- Cassie Ventura is an American singer and dancer known for her song Me and U
- Ventura was in an 11-year relationship with rapper and record producer Diddy
- She testified against Diddy in his sex-trafficking trial on 13 May
Cassie Ventura, 38, the long-term ex-girlfriend of rapper Diddy, 55, testified against him on 13 May. The rapper and record producer is on trial for sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Diddy has denied the charges.
The long list of charges comes after a case was filed in New York against him in 2024. In March 2024, Diddy’s mansion was raided and supplies were seized, known to be used during sexual activities, known as ‘freak offs’. Now, back to Ventura.
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Ventura, who dated Diddy from 2007 until 2018, filed a lawsuit against him in November 2023. In her lawsuit, Ventura alleges Diddy physically abused her, raped her and coerced her to participate in the long, drug-fuelled parties known as freak offs.
At these parties, she would be filmed having intercourse with other men.
Many other women have also brought lawsuits against Diddy for his actions at these freak-offs.
Ventura and Diddy settled the lawsuit.
Since then, a hotel CCTV video of the singer allegedly running from Diddy has been released.
But who is Ventura outside of him?
Cassie Ventura: Who is the singer?
Early life
Cassandra Elizabeth Ventura was born on 26 August 1988 in New London, Connecticut. Her mother has African-American, Mexican, and West Indian ancestry. Meanwhile, her father is Filipino.
As a child, Ventura attended The Williams School. By 14, she started modelling and by 16 had branched out to model for local department stores. She made her music video debut in Mario’s Just A Friend music video in 2002 with a brief cameo.
Ventura became friendly with a producer who encouraged her to take vocal lessons and learn to dance in her school’s performing arts programme. Following graduation, at age 18, she moved to New York to pursue a career.
While living in New York, she took classes at the Broadway Dance Center and continued modelling.
Ventura gained recognition once she was signed to the prestigious Wilhelmina Models agency, which got her noticed as a teenager.
The career of Cassie Ventura
Songwriter and record producer Ryan Leslie saw the singer out in the New York party scene in the 2000s.
He helped write a duet with her called Kiss Me. Music executive Tommy Mottola and Mariah Carey’s ex-husband offered Ventura a management deal. Leslie helped write her first and biggest single Me & U.
At this time, Diddy heard the song in a nightclub in 2005, and he partnered with Leslie’s record label to help Ventura with her album.
The debut album, Cassie, was released in 2006 with Me & U as the lead single. Her first album was a hit and sold over 300,000 copies. Subsesquently, Cassie became an R&B success.
By this time, Ventura had begun working more with Diddy’s label, Bad Boy Records, and was in the studio working on her second album. She also collaborated with multiple artists and producers. By 2007, she had begun a romantic relationship with Diddy.
Album delays and diminishing music career
Despite not releasing an album, Ventura had her first acting role in Step Up 2: The Streets, where she played Sophie. She gained notoriety for singing the lead single from the soundtrack Is It You. In 2008, she announced her second album, Electro Love. She had three singles with collaborations on them for the album, but it continued to be delayed.
Ventura continued to record songs for her second album, but nothing was released. In 2012, she released King Of Hearts, Balcony, and featured on the popular song The Boys by Nicki Minaj for her album.
Finally, in 2013, the singer released a mixtape, RockaByeBaby, which received positive reviews. She also released a few songs with other rappers.
Without a second album, Ventura focused on acting and played the lead in the romantic comedy The Perfect Match in 2016. She released two singles in 2017, but did not do much in terms of progression.
After 11 years with Diddy, she released her first music without him in 2019 through her Ventura Music label.
At the time of writing, Ventura has still not released a second album.
Who is Cassie dating?
Of course, Ventura is known for her volatile relationship with Diddy, which she has spoken about in her court testimony. Thankfully, the 38-year-old got her happy ending.
In 2019, she married personal trainer Alex Fine. With Fine, she has two daughters, one born in December 2019 and another in March 2021.
Currently, she is eight months pregnant with their third child.
