Sean “Diddy” CombsHis life changed forever a year ago.

On November 16, 2023, Cassie Ventura — the “Me & U” singer with whom Combs had a inner relationship that lasted a decade – filed a bombshell lawsuit against him, alleging rape, abuse and sex trafficking. The case was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan under New York State Adult Survivors Actwhich allows victims of sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits against their alleged attackers despite the statute of limitations having expired.

A day later, Combs settled the lawsuit with Ventura. However, it didn’t magically erase her explosive accusations against him. Ventura claimed she was subjected to years of abuse and sex trafficking. She alleged that Combs, who she began dating in 2007, drugged and beat her and forced her to have sex with male sex workers while he filmed the encounters, known as “Crazies.” She also accused him of raping her at her home after forcing his way in in 2018.

Ventura’s lawsuit opened the door for others to come forward with allegations of abuse against the music producer over the decades. He faces 100 sexual misconduct lawsuits as well as one claim of attack. The fallout included the federal investigation into Ventura’s sex-trafficking claims, which was Combs defendant for September.

Combs maintains his innocence in his federal case, which is set to go to trial in May 2025, as well as in the civil lawsuits. In May, the “I’ll Be Missing You” rapper did admits to attacking Ventura after surveillance video of a 2016 incident surfaced.

Ventura’s trial is ‘an example of the power survivors have when they are believed’

“Miss Ventura’s trial was impactful and an example of the power survivors have when they are believed by first responders, police, prosecutors, medical professionals, family and friends,” legal expert Judie Saunders, an attorney who heads the firm’s sexual abuse and trafficking department ASKhe told Yahoo Entertainment.

Other alleged victims may learn from Ventura’s arrival, Saunders says.

“Alleged victims should learn that surviving sexual violence is not a game of ‘he said, she said’ where the strong always win,” Saunders said. “It is useful for victims to raise the alarm about abusive institutions and individuals. Survivors of sexual violence are conditioned to believe that they are powerless and their credibility will be disregarded. Survivors should learn that appropriate trauma-informed counselors and medical professionals will support them.”

Ventura’s relationship with Combs ended in 2018. She went on to marry actor and model Alex Fine, and they have two children together. The conclusion of the suit against Combs in November 2023 was opening old but necessary wounds “after years of silence and darkness,” Ventura said at the time.

An attorney for Combs went on the offensive against Ventura, claiming he tried to blackmail Combs. He also claimed that Ventura demanded $30 million or she would write a tell-all book. Combs’ attorney said her trial was filled with “outrageous lies” in a bid for “a payday.” In the war of words, Ventura’s attorney claimed Combs offered her “eight figures to silence her and prevent a lawsuit,” saying Ventura “should be applauded for her courage.”

When the lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount on November 17, 2023, Combs said in a statement: “We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family well. Love”.

What Ventura has said publicly since her trial

Ventura did not grant an interview about the legal fallout Combs has faced over the past year. The presumption is she signed a confidentiality agreementwhich prevents her from speaking publicly about the case, but would not prevent her from testifying in the federal case against him.

After the lawsuit was settled, she released a brief statement saying she settled her case “amicably” to maintain “some level of control.”

When Combs’ homes were raided by federal investigators in March, Ventura’s attorney said in a statement, “We will always support law enforcement as they seek to prosecute those who have broken the law. Hopefully this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs accountable for his depraved conduct.”

In May, CNN released video of Combs attacking Ventura, which mirrors an incident she alleged in her lawsuit. Combs released a video taking “full responsibility” for his actions. Ventura issued a statement of her, saying that domestic abuse “turned me into someone I never thought I would become.” She asked people to “first open the heart of the faithful victims”.

After Combs was arrested on Sept. 16, federal prosecutors alleged that beginning in 2008, he “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others and led a racketeering conspiracy that involved sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction. of justice, among other crimes” — Ventura’s camp said it was “hoping justice would come.”

“The courage it took for Cassie to speak up and be one of the first to speak up can’t be emphasized enough,” a Ventura insider said said People. “It was terrifying in a very real way. There have been so many people protecting Diddy for so long, and it’s no exaggeration to say that her life has been in danger through all of this.”

Ventura’s testimony is likely “necessary” to prosecutors’ case

Combs continues to fight for his release from prison after being denied bail several times before his criminal trial. Ventura is believed to be called to testify against him as a prosecution witness because the allegations in her trial are similar to those outlined in the government’s indictment and could be at the heart of their case. (A federal grand jury continued to do so hear a new testimony against Combs, with prosecutors saying their investigation is ongoing.)

“Based on the indictment, Ms. Ventura’s testimony may be necessary to prove elements of the government’s case,” Saunders told Yahoo.

And to think that Combs is breaking down after years rumors and arrests this worked nowhereit really all goes back to Ventura’s trial a year ago.

“Honestly, I don’t understand how (Ventura’s trial) was handled on behalf of … Combs,” District Attorney Joe Tacopina. said on the Tubi series TMZ Presents: Diddy’s Downfall in October.

“There is no reason to have those settlement negotiations, which they have been engaged in for some time, not to agree to a settlement, to let her file the case, for the front page of every newspaper to have allegations explosives against your client and then solve one. day later. This was absolutely the worst of all worlds,” he said. Not only did it destroy his reputation, but “it’s actually what started this federal investigation.”

In another episode of the series, BET News’ Marc Lamont Hill said“Diddy’s most glaring and fatal strategic error was not dealing with Cassie behind closed doors. If it’s settled with Cassie behind closed doors, there’s a good chance none of this controversy will happen. Chances are good that other people don’t have their own processes. There’s a good chance law enforcement didn’t have their radars turned on by all the allegations of illegal activity. There’s a chance Diddy is living his normal billionaire life right now.”

Combs, who faces 15 years to life in prison, is due back in court Nov. 22 for a hearing to determine whether he will be granted pretrial bail. It is his third attempt to be released since his arrest in September.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, free, anonymous help is available at RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline: (800) 656-HOPE (4673) and at online.rainn.org.