New York, NY – Rapper Kid Cudi took the witness stand Thursday in the New York sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, testifying about his brief romantic involvement with Combs’ former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura, approximately 14 years ago.
Scott Mescudi, professionally known as Kid Cudi, was expected to offer concise testimony, according to a prosecutor. The Grammy Award-winning artist, recognized for his genre-bending alternative hip-hop style, arrived at the courthouse in a black SUV and was escorted inside.
Prosecutor Emily Johnson initiated her questioning by presenting Cudi with a photograph of Cassie, inquiring if he knew her. “We were friends and we dated briefly,” he responded, specifying that they first met in 2008 and collaborated on music before dating in 2011. When asked about Cassie’s other relationships during their brief period, Cudi identified Sean Combs.
Cassie testified last week that Combs reacted with threats of violence towards Cudi, including a threat to blow up his car and physically harm him, upon learning of their relationship.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges following his arrest in September at a Manhattan hotel. He denies allegations of using threats and his influential position in the hip-hop industry to abuse women and others. Cassie previously testified that Combs coerced her into participating in drug-fueled sexual encounters, referred to as “freak-offs,” with other men, which she claimed left her emotionally and physically depleted, hindering her singing career. The federal investigation into Combs commenced in November 2023, a day after Cassie filed a civil lawsuit in Manhattan federal court detailing years of alleged sexual and physical abuse. The lawsuit was settled by Combs for $20 million the following day.
During her four days of testimony last week, Cassie, legally known as Casandra Ventura, described enduring abuse throughout the majority of her nearly 11-year relationship with Combs, spanning from 2007 to 2018. She recounted a brief relationship with Cudi in late 2011, which she ended within weeks after Combs discovered it by looking at her phone during a “freak-off” – one of numerous such encounters she claimed to have endured.
George Kaplan, Combs’ personal assistant from 2013 to 2015, also testified Thursday, stating that he witnessed Combs being violent with Cassie on only one occasion: a 2015 trip to Las Vegas aboard Combs’ private jet. Kaplan recalled hearing glass breaking and turning to see Combs holding a whiskey glass in his hand amidst “tremendous commotion and a scuffle.” He testified that Cassie then screamed, “Isn’t anybody seeing this?” adding that neither he, security personnel, nor Bad Boy staff on the plane intervened.
Kaplan explained his inaction stemmed from a fear of losing his “dream job.” He stated that he ultimately decided to resign after that incident and a subsequent event where he observed Cassie with a black eye in a bedroom before Combs instructed him to purchase anti-inflammatory medication for her injury.
Kaplan further testified to witnessing Combs’ violent behavior towards another girlfriend, identified only as Gina, when the rapper threw green apples at her at his Florida residence. Kaplan told jurors that his time working for Combs had “proven to be one of the most complicated pieces of my life,” acknowledging the power dynamic involved, stating, “I’m a young man and this is a God among men talking to me.” Despite witnessing Combs’ abuse of Cassie, Kaplan admitted to still having positive memories of many aspects of their professional relationship.
Kaplan’s testimony was compelled by a government subpoena, and he received immunity from potential criminal liability in exchange for his cooperation.
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