A former assistant to Sean "Diddy" Combs testified Thursday in federal court that the disgraced music mogul violently attacked then-girlfriend Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura at an exclusive party hosted by Prince, only to be stopped by the late artist's security team. The woman, who used the pseudonym "Mia" to protect her identity, gave emotional and graphic testimony describing years of alleged physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of Combs.
The incident reportedly occurred in 2010, the night after an award show. Mia testified that she and Ventura attended a private gathering at Prince's residence without Combs' knowledge. When he arrived, she said, "He caught up to her and had her on the ground. He started attacking her, but Prince's security swiftly intervened."
According to Mia, the retaliation was swift. The next day, Combs suspended her without pay for being "insubordinate." She said this incident marked a turning point in her realization of the severe danger surrounding Combs' inner circle.
Mia worked for Combs from 2009 to 2017, during which she alleged he threw her against walls, into pools, and sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions. "He's thrown things at me. He's thrown me against the wall. He's thrown me into a pool," she told the jury. She described the working environment as toxic and unpredictable, with Combs allegedly barring her from locking her bedroom door and monitoring her movements.
Mia also described a separate violent incident at Ventura's Los Angeles apartment. She said Combs, "very irate," barged in, demanded to know if Ventura had been drinking, and then attacked her. "I thought he was going to kill her," Mia said, recounting how Ventura's head was slammed on a bedframe, causing heavy bleeding. Combs allegedly ordered Mia to lie and say Ventura "was drunk and hit her head."
The testimony follows earlier statements from Ventura's friend and stylist, Deonte Nash, who described Combs as obsessively controlling. "It drove her crazy. She would cry," Nash said, adding that Combs repeatedly beat her.
Mia said she initially took the assistant job to advance in the entertainment industry, noting she previously worked for comedian Mike Myers. She testified that while she was paid $70,000 a year-later raised to $100,000-she received none of the promised bonuses and had to "beg" for the director title at Combs' media company Revolt.
Judge Arun Subramanian instructed the jury not to photograph or share any information about Mia's appearance during her testimony. Combs, 55, was arrested in September 2024 on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.
