The pictures, broadcast by CNN, showed Ms Ventura being pushed to the floor and kicking her while she was on the ground. He later attempted to drag her by her shirt and throw an object at her.
A day later, Combs apologised, saying: “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”
Ms Ventura later posted a statement highlighting the lifelong impact of domestic violence. “It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become,” she wrote.
11 September 2024: Girl band star sues
Dawn Richard, a former singer in Combs’ girl group project Danity Kane, is the latest to file a suit against the star.
The singer, who later joined Combs in the band Diddy Dirty Money, alleged that the musician sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions by touching her body, as well as verbally abusing and overworking her.
16 September 2024: Combs is arrested
The star was arrested in a Manhattan hotel after a grand jury indictment.
His lawyer said the star had co-operated with authorities, and voluntarily relocated to New York in anticipation of the charges.
“These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court,” he added.
17 September 2024: Charges and details of ‘freak offs’ revealed
Getty ImagesCombs was charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. Prosecutors also alleged that he also engaged in kidnapping, forced labour, bribery and other crimes.
They described him as the head of a criminal enterprise that abused women, using threats of violence to force them into participating in drug-fuelled orgies with male prostitutes.
These “freak offs” were “elaborate and produced sex performances” and were highly organised parties, prosecutors said.
Combs’ associates allegedly booked hotel suites, recruited sex workers and distributed drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine and oxycodone to coerce partygoers into sex and keep them “obedient”.
His staff allegedly arranged travel for the victims and organised the supply of intravenous fluids to help them recover from the parties, which sometimes lasted for days.
Prosecutors also alleged that Combs taped the “freak offs” and would use the footage to pressure his victims into silence.
Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, declared his client’s innocence, and described the “freak offs” as consensual.
“Is it sex trafficking?” he asked. “Not if everybody wants to be there.”
Combs pleaded not guilty to the charges.
October and November 2024: More than 100 new assault allegations
A lawyer said more than 100 people plan to sue Combs for sexual assault, rape and sexual exploitation.
Tony Buzbee said he was representing 120 people, half of whom were men, and 25 of whom were minors – the first time Combs has been accused of sexually abusing children. One was aged nine at the time of the alleged assault.
More lawsuits followed, including one from a woman who accused him of raping her as “payback” for her suggestion that he was involved in the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. In another, the alleged victim was 10 at the time.
Fashion designer Bryana “Bana” Bongolan filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs threatened to kill her and dangled her over a 17th floor balcony, during an incident in 2016.
Combs’ lawyer said the rapper categorically denied all the allegations.
27-28 February 2025: A flurry of new lawsuits
Among 10 more new lawsuits is a complaint from an anonymous male escort who claimed Combs sexually assaulted him, then threatened him to keep quiet by allegedly saying, “If I can get Pac [Tupac] hit, what the [expletive] do you think can happen to you?”
Another lawsuit is filed by Kirk Burrowes, the co-founder of Combs’ company Bad Boy Entertainment. In legal papers, Burrowes alleged that, on multiple occasions, Combs summoned him to his office where, upon arrival, he would find the musician engaging in sexual acts.
Burrowes claimed “Combs orchestrated these encounters as a means of psychologically breaking down Plaintiff’s resistance and establishing his submission”.
Combs’ lawyers dismissed the flurry of new claims. “We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason,” they said in a statement.
6 March 2025: Federal case amended to include forced labour
Prosecutors amended their case against Combs, adding accusations that the hip-hop mogul forced employees to work long hours and threatened to punish those who did not assist in his alleged two-decade sex trafficking scheme.
Combs appeared in court a week later to plead not guilty.
4 April 2025: Prosecutors add new charges to federal case
Federal prosecutors amended the indictment against Combs for a third time, adding two new charges of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Both charges related to a woman described as “Victim-2”. Prosecutors alleged that Combs used force, fraud or coercion to recruit, harbour and transport the woman across state lines, with the intent of engaging in prostitution between 2021 and 2024.
Combs appeared in court on 14 May to plead not guilty.
26 April 2025: Diddy’s ‘swinger lifestyle’ defence before trial
At a pre-trial hearing, Combs’ lawyers laid the foundations of their defence – arguing that the rapper led a “swinger” lifestyle, but that this was not criminal.
His attorneys told the court the rap mogul thought it “appropriate” and commonplace to have multiple sexual partners, including sex workers.
Separately, federal prosecutors revealed to the court that Combs had rejected their offer of a plea deal.
12 May 2025: Trial begins as Diddy accused of using fame and violence to abuse
The court heard opening statements from the prosecution, who accused Combs of using fame and violence to abuse women.
Prosecutor Emily Johnson focused on two central alleged victims – Combs’ former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, and another unnamed former girlfriend, known as “Jane”.
She told the jury that Combs would order sex acts and engage in a pattern of violent, sexual behaviour.
This included threatening to damage Ms Ventura’s music career as a way to force her to perform non-consensual, humiliating sexual acts with male prostitutes, during “freak-offs” filmed by Combs.
The rapper’s attorneys defended his “swinger” lifestyle and rejected sex trafficking claims.
Lawyers for Mr Combs said the infamous hallway video was evidence of Combs’ “flawed” character, including domestic abuse, but not of a larger criminal enterprise.
“Domestic violence is not sex trafficking,” argued Teny Geragos, Combs’ attorney.
He added that the government had overstepped with its charges and were trying to portray consensual sex between adults as evidence of crimes.
