On May 16, 2025, Cassie Ventura, 38, stunned the courtroom during Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial in Manhattan, admitting to an affair with an unnamed NFL player during their relationship.
Testifying as the prosecution’s star witness in the case accusing Combs of sex trafficking, racketeering, and running a criminal enterprise, Ventura’s revelation came under cross-examination by Combs’ attorney, Anna Estevao, who questioned a 2016 incident where Combs allegedly seized her phone over suspected infidelity.
Cassie Ventura just testified on the stand at the Diddy trial that she once stepped out on the rap mogul with an NFL player.
Read more: https://t.co/eE8qhlpF4x pic.twitter.com/gvVkPW2X4B
— TMZ (@TMZ) May 17, 2025Ventura confirmed the affair but declined to name the athlete, stating, “I don’t know if he’s playing anymore.” She detailed a pattern of abuse, describing Combs’ jealousy-fueled violence, including reactions to her rumoured ties with Kid Cudi and Michael B. Jordan. Despite Combs’ alleged rage over the interaction, Ventura denied dancing with Chris Brown, refuting the defence’s portrayal of his actions as mere jealousy rather than calculated crimes.
Drug Use and “Freak-Offs”
Ventura testified that both she and Combs used painkillers and opioids during their relationship, particularly at “freak-offs”—drug-fueled parties she linked to emotional and physical tolls. She described Combs as an “addict” who feared losing control in “the matrix,” a term for being overly intoxicated. Her testimony, reported by Reuters, paints a picture of manipulation and systemic abuse.
Cassie Ventura’s husband issues powerful statement as wife concludes grueling Diddy trial testimony https://t.co/qbgSXULWYM pic.twitter.com/9Y90rBUiH3
— Page Six (@PageSix) May 16, 2025Combs’ defence aims to shift focus from criminal allegations to personal disputes, but Ventura’s account strengthens the prosecution’s case. Now married and expecting her third child, Ventura’s escape from Combs’ influence contrasts with the chaos she described.
Ventura’s testimony could be pivotal in Combs’ high-profile trial, which continues to grip the entertainment industry. The unnamed NFL player’s identity remains a point of speculation, with no confirmation from investigators or Ventura’s family, who declined Reuters’ comment.
