After the news broke that Cassie was suing her ex-boyfriend, Sha comes, for years of alleged abuse, we knew we had to address it in a new video for our besties, SK.
Let’s rewind to 2004, when Cassie, an 18-year-old aspiring model, met producer Ryan Leslie at a nightclub. To get all the tea on their relationship, make sure to watch the linked video in our description box.
So, Cassie and Ryan started dating, and during a social experiment, Ryan asked Cassie to record the song “Me and You,” which he later posted on her Myspace profile. Despite Cassie’s voice being a bit shaky and the situation being messy, the song still managed to gain traction, with 20,000 plays per day on Cassie’s Myspace page.
Record label executives were blowing up Ryan’s phone like crazy, and one of them was none other than Diddy. The whole situation was a mess. Ryan claimed Diddy made him an offer he couldn’t turn down: a 10-album deal with Bad Boy Records. Ten albums? That sounded like a nightmare. Cassie had signed on the dotted line back in 2006, and Ryan released her debut album under Diddy’s Bad Boy Records in partnership with his production company.
Cassie’s self-titled debut album dropped in August 2006 and debuted impressively at number four on the Billboard charts. Despite her lackluster performances, Diddy praised her for being cute and down-to-earth in an interview with MTV. Down-to-earth? He took her under his wing, supposedly to teach her the ropes of the industry. But did he have other motives? Rumors swirled. According to court documents obtained by RRG, Cassie alleged that her innocence paved the way for Diddy’s manipulative tactics, aiming to lure her into a relationship. At the time, Cassie was just 19, while Diddy was 37. That raised some serious eyebrows! Diddy, a father and involved in a long-term, on-and-off relationship with Kim Porter, faced backlash. When word got out within Diddy’s circle about his interest in Cassie, she was understandably turned off. Plus, she was still with Ryan, a fact Diddy knew well. But did he care? Not a chance!
According to Cassie, Diddy lived large and tried to play the father figure, all while relentlessly pursuing her. In legal documents, Cassie described inviting Ryan to join her at Diddy’s table during the MTV Video Music Awards. But Diddy got upset, insisting the invite was just for her and telling Ryan to scram, calling him “Bye, Ashy!”
In late 2007, Cassie claimed Diddy pulled a stunt, making a fake flyer listing her as a performer at a top Miami club. She said it was all a setup to get her away from Ryan. During that trip, Cassie alleged Diddy gave her stuff that kept her buzzed the whole time. She felt pressured to keep up with him to keep his career support. That’s when things got intimate, sidelining Ryan and sending his life into a tailspin. There’s even a video about what happened after they split, check the description! Can’t wait to watch, right?
Around 2008, Cassie became known as Diddy’s Official Girl. Their first public outing was at Kanye’s Paris Fashion Week show in March 2012. But Cassie spilled the beans that they were actually on a break then, and she was seeing Kid Cudi. Drama alert! We dug up a 2012 Bossip article spilling the tea on Cudi and Cassie’s messy situation. According to the site, Cudi took advantage of Cassie’s trust and Diddy felt betrayed. Talk about hypocrisy! Cassie even feared for Cudi’s life. Insiders said Diddy wanted to see Cudi six feet under. Can you believe it?
In the legal papers, Cassie said Diddy was furious about her new fling and even threatened Cudi during their Paris trip, saying he’d wreck his car. And guess what? Cudi’s car blew up in his driveway. A rep for Cudi confirmed Cassie’s story, and insiders said Cudi hinted at the incident in his 2012 song “Dennis Hook Me Up with Some More of That Whiskey,” rapping about dodging danger. Crazy stuff!
