Cassie’s Mother Says Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Demanded $20K Because Her Daughter Was Seeing Someone Else

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 20: Regina Ventura, mother of Cassie Ventura, departs the Manhattan Federal Court during the Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial on May 20, 2025 in New York City. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty on all counts, which include a racketeering charge alleging the hip-hop pioneer was the leader of a sex crime ring that included drug-fueled sex parties through the use of force, threats and violence (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (AP) — The mother of Casandra “Cassie” Ventura says she paid Sean “Diddy” Combs $20,000 in 2011 when he demanded the money because he was mad that her daughter had started dating someone else. Regina Ventura testified Tuesday that she made the payment after reading an email from her daughter that said Combs was threatening to release sex tapes of her and harm her over her relationship with the rapper Kid Cudi. She said Combs returned the money days later, and that he and her daughter were soon dating again. Regina Ventura’s testimony came in the second week of Combs’ federal sex-trafficking trial in Manhattan. Combs has pleaded not guilty.