Inside Cassie's rollercoaster rise to fame: Singer launched music career after Diddy heard her song in a club - but second album never materialized - as star sues rapper for 'rape, abuse and sex trafficking'

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Cassie has accused ex Sean Combs, better known as P Diddy, of rape, sex trafficking and repeated physical abuse in a new federal lawsuit.

The pair met in 2005, when Cassie, now 37  - was 19, and split in 2018 shortly before which the lawsuit alleges Diddy, 54,  forced himself into Cassie's home and raped her.

The music mogul has vehemently denied all of the 'offensive and outrageous allegations'.

Cassie shot to fame as a teenager with the release of debut single Me & U in 2006 - after Diddy by chance heard the future hit in a club.

The pair engaged in an on-off romance for more than a decade - while Cassie attempted to launch a sustained and successful music and acting career.

As Cassie launches her bombshell lawsuit, DailyMail.com looks back at the star's life and rise to fame... 

See you in court: Cassie has accused ex Sean Combs, better known as P Diddy, of rape, sex trafficking and repeated physical abuse in a new federal lawsuit - he denies all allegations (pictured 2016)

BEGINNINGS

Back then: Cassie - born Casandra Elizabeth Ventura - was born in New London, Connecticut by parents Stacey Hobson and Rodrick Ventura. Aged 14, the future star - who is of African American, Mexican, Filipina and West Indian descent began modelling  (pictured 2006)

Cassie - born Casandra Elizabeth Ventura - was born and raised in New London, Connecticut by parents Stacey Hobson and Rodrick Ventura.

Aged 14, the future star - who is of African American, Mexican, Filipina and West Indian descent began modelling while attending The Williams School.

Her career began to progress two years later when she modeled for department stores, clothing line Delia's and even appeared in Seventeen Magazine. 

She would have her first brush with the music world with a brief appearance in friend and singer Mario's 2002 video for  Just a Friend 2002.

Cassie began taking dance and vocal lessons at her school before moving to New York City when she graduated high school in 2004.

There, her modelling career began to skyrocket, she was signed by Wilhelmina Models and began booking campaigns - while also taking classes at the  Broadway Dance Center.

FIRST TRACKS AND DIDDY MEET 

Fun times: Singer and record producer Ryan Leslie first encountered Cassie on the party scene in 2004 with the pair writing and recording a song together called Kiss Me (pictured 2006)

Trio: Leslie would write and produce Cassie's monster hit Me & U in 2005 - which after Diddy heard in a club, Leslie would convince the music superstar to partner his label Bad Boy Records with NextSelection to release her debut album (pictured 2006)

Singer and record producer Ryan Leslie first encountered Cassie on the party scene in 2004 with the pair writing and recording a song together called Kiss Me.

Leslie would play the track for music mogul Tommy Mottola - with Mottola offering her a management deal. Leslie would sign Cassie to his company,  NextSelection Lifestyle Group.

Leslie would write and produce Cassie's monster hit Me & U in 2005 - which after Diddy heard in a club, Leslie would convince the music superstar to partner his label Bad Boy Records with NextSelection to release her debut album.

This led to Diddy and Cassie's first meeting in 2005 when she was 19 and he was 36. 

HIT SINGLE AND ALBUM/ ROMANCE WITH DIDDY BEGINS 

Wow: Cassie's self-titled album was released in 2006 when she was 19, peaking at four on the Billboard 200 and selling 321,000 copies in the US

Cassie's self-titled album was released in 2006 when she was 19, peaking at four on the Billboard 200 and selling 321,000 copies in the US.

Me & U would become a worldwide hit, charting at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

Cassie would suffer backlash over her live performances  on Total Request Live and 106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live which she would attribute to 'stage fright'.

Diddy defended her at this time saying he 'would be with her through her development and that he has no "question on her ability [to sing]'.

In 2007 she began working on her second album, with Diddy confirming she was working with producers including  Kanye West and Pharrell Williams.

Hitmaker: Me & U would become a worldwide hit, charting at number three on the Billboard Hot 100

Pitch problems: Cassie would suffer backlash over her live performances on Total Request Live and 106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live which she would attribute to 'stage fright' (seen 2006)

On screen: In 2008, Cassie starred as Sophie Donovan in film Step Up 2: The Streets (pictured) - she also sang soundtrack song, Is It You - although the song would fail to make waves like her debut single did, failing to chart in the US

Cassie also revealed she had worked with Akon and The Neptunes. 

