trying to establish a narrative that Diddy’s “freak-offs” were humiliating, scary experiences for star witness Cassie, it was time for the defence to hit back yesterday.
Defence lawyer Anna Estevao introduced sexually explicit text chains where Cassie said she was excited before a “freak-off” — the term they used to describe sex acts where Diddy directed her and male escorts to perform while he watched.
One text from Cassie said that she had an “aggressive sexual side”.
The defence is trying to disprove Cassie’s claims that she was embarrassed and wanted to hide the sex acts to stop any harm to her career.
The defence is also trying to chip away at the racketeering charge against Combs — which asserts there was a team who aided in putting together the sexual acts.
Lawyer Estevao asked Cassie if she ever saw an assistant walk in when she was in the middle of a so-called “freak-off”.
“I was high,” she answered, adding that she wasn’t sure but doesn’t recall any staff directly seeing what was happening in the hotel rooms.
Cassie told the court that Diddy, like her, needed time to recover from the “freak-offs”, and that he was addicted to opioids.
Here’s what happened in the morning session of the cross examination yesterday.
Lawyer Estevao asked Cassie about the more loving side of the pair’s time together, after Cassie testified over the last two days about alleged violence and abuse.
Prosecutors frequently interrupted the defence’s line of questioning, especially early in the day, when Diddy’s lawyer tried to establish a narrative that Cassie’s participation in so-called “freak-offs” may have been consensual
Cassie said she didn’t want the “freak-offs” recorded, though she said they often were.
The defence spent a long time going through texts and emails sent between Diddy and Cassie throughout the course of their relationship, including messages in which it appears Cassie was enthusiastic about “freak-off” plans.
Lawyers also asked Cassie about her previous relationships before Diddy, including with music producer Ryan Leslie.
“It wasn’t the first time you’d been dating an older man, right?” Estevao said.
The lawyer also noted Cassie had a tattoo of Leslie’s initials.
