In a high-profile legal battle, Mr. Combs is currently facing grave accusations, including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Despite the severity of these charges, Mr. Combs has maintained his innocence by pleading not guilty. His legal team contends that Ms. Ventura, along with other women involved in the case, were willing participants in what they referred to as “freak-offs” and various sexual encounters with Mr. Combs.
During the proceedings, Ms. Ventura provided compelling testimony, revealing that after an alleged altercation at a hotel, she took a selfie in an Uber that displayed a visible “fat lip.” She recounted that Mr. Combs sent her a series of texts, desperately pleading for her to respond. One of the messages entered into evidence read, “Yo pls call, I’m surrounded,” indicating his distress. Throughout this series of texts, Mr. Combs urged her to call him, even stating, “the cops are here.” However, prior testimony from a hotel security guard indicated that no police were called following the incident.
In one poignant text, Mr. Combs asked, “You’re going to abandon me all alone?” to which Ms. Ventura responded with strong words, declaring him “sick” for believing that his actions were acceptable. She firmly requested, “Please stay far away from me,” highlighting the emotional turmoil she experienced.
After arriving at her apartment, Ms. Ventura received support from a visiting friend, who called the police on her behalf. Upon their arrival, Ms. Ventura answered several questions but hesitated to disclose the identity of her assailant. When asked by prosecutor Emily A. Johnson if she wanted to protect Sean, Ms. Ventura replied, “Yeah, of course.” Following the police's departure, she testified that Mr. Combs attempted to enter her apartment, creating a chaotic scene with “banging, kicking, yelling.”
Significantly, only two days after the alleged assault at the hotel in 2016, Ms. Ventura was set to attend her first major movie premiere for the film “The Perfect Match.” She recounted how she returned to Mr. Combs’s house for a fitting and shared a photo with the jury showing them together at the premiere, where she wore makeup to conceal the bruises on her face.
The anticipation surrounding Ms. Ventura’s testimony has been palpable since Mr. Combs's arrest in September 2024. Notably, Ms. Ventura had previously filed a lawsuit against him in late 2023, which was settled in just one day and included many of the same allegations now present in the government’s indictment, where she was referred to as “Victim-1.” The prosecution is expected to continue its direct examination of Ms. Ventura throughout the day, and once that concludes, Mr. Combs's lawyers will proceed with cross-examination.