That same year she would spark up a romance with Diddy when she was 20 and he was 36, 

In 2008, Cassie starred as Sophie Donovan in film Step Up 2: The Streets - she also sang soundtrack song, Is It You - although the song would fail to make waves like her debut single did, failing to chart in the US.

She told Billboard that year of her sophomore album: 'I guess I grew up a lot but I'm still in essence the same person. 

'Lots has changed in my life, stuff that has made me think about things differently. I'm more vulnerable and you can hear my vocals better this time around. There's real emotion and a much realer connection with my fans.'

Diddy would add to the publication: 'We pulled out, we took our time, we developed her for like, a year-and-a-half.

'People are just going to see her there and be like, 'Wow, she's really cocooned into a butterfly.'" 

SECOND ALBUM DELAYED 

Cassie announced her second studio album would be called Electro Love in 2009, branding the record a 'sensual album' (pictured 2009)

Cassie would also draw plaudits for her fashion - in 2009 she would shave half her head in homage to punk and was credited as a trendsetter for the bold move (pictured 2012)

Cassie announced her second studio album would be called Electro Love in 2009, branding the record a 'sensual album.'

Singles from the album, Official Girl feat. Lil Wayne, Must Be Love with Diddy and Let's Get Crazy feat. Akon all bombed. 

Her second album was further delayed and in December 2009 Cassie revealed she had signed a new  record deal with Interscope Records.

The next year, it was claimed Cassie had recorded 50 songs for the next album, with A&R Daniel 'Skid' Mitchell saying the star was 'keen for it to be something that people are going to respect.'

Cassie would also draw plaudits for her fashion - in 2009 she would shave half her head in homage to punk and was credited as a trendsetter for the bold move. 

RETURN TO MUSIC AFTER HIATUS

Flop: In 2012 she released single King of Hearts - her first release in three years - but it again failed to chart worldwide (pictured 2012)

In 2012 she released single King of Hearts - her first release in three years - but it again failed to chart worldwide.

That same year Nicki Minaj released  The Boys featuring Cassie which failed to chart in the US and landed at 101 in the UK.

In July that year Cassie would reveal that she was working on her second album and new mixtape RockaByeBaby - the latter of which was released in 2013 and garnered critical acclaim.

A single - Numb feat. Rick Ross was released - followed by Paradise with Wiz Khalifa.

In April that year Cassie would model for Forever 21. 

In March 2015 Diddy revealed he would be producing songs for her second album - which had still failed to materialize.

In 2016 Cassie would star in rom-com The Perfect Match alongside  Terrence J.

The following year she would release songs  Love a Loser featuring G-Eazy and "Don't Play It Safe.

FINAL SPLIT FROM DIDDY AND NEW MUSIC

Over: Her 11 year on-off romance with Diddy would end in October 2018 and the next year she would leave Bad Boy Records (pictured January 2018)

Her 11 year on-off romance with Diddy would end in October  2018 and the next year she would leave Bad Boy Records.

According to a report from TMZ, Diddy felt 'betrayed' as he suspected that Cassie had cheated on him with Alex, whom he had hired as a trainer for his girlfriend a year prior.

However, sources close to Cassie later told TMZ that Diddy's 'timeline is wrong' and the pair 'did NOT start dating until after she broke up with Diddy.'

Singles including Excuses, Moments and Hungover would follow - with Cassie yet again teasing her second album.

MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN 

Moving on: Cassie and Alex Fine reportedly met in 2018 at the gym, and they went Instagram official at the end of that year

Tying the knot: Cassie - Casandra Ventura - married Alex in August 2019, less than a year after her split from rapper P Diddy 

Cassie would spark up a new romance with personal trainer Alex Fine in 2018. 

Cassie and Alex reportedly met at the gym, and they went Instagram official at the end of that year when Alex shared a picture of the two of them kissing.

Alex got engaged to the singer in August 2019 with a cowboy-themed proposal.

He posted a snap of him down on one knee opposite his then-fiancée and commented: 'This moment will always be so special to me.

