Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs accused of rape and severe physical abuse by ex-girlfriend Cassie

Damaging lawsuit filed by ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura, the singer Cassie, alleges Combs abused her for more than 10 years

Sean Combs, a hip-hop icon and the founder of Bad Boy Records, has been accused of rape and abuse in a major lawsuit filed by the singer Cassie that alleges he used his powerful network to keep her trapped in a violent relationship with him.

Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, dated Combs for more than a decade. She alleges that over the course of their relationship, Combs assaulted her multiple times - viciously beating and raping her - and controlled every aspect of her life, the New York Times first reported on Thursday. She faced a cycle of abuse, violence, and sex trafficking" until their relationship ended in 2018, according to the lawsuit.