P. Diddy has been accused of rape and severe physical abuse by his ex-girlfriend

Hip-hop star and the founder of Bad Boy Records, Sean Combs or P. Diddy has been accused of rape and abuse in a major lawsuit filed by the singer Cassie that alleges he used his powerful network to keep her trapped in a violent relationship with him.

His ex-girlfriend – whose real name is Casandra Ventura – filed a lawsuit which states that throughout their 10-year relationship Combs assaulted her multiple times – viciously beating and raping her – and controlled every aspect of her life, the New York Times first reported on Thursday. She faced “a cycle of abuse, violence, and sex trafficking” until their relationship ended in 2018, according to the lawsuit.

She expressed to the Times that she suffered “years in silence and darkness” and now she is “finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships”.

A representative for the rapper denied the claims and expressed that the allegations were “offensive and outrageous” and came after Ventura demanded $30m from Combs.

The statement claims, “Ms Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr Combs’ reputation and seeking a payday.”

However, a lawyer for Ventura stated that she had been offered “eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit”, which she declined.

The lawsuit explains that Combs aggressively pursued Ventura, who signed with Bad Boy at age 19. Allegedly he invited himself to her 21st birthday gathering where he forcibly kissed her, and immediately exerted his power and influence.

According to the lawsuit, Ventura felt it would jeopardise her career if she refused his advances or his offers of drugs. She claims he lured her into an “ostentatious, fast-paced, and drug-fueled lifestyle.”

Combs allegedly provided Ventura with a lavish lifestyle full of expensive clothes, vacations and drugs to keep her “complacent and compliant.” He became controlling and abusive, according to the lawsuit, he was prone to an “uncontrollable rage” which led him to punch, kick and stomp her. He allegedly forced her to hold his guns in her purse on multiple occasions.

She states that he would often force her to “engage in sex acts with male sex workers” that he photographed and filmed. She was given drugs before and during, allowing her to “disassociate during these horrific encounters.” She claims that she is a victim of sex trafficking after being required to engage in forced sexual acts in multiple cities.

The lawsuit states that in 2015 Combs beat his ex-girlfriend so severely that when his security guard and assistant saw her “two black eyes, a burst and bruised lip, and a huge welt on her forehead”, they began to cry. She also claims to have been routinely made to hide in hotels while her bruises healed.

Ventura claims that Combs' “loyal network” decided to turn a blind eye to the entire situation as they failed to do anything “meaningful to stop Mr Combs’s behavior.”

“Her volatile and abusive partner – who also owned her label and therefore held her future success in his hands – had fully exerted control over every aspect of her life,” the lawsuit stated.

After Ventura was briefly in a relationship with Kid Cudi in 2012, Combs allegedly blew up the rapper’s car. Kid Cudi confirmed Ventura’s account to the New York Times, saying: “This is all true.”

The lawsuit states that the Bad Boy Management president, James Cruz, told Ventura that they would halt her single release until she answered phone calls in 2016.

In 2018, Ventura claims she was desperate to end the relationship. After a dinner where she believed they would discuss the issue, Combs forced himself into her home and raped her, according to the lawsuit. Shortly after, she left the home, which he had paid for, returned the car he had bought her and separated herself from him.

Ventura says the trauma she has undergone has required “intensive medical and psychological care”.

“Ms Ventura therefore seeks justice for the decade of her life that Mr Combs took away from her with threats of violence, excessive use of drugs, physical and psychological abuse, and sexual slavery,” the lawsuit says.

Casandra Ventura seeks damages for lost wages as well as mental pain and severe emotional distress.