'I get to marry my best friend in the whole world. How am I so lucky!'

Speaking with Vogue about the special day, Cassie said: 'When he got down on one knee, everything just stopped.

'I will never forget how special Alex made me feel that night.'

Two months later, the pair got married in Malibu, California.

In light of Cassie launching her legal battle with her ex, Alex offered his support in a subtle post, sharing a photo from the couple's wedding day to his Instagram Story, just adding a heart emoji.

Family: Cassie and Alex now have two daughters together

On December 6, 2019, roughly a year after announcing their romance to the world, Alex and Cassie welcomed their first child - a daughter named Frankie Stone.

They had announced that they were expecting their first child shortly before getting engaged.

And the Last Night hitmaker sent a congratulatory message to Cassie and Alex after they announced that they were expecting their first child together.

'Congratulations @Cassie and Alex. I wish you all nothing but love and happiness. God bless,' he said.

Cassie and Alex announced they had a second baby on the way in December 2020, with Sunny Cinco born on March 22, 2021.

Celebrating his 30th birthday in March 2023, Alex hailed his 'two babies that make my heart grow bigger every time they smile,' and 'a wife I love [who] loves me.'

LAWSUIT AGAINST DIDDY 

Accusation: has been accused of forcing his ex-girlfriend R&B legend Cassie to order male prostitutes with 'large black penises' to fulfil his voyeurism fantasies (pictured in 2015)  

The rapper, is the subject of a lawsuit filed in Manhattan's Federal District Court on Thursday in which Cassie claims Diddy - real name Sean Combs - controlled and abused her for over a decade as well as plying her with drugs, beating her, and forcing her to have sex with multiple male prostitutes while he watched, masturbated and recorded. 

The music mogul has been accused of forcing his ex-girlfriend R&B legend Cassie to order male prostitutes with 'large black penises' to fulfil his voyeurism fantasies. 

He called the alleged sexual exploitation 'freak outs', according to the lawsuit, and they are said to have taken place in various hotel suites including at the Trump International Hotel in New York City. 

Cassie was allegedly required to dress up in lingerie, wear white nail polish to contrast with the skin of the black sex workers and cover herself in oil.  She called the ordeals 'horrific encounters' and said she had to take drugs to disassociate. 

The pair met in 2005 when she was aged 19 and split in 2018. Diddy has vehemently denied all of the 'offensive and outrageous allegations.' 

Among the serious allegations is that Diddy sex trafficked Cassie, 37, to male prostitutes while he watched for sexual pleasure. 

The lawsuit claims she was directed to cover herself with oil and have sex with multiple men - sometimes in masks and costumes.

It states that the music executive, who she first met as a teenager, told her it would 'turn him on' if he saw her with 'another d***'.

Lawsuit: He called the alleged sexual exploitation 'freak outs', according to the lawsuit, and they are said to have taken place in various hotel suites including the Trump International Hotel in New York City 

He allegedly hired a man and brought him to his home in Los Angeles to engage in the sex acts with Cassie.

'Mr. Combs directed Ms. Ventura to perform sexual acts with this man while Mr. Combs watched them,' the lawsuit states.

'He masturbated while he directed Ms. Ventura and the man to do specific sexual acts. The entire encounter lasted multiple days.'

She claimed Diddy got drunk during a 'freak off' around March 2016 and punched her in the face, leaving her with a black eye.

Cassie said she tried to leave the hotel room when he fell asleep but he woke up and began screaming at her.

Cassie said she tried to leave the hotel room when he fell asleep but he woke up and began screaming at her.

Filings: Cassie filed a lawsuit in Manhattan's Federal District Court on Thursday in which she accused the rapper, who goes by P Diddy, of rape and repeated physical abuse

He allegedly grabbed at her, took the glass vases in the hallway and threw them at her 'causing glass to crash around them as she ran to the elevator to escape'.

She managed to escape to her apartment but claimed she returned over fears he would be even angrier.

'When she returned, hotel security staff urged her to get back into a cab and go to her apartment, suggesting that they had seen the security footage showing Mr. Combs beating Ms. Ventura and throwing glass at her in the hotel hallway,' the lawsuit states.

She alleged that Diddy paid the hotel staff $50,000 for the hallway security footage from that evening.

