Just one day after R&B singer Cassie filed a lawsuit accusing Diddy, her former boyfriend, of sexual assault and abuse including rape, the pair have agreed to an out-of-court settlement.
“I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control. I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support,” the singer, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, said in a statement.
“We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love,” Diddy, whose full name is Sean Combs, said in a separate statement.
In still another statement, Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, said, “I am very proud of Ms. Ventura for having the strength to go public with her lawsuit. She ought to be commended for doing so.”
And Diddy’s lawyer went on to release yet another statement, continuing to defend his client’s innocence in the face of out-of-court settlements often being seen unfavorably by observers.
“Just so we’re clear, a decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing,” Combs’ lawyer Ben Brafman wrote. “Mr. Combs‘ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best.”
In the lawsuit, filed Thursday in the U.S District Court for the Southern District of New York, Ventura accused Combs of years of sex trafficking and sexual assault. Among other things, she alleged that he raped her after they broke up in 2018.
She also accused him of using explosives to destroy a car belonging to another artist who was romantically interested in Ventura, of forcing her to make pornographic videos, and said he “introduced her to a lifestyle of alcohol and substance abuse and required her to procure illicit prescriptions to satisfy his own addictions.”
Combs “vehemently” denied the accusations.
“For the past 6 months, Mr. Combs, has been subjected to Ms. Ventura’s persistent demand of $30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail. Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’ reputation and seeking a pay day,” his attorney said Thursday.
Pamela Chelin and Mike Roe contributed to this report.
