Singer Cassie, born Casandra Elizabeth Ventura, has been out of the spotlight for a while, but her lawsuit against Diddy has turned the focus to her.
On Nov. 16, Cassie filed a lawsuit against her former partner, billionaire Sean Diddy Combs, accusing him of sexual and physical abuse. She alleges that she met Diddy in 2005 when she was 19 and signed with his label, Bad Boy Records. Over the years, she claims she was trapped in a destructive relationship marked by an extravagant, fast-paced, and drug-fueled lifestyle. According to Cassie, this relationship involved physical and sexual abuse, as well as being forced to use drugs. Cassie’s decision to file the lawsuit is tied to the Adult Survivors Act, a New York State law enacted in May 2022 that allows victims of sexual offenses with expired statutes of limitations to file civil suits for one year, from Nov. 24, 2022, to Nov. 24, 2023.
In a statement to ET, Cassie says, “After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships.”
She adds, “With the expiration of New York’s Adult Survivors Act fast approaching, it became clear that this was an opportunity to speak up about the trauma I have experienced and that I will be recovering from for the rest of my life.”
In response to the allegations, Diddy’s attorney, Ben Brafman, told The New York Times, “Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations. For the past six 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’s reputation and seeking a payday.”
Cassie’s Life as a Singer
Cassie has leveraged the success of one album and several guest appearances, into her own fortune. But it’s difficult to pin down her actual worth, some outlets place it at $8 million, others go as far as $14 million. Celebrity Net Worth has it at $4 million.
In 2004, at 18, Cassie emerged as an up-and-coming teen sensation; her early success was attributed to an introduction to record producer Ryan Leslie. This connection led to a deal with Next Selection Lifestyle Group signings with significant labels, including Bad Boy Records and Empire Records. She released a self-titled studio album in 2006 and several singles, marking significant milestones in her singing career.
Diddy was introduced to Cassie through a make-up artist working with her on assignment, and the Bad Boy mogul became aware of her breakout indie hit single “Me & U.”
Before signing with Bad Boys in 2006 at 19, Cassie was already proved her music could make money. “Me & U” was a hit in every club and radio airwaves. The song was chart-topping, securing the third spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and the fourth position on the Billboard Pop 100.
Her debut album, “Cassie,” released on Aug. 8, 2006, achieved significant sales, selling 321,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen Sound Scan, Vogue cited. At the same time, Cassie’s hit single, “Me & U,” sold more than 1 million digital downloads.
According to Sportskeeda, Cassie’s debut album earned $1.65 million between 2007 and 2010. But this figure has not been confirmed.
Cassie has made notable appearances in various projects, including two successful films, “Step Up 2: The Streets” and “The Perfect Match,” in 2008 and 2016, respectively.
Additionally, she played a prominent role in several music videos for artists such as Kanye West, Mario, Chris Brown, and Wiz Khalifa.
And she modeled for ads for Delia’s, Adidas, Abercrombie & Fitch, Seventeen, and Clean and Clear.