On another occasion in 2013, Diddy allegedly set up a 'freak off' and was charged tens of thousands of dollars in damages by the hotel.

Cassie was expected to facilitate the location and hiring of male sex workers for the 'freak offs', according to the lawsuit.

She was allegedly instructed to use websites and escort services to find men with 'large black penises'.

READ MORE: Diddy now faces reported NYPD CRIMINAL investigation over an apparent sexual assault as case is revealed the same day ex-girlfriend Cassie sued him over alleged abuse 

 

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It alleged that Diddy would insist on the encounters weekly and that he repeatedly told her it was 'our thing' and 'our secret'.

Cassie claimed the 'freak offs' would often take place in hotel suites including the Trump International Hotel in Columbus Circle, L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, The London Hotel in Los Angeles and InterContinental Hotels across the country.

His assistants would allegedly help set up the 'freak offs' by providing baby oil and lubricant.

The lawsuit states: 'Mr. Combs always supplied Ms. Ventura (and the sex worker) with copious amounts of drugs before and during the FOs.

'Ms. Ventura was given ecstasy, cocaine, GHB, ketamine, marijuana, and alcohol in excessive amounts during FOs, which allowed her to disassociate during these horrific encounters.

'It became common place to get IV fluids in the days after an FO to recover from the excessive substances pushed upon her.'

She claimed Diddy would ask her to pour excessive amounts of oil over herself before he instructed her and the sex workers what to do.

'Mr. Combs would say things like, “grab that big Black d***” and ask her “how does it feel?” as he directed her to perform for him,' the lawsuit states.

Diddy allegedly used his phone, laptop and tablet to film the 'freak offs' and treated it like a 'personal art project', adjusting the lighting.

Cassie said she deleted photographs and videos of the sex acts if they were taken on her phone but claimed Diddy told her he kept many.

The lawsuit claims that he raped her in September 2018 and that he forced his way into her apartment after dinner in Malibu, California.

He allegedly tried to kiss her before forcibly removing her clothes and unbuckling his belt.

'He proceeded to rape Ms. Ventura while she repeatedly said “no” and tried to push him away,' the lawsuit claims.

Venue: Cassie claimed the 'freak offs' would often take place in hotel suites including The London Hotel in Los Angeles (pictured)

Freak offs: The lawsuit stated that the 'freak offs' sometimes took place at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Miami (pictured)

Filings: The lawsuit claims Cassie was directed to have sex with multiple men - sometimes in masks and costumes - while the music exec watched, masturbated, and filmed 

Following this alleged incident, Cassie said she took steps to completely separate herself from 'her long-time abuser'.

She eventually left the home he paid for and returned the car he purchased for her.

But Cassie said she suffers from immense emotional distress from the 'immense trauma endured over a decade with Mr Combs'.

Cassie said that although she has 'fully escaped' Diddy the 'harm that the assaults and sexual abuse he caused her to experience for nearly a decade will forever haunt her'.

The lawsuit claimed she has required intensive medical and psychological care to recover from 'trauma she lived through'.

She is seeking unspecified damages. The lawsuit is brought under the Adult Survivors Act - which is a New York law allowing people to file claims even after the statute of limitations has run out.

The suit said: '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.'

Ben Brafman, Diddy's lawyer, said: '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.'

But her attorney Wigdor told DailyMail.com: 'Mr. Combs offered Ms. Ventura eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit. She rejected his efforts and decided to give a voice to all woman who suffer in silence. Ms. Ventura should be applauded for her bravery.'

Diddy, who also goes by the stage name Puff Daddy, is worth an estimated $1 billion after being one of the star figures in the commercialization of hip-hop in the 1990s.

Exes: The pair met in 2005 when she was aged 19 and split in 2018. Diddy has vehemently denied all of the 'offensive and outrageous allegations' (pictured in 2018) 

He grew to be one of his generation's most notable music producers - working with names such as Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige.

Diddy founded Bad Boy - his record label - which Cassie was signed to in 2006.

Cassie has since married Alex Fine and has two children with him.

She was swept up in his luxurious lifestyle and reaped the benefits of having her debut album released under his label.

DailyMail.com has contacted Diddy, Trump Hotels, the London Hotel and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for comment.