Cassie to testify using her name in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial
Cassie is ready to testify against Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs using her real name in his upcoming trial, in which the Bad Boy rapper is facing racketeering, sex trafficking by force and transportation for purposes of prostitution charges. A motion filed on April 4th stated “Victim-1” would not be anonymously testifying, which is now revealed as the ‘Me & U’ singer.
“She is prepared to testify under her own name,” the filing states. “Victim-2, Victim-3, and Victim-4 have asked that their identities not be revealed to the press or the public.” The anonymous victims must “be referred to at trial using only pseudonyms,” and the defence cannot share any identifying details about them.
According to People, prosecutors said, “This case has already received an exceptional amount of media coverage, which will presumably only increase as trial proceeds.”
They continued, “Permitting these measures will prevent unnecessary public disclosure of the victims’ identities, and the harassment from the media and others, undue embarrassment, and other adverse consequences that would almost certainly follow if these women were forced to reveal their true names publicly at trial.”
Cassie accused her ex-boyfriend, Combs, of rape and sex trafficking in November 2023 but settled the legal case just one day later. Then, in May 2024, footage surfaced of Combs chasing and assaulting her in a hotel, dating back to March 2016.
She claimed Combs left her “broken” in a May 2024 statement. “Domestic violence is THE issue,” she wrote. “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.
“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.”
Combs’ trial is set to begin on May 5th. He’s currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after initially being charged in September. However, last week, he was hit with two further charges of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.