Warning: this article contains discussion of sexual harassment and domestic violence which some readers may find distressing.
Here we are, on day two of the Sean “Diddy” Combs federal trial in the Big Apple, where the courtroom drama is unfolding like an unholy soap opera set against the backdrop of New York’s steely skyline. Astrology aside, with the Sun lingering in Taurus today—an earth sign notorious for stubbornness and stubborn truths—one can’t help but wonder: Will the evidence hardening around Combs prove as immovable as a Taurus’ resolve, or will the whirlwind testimonies shake the foundations of the case itself?
The day saw testimonies from a former male escort and, most poignantly, Casandra Ventura—known to many simply as Cassie—who shared her harrowing experiences during what have been grimly dubbed the rapper’s “freak off” parties. Despite the abundance of those infamous baby oil bottles (yes, nearly a thousand!), what stood out was the stark human story beneath—the isolation, the shame, and that painful yearning for just a fleeting moment of connection. Oddly enough, Cassie’s only solace amid this chaos was the very time spent with Diddy himself—a bitter twist of affection wrapped in trauma.
As emotions spilled and tears fell, the trial unspooled accounts of controlling rules, coerced encounters, and abuse masked behind glitz and glamour. And here I sit, pondering: is this a tale of power misused or an epic cautionary tale about the masks people wear when the cosmos is out of whack? Mercury’s current retrograde may be blamed for communication breakdowns, but some stories demand to be heard loud and clear.
The stakes? Life behind bars hangs heavy over Combs as the trial marches forward—while the rest of us wait, spellbound and unsettled. Buckle in; the stars and scales of justice are both watching.
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual harassment and domestic violence which some readers may find distressing
It’s day two of the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs federal court trial in New York, with a number of witnesses taking to the stand to give evidence against the US rapper so far today.
A former male escort Daniel Phillip, who was paid thousands of dollars to have sex with Mr Combs’ girlfriend Casandra Ventura (Cassie), was first up to the stand as he shared his own memories of the rapper’s now infamous ‘freak off’ parties.
Ms Ventura, who is heavily pregnant, also appeared to speak in front of the jury, as her former partner faces charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy.
He has pleaded not guilty to all five charges, but could face life in jail if he is found guilty.
Ms Ventura bravely took to the stand to share her own traumatic experiences during her relationship with Diddy, which allegedly included him dragging across a hotel room floor and regularly abusing her, while forcing her to have sex with other men while he watched.
While she has gone into detail about what exactly happened during the ‘freak off’ parties, which saw the 55-year-old own around 1000 bottles of baby oil, she has now shared with the court perhaps the only thing she enjoyed about these harrowing sexual parties.
Cassie has been speaking in federal court (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Paramount+)
Asked what she enjoyed, if anything, about the ‘freak offs,’ Cassie Ventura broke down in tears.
“The time spent with him,” she said. She added that she felt like it was the only time she could get with him.
“I felt disgusting. I was humiliated. I didn’t have the words to put together at the time how horrible I really felt, and I couldn’t talk to anybody about it,” Ventura added.
Ventura said she tried to ‘gently’ bring up not wanting to do ‘freak offs’ with Combs.
Diddy could face life in jail if found guilty (Samir Hussein/Getty Images for Sean Diddy Combs)
“I didn’t want to upset him or make him angry with me for even sharing it,” she said. “But I would just tread it lightly when I brought it up. Sometimes I would email him about it. I didn’t want anything bad to happen.”
The 38-year-old, who is now married, had suggested that some of the ‘freak offs’ could last as long as four days, with her former partner having a number of rules on how she should look and dress during the parties.
She also shared more details on the first time the two engaged in sex, suggesting that she was given ecstasy while on a boat in Miami.
The trial continues.