Cassie quickly rose to prominence as the face of Diddy’s new women’s collection for Sean John. Despite dropping a few singles and teaming up with various artists, including Diddy himself, she fell short of fulfilling the nine albums required by her contract. Within just a few months of dating, rumors swirled about Diddy’s unusual request: he allegedly wanted Cassie to partake in voyeuristic activities. Essentially, he suggested she engage in intimate encounters with other men while he watched—a scenario he dubbed a “freak-off.” Cassie claimed that during these encounters, Diddy would watch and pleasure himself while recordings were made, all unfolding in upscale hotel suites. Allegedly, Diddy directed Cassie to find men with specific physical attributes through online platforms and escort services, sometimes even flying them in and compensating them handsomely. His team supposedly facilitated these arrangements by booking the suites and stocking them with necessary supplies like baby oil and lubricants. Cassie also revealed that she was often under the influence during these encounters.
Diddy spared no expense, treating Cassie to lavish vacations, providing her with upscale apartments across the United States, showering her with luxurious vehicles, and ensuring she was always adorned in the finest designer clothing. In court documents, Cassie revealed that while her parents initially questioned Diddy’s extravagant gestures, they eventually took pride in their daughter’s success. However, with Diddy footing the bill for her lifestyle, Cassie claimed he exerted complete control over her. She also alleged that he openly displayed pills, treating them casually like candy, and when his own supply ran out, he allegedly pressured her to obtain prescriptions in her name to fuel his alleged addiction. Rumors swirled about the nature of their relationship turning physical, with Cassie recounting Diddy comparing their dynamic to that of Bobby and Whitney, while she overheard others likening it to the tumultuous relationship between Ike and Tina.
In October 2014, Cassie and Diddy embarked on a trip to Dubai. However, upon their return journey, Cassie shared a photo revealing a bruised lip and a bandaged forehead. Despite swiftly deleting the image, it had already been captured by online users. You can find the picture linked in our description box. Later, Cassie bravely admitted to enduring physical abuse from Diddy, resulting in black eyes and bruises after numerous incidents. Allegedly, Diddy used his wealth and influence to cover up the abuse, even going as far as secluding Cassie in hotels for extended periods to conceal evidence. Following one particularly violent altercation, Cassie claimed her mother documented her injuries. By December 2014, rumors began swirling about trouble in paradise when Diddy was seen vacationing with his children and Kim Porter in St. Barts for the holidays, marking the beginning of a pattern where Diddy allegedly oscillated between Cassie and Kim. Breakups followed by reconciliations became all too common. In December 2015, during Cassie’s filming of “Honey 3” in South Africa, another split occurred after Diddy was photographed leaving an adult store with Kim. However, they quickly patched things up. In August 2016, police were called following a heated argument between the couple in a car. Allegedly, Cassie expressed her desire to end the relationship, prompting Diddy to confiscate her phone before leaving the vehicle. He later returned the phone, but Cassie’s mother contacted the authorities, resulting in a domestic incident report. Though no charges were pressed, they reconciled just in time for Cassie’s 30th birthday, with Diddy throwing her a lavish party. According to a source, Diddy’s love for Cassie was unwavering, with him declaring, “Diddy won’t ever let Cassie get away. He loves her so much.” Offering insight into their relationship during a 2016 interview on “The Breakfast Club,” Diddy acknowledged occasional challenges, stating, “25% of your time, you’re going to just feel like, ‘Oh man, I hate being here. This guy, oh man, he cheated on me. He lied on me.’ But then there’s 75% of ‘I’mma make you the happiest woman in the whole wide world,’ and I promise you’ll smile the most.” But let’s be honest, that’s quite a rollercoaster of emotions!
By October 2018, news swirled about Diddy cozying up with model Jocelyn Chew, marking yet another split between him and Cassie. In legal documents, Cassie claimed Diddy forced his way into her apartment after a dinner, leaving her feeling violated. Tragically, Kim’s passing from pneumonia shook them in November 2018. Despite grieving, Cassie found herself supporting Diddy, but thoughts of reconciliation were far from her mind. She detailed her efforts to distance herself from Diddy in court papers, yet he seemed unwilling to let her go. In December 2018, he publicly shared a fan page’s photo of Cassie, hinting at lingering feelings. In response, Cassie swiftly posted a picture with her new flame, Alex Fine. Interestingly, rumors surfaced that Diddy had hired Alex as his personal trainer, who also worked with Cassie. Insiders hinted that Cassie and Alex’s romance may have sparked before her breakup with Diddy, leaving him feeling betrayed.
