The Latest: Cassie returns to the witness stand amid concern about her pregnancy

By Canadian Press on May 16, 2025.

NEW YORK (AP) — The R&B singer Cassie returns to the witness stand Friday for more cross-examination by the defense team for ex-boyfriend, Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Prosecutors allege that the hip hop mogul used his fame and fortune to orchestrate an empire of exploitation, coercing women into abusive sex parties. His lawyers argue that all the sexual acts were consensual, and although he could be violent, he never veered into sex trafficking and racketeering. Combs has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Defense attorney Anna Estevao has made Cassie read out loud from messages expressing desire for the drug-fueled group sex she previously testified left her traumatized. Estevao also suggested that by exposing Combs’ sexual behavior in a lawsuit, it was Cassie who ended Combs’ career, not the other way around.

Prosecutors implored the judge overnight to make the defense wrap up its questioning in time to allow for prosecution follow-ups on Friday, citing concern for Cassie’s “health and safety” and the potential for a mistrial if she goes into labor with her third child.

The Latest:

What to know Friday:

1. What are the charges against Combs? He faces one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs denies all the allegations and has pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges.

2. Where are we at in the trial? Prosecutors spent two days questioning Cassie, their star witness, about Combs’ abusive behavior. Defense lawyers are seeking to portray Cassie as a willing participant in his sexual lifestyle, and say that while he could be violent, nothing he did amounted to a criminal enterprise.

3. Why isn’t there a livestream? Under federal court rules, no photos or video of the trial will be allowed. Courtroom sketches are permitted.

Key moments from Thursday’s testimony

Messages between Combs and Cassie — both romantic and lurid — were the focus of the fourth day of testimony in a Manhattan courtroom. Defense attorney Anna Estevao read what Combs wrote, while Cassie recited her own messages about her participation in marathon encounters with sex workers, called “freak-offs.”

4. In August 2009, Combs asked when she wanted the next encounter to be, and she replied “I’m always ready to freak off.” Two days later, Cassie sent an explicit message and he replied in eager anticipation. She responded: “Me Too, I just want it to be uncontrollable.” Later that year, however, she also sent Combs messages that she was frustrated with the state of their relationship and needed something more from him than sex.

5. In a 2017 text message, Cassie told Combs: “I love our FOs when we both want it,” using the initials of freak-off. On the stand, Cassie explained: “I would say loving FOs were just words at that point.”

6. Cassie complained at one point that jurors weren’t hearing the full context of the messages the defense was highlighting, saying, “There’s a lot we skipped over.”

7. Combs’ attorney presented Cassie with sexual texts she sent before a 2016 encounter at a Los Angeles hotel, where Combs was caught on surveillance video kicking and dragging her in a hallway. Cassie said she wanted to get the encounter over with, in order to keep Combs happy and avoid a scene ahead of movie premier she was attending days later.

▶ Read more about Cassie’s testimony Thursday

The Associated Press