The long-awaited Sean ‘P Diddy‘ Combs trial testimony began in New York on May 12, 2025, with opening statements and the first round of witness evidence laying out explosive allegations against the disgraced music mogul. The federal sex-trafficking case, which could see Combs sentenced to life in prison if found guilty, is already proving to be one of the most high-profile trials in recent entertainment history.
Here’s what we learnt during the opening statements and first witness testimonies in the first week of the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial.
Cassie Ventura Testifies
The court heard how Ventura, then-19, first met Combs, then-37, as an aspiring artist before they entered into a romantic relationship – one that prosecutors will allege, resulted in over a decade of control, coercion and devastating trauma.
She alleged that she was subject to a relentless pattern of abuse that included being tasked with hiring male escorts for “freak-offs” in which she would be forced to perform for Combs’ voyeuristic whims. The court heard how these “freak-offs” happened so frequently, that they “became a job where there was no space to do anything else but recover and just kind of feel normal again.”
Between tears, she spoke about Combs using recordings of the “freak-offs” to blackmail and control her, preventing her from leaving or denying his continued requests for the encounters. “If Sean wanted to have it, that was going to happen. No way around it.”
Prosecutor Emily Johnson told that court, that the “freak-offs” were happening as often as once a week for days at time. Meaning that for almost half of every week, Cassie was in a dark hotel room, high and awake for days, performing sex acts that she did not want to do on male escorts.”
Ventura’s testimony will continue across a few days, but you can catch up on the biggest moments from day one, here.
Prosecutors Reveal Scope Of Allegations
In a powerful opening statement, federal prosecutors painted Combs as the perpetrator of crimes including kidnapping, arson, drug distribution, sex crimes and bribery. Prosecutor Emily Johnson told the court that Combs used his influence to ensure that he was surrounded by an inner circle that “carefully cultivated and guarded his reputation.”
“He called himself the king and expected to be treated like one,” Johnson added. “He expected his inner circle to cater to his every desire including his sexual desire. And his inner circle made sure he got everything he wanted.”
The legal team outlined how Combs used this protective shield to commit “crime after crime” before preparing the jurors for the testimony they were about to hear.
“They will tell you about some of the most painful experiences of their lives,” Johnson said. “The days they spent in hotel rooms, high on drugs, dressed in costumes to perform the defendant’s sexual fantasies.”
“Let me be clear…” she continued, as she reiterated that at its core “this case is not about a celebrity’s private sexual preferences. It’s coercive and criminal.”
Graphic “Freak Off” Details Emerge
Assistant US attorney Johnson described the alleged “Freak Offs” – events or parties where women were allegedly plied with drugs and forced to engage in long-lasting sex acts – at the centre of the federal case.
The court heard that Combs allegedly introduced ex-partner Cassie Ventura to such events from early on in their relationship. “Half of every week Cassie was in a dark hotel room high and awake for days performing sex acts she did not want to do on male escorts,” Johnson told the court, alleging that in some cases, the frequency was so severe that in another “Freak Off” Ventura “still had an open wound on her face from the defendant’s more recent assault.”
According to prosecutors, Combs would record the “Freak Offs” as another form of control over Ventura and others. “He told her he could destroy her career by releasing the videos of her performing sex acts on dozens of male escorts,” Johnson stated, before describing the extent of abuse. “He beat her when she didn’t answer the phone when he called. He beat her when she left a Freak Off without permission. He beat her when he thought she took too long in the bathroom.”
Two Victims To Be Focus Of Prosecutors Case
Opening statements revealed that much of the federal prosecutors’ case will be centred around two women – Cassie Ventura and a second victim who will be referred to under her pseudonym, Jane.
According to Johnson’s argument: “The defendant used lies, drugs, threats, and violence to force and coerce first Cassie and later Jane to have sex with him in front of male escorts. The defendant insisted that the sex occur in a very specific, highly orchestrated way. These sexual performances lasted multiple days and they involved multiple escorts.”
Preempting the defence, Johnson also warned jurors about the power imbalance between Ventura and Combs, sating that while his team may claim each party was “unfaithful, jealous and at times angry,” Combs held all the power in that relationship.
“Only one of them had control,” Johnson said. “And that was the defendant. And with that power and with that control, he made Cassie do his bidding in those dark hotel rooms.”
LA Policeman Israel Florez Called As First Witness
The jury was shown surveillance footage of Cassie Ventura in the hallway of the InterContinental hotel in 2016. Ventura is shown in front of the elevator putting on her shoes before Combs emerges behind her and pulls her onto the floor. Combs was shown kicking her as she lay on the ground, proceeding to pick up her belongings, dragging her backwards into their hotel room. Moments later, Ventura is seen in the hallway again, attempting to make a call on the hotel’s wall phone.
The court heard from Los Angeles police officer, Israel Florez, who was a security official at the time. He stated that he was contacted by hotel staff to respond to the altercation, in which he escorted Ventura and Combs back to their room before witnessing Ventura leave shortly after “with a purple eye”. He claimed that Combs approached him with cash, which he interpreted as a bribe (and declined), and that an incident report was filed describing the incident from “start to finish.”
Testimony will resume tomorrow and we will continue updating this page with the latest revelations from court. For a full timeline of the case and allegations leading up to this trial, see our comprehensive explainer here and explore our wider coverage at this link.
Related articles :
- Everything To Know About The Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial
- A Timeline Of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Most High Profile Relationships
- Cassie Ventura’s Testimony Reveals Devastating Scope Of Alleged Abuse
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