According to sources close to them, Cassie and Alex hit it off instantly, bonding over talks of marriage. Their relationship blossomed, with them joyfully announcing a pregnancy in June 2019, mere months after going public on Instagram. Alex penned a heartfelt letter to Cassie, promising unwavering support and a commitment to nurturing a healthy family dynamic. Their love story culminated in a secret wedding ceremony in Malibu in September 2019. Their first bundle of joy, Frankie, graced their lives in December 2019, followed by the arrival of another daughter, Sunny, in March 2021
However, behind closed doors, Cassie was still wrestling with her inner demons. In legal documents, she bravely revealed that the birth of her children breathed new life into her, giving her a sense of purpose. Throughout both pregnancies, she made a conscious decision to steer clear of alcohol and pills. But unfortunately, she found herself falling back into the clutches of addiction after her children were born. She confessed that without substances to numb the pain, she was plagued by terrifying nightmares. Recognizing the need for help, she took the courageous step of admitting herself into rehab, where she underwent intense therapy and medical treatment to overcome her past struggles.
Then, in November 2023, things took a dramatic turn. Cassie’s legal team reportedly reached out to Diddy’s representatives, demanding a hefty sum of $30 million under the threat of exposing their relationship in a tell-all book. Diddy supposedly offered a significant amount to keep her silence, but Cassie refused to accept it. Instead, she chose to take legal action against Diddy, citing a series of alleged abuses, including claims of human trafficking. In a heartfelt statement, she explained, “As New York’s Adult Survivors Act approached its expiration, I realized it was time to confront the trauma I’ve endured and will continue to recover from.”
Diddy vehemently denied all allegations, dismissing them as baseless and offensive. Interestingly, Janet Jackson and Naomi Campbell, who had previously celebrated Diddy’s 54th birthday on Instagram, swiftly removed their posts in light of the lawsuit. And as if that wasn’t enough, rumors began swirling about Diddy being under investigation by the NYPD once again. While details remained scarce due to the sensitive nature of the inquiry, TMZ claimed to have limited access to information about it. However, the police department was quick to deny the existence of any ongoing investigation.
Amid the frenzy surrounding Cassie’s allegations, there was a lot of curiosity about what other details might come to light about Diddy. But before the rumor mill could really churn out some juicy gossip, Cassie and Diddy surprisingly reached an agreement pretty quickly. Just one day after she filed her lawsuit, they settled things privately, keeping the terms under wraps. But it’s pretty safe to assume that part of the deal includes Cassie agreeing not to spill any beans about him or their relationship. In her statement, Cassie mentioned she wanted to handle things on her own terms, which is fair. And Diddy, in his statement, wished her and her family all the best.
Now, why would they settle so fast, you ask? Well, in civil lawsuits like this, it’s not about proving guilt or innocence; it’s more about liability. Settlements often don’t involve admitting any fault. Usually, accusers settle to avoid more bad press and to stop any other embarrassing info from getting out during a trial. Plus, nobody really wants to deal with a long, expensive legal battle and all the negative attention that comes with it. For victims, going through a trial can be emotionally draining and risky. As Gloria Allred put it, they’re worried about their privacy, facing questions like, ‘Why didn’t you say something sooner? Are you sure this really happened?’ Settlements give victims some closure and a guaranteed payout, unlike trials where the outcome is uncertain.
In the end, settlements are often the best way for victims to find some sense of justice and move forward. Gloria Allred nailed it when she said it’s empowering for them to speak up, be heard, and get compensated. Will Cassie’s case encourage others to come forward with their own stories about Diddy? Only time will tell. But for now, we’re rooting for Cassie and her family as they try to put this chapter behind them.