NEW YORK – R&B singer Kathy testified on Wednesday that Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulted her after she ended their ten-year relationship.
While speaking in a Manhattan courtroom during the second day of Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial, Kathy recounted how Combs forced his way into her Los Angeles apartment and raped her on the living room floor after she said she was breaking up with him.
Kathy expressed that she felt unable to refuse participating in “hundreds” of encounters with male sex workers that Combs watched over, fearing that if he released footage, it would tarnish her image considerably.
“I was concerned about my career and my family. It’s just embarrassing. It’s scary and disgusting. No one should have to endure that,” she said.
Prosecutors displayed five still images from a sex video in court. Kathy stated these images depicted her at various stages with Combs, occasionally referred to as “Freak-Offs.” One judge appeared shocked while the other shook his head disapprovingly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wnkehg2has
Kathy filed a lawsuit against Combs in 2023, accusing him of years of physical and sexual abuse. Although the lawsuit was quickly settled for $20 million, it initiated a criminal investigation into him and prompted similar allegations from other women.
Prosecutors allege that Combs exploited his powerful position in the music industry, coercing Kathy and other women into sexual encounters. He faces five charges, including force-based sex trafficking, fraud, and coercion. More accusers are expected to testify in the coming days.
Combs has denied all charges and pleaded not guilty. His legal team admits he may have acted violently but maintains that the interactions were consensual and do not constitute sex trafficking or assault.
The cross-examination of Kathy by Combs’ lawyers is anticipated to begin on Thursday.
At 55, Combs has been incarcerated since September. If found guilty, he could face at least 15 years in prison, with the trial expected to continue for about two months.
Kathy’s account sheds light on the troubling aspects of their relationship, which has been portrayed in the media as glamorous. She met Combs in 2005 when only 19 years old, and within a few years, they began dating.
They participated in the premiere of “The Perfect Match” in 2016, during which security camera footage captured Combs assaulting Kathy at a hotel in Los Angeles. After the footage leaked last year, Combs issued an apology. The judge displayed both the footage and an image from the event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqsynjx-i2e
Now 38, Kathy said she appeared composed after her emotional testimony, using makeup to conceal bruises and sunglasses to hide her darkened eyes during the premiere. She described changing outfits at the premiere to disguise the injuries.
In 2013, while packing for Drake’s Music Festival in Canada, Kathy recounted an incident where Combs reportedly assaulted her by throwing her against a bed frame, resulting in a significant injury above her left eye. Combs’ security personnel took her to a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills to treat her wounds.
Kathy texted Combs, sending a photo of her injury and saying, “So you remember.” His response suggested that she had pushed him too far: “You don’t know when to stop.”
Cathy also shared more instances of violence during their relationship. She recalled an early 2007 incident where Combs hit her repeatedly, causing her to fall within a car, and another in 2011 when he reacted violently upon learning she was dating rapper Kid Cudi.
Post the 2011 incident, she felt compelled to lie to her mother about her injuries, stating, “I couldn’t hurt her like that. It’s not normal to constantly be hurt by those you love.”
Kathy witnessed Combs attacking one of her friends and spoke of another incident in which he allegedly assaulted a friend with a hammer.
Before concluding her relationship with Combs in 2018, she noted experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep disturbances following blackouts.
Kathy described a significant moment early in 2023, when during a music video shoot, she relived a traumatic flashback. After returning home, she felt disconnected and attempted to step into traffic but was stopped by her husband. Shortly after, she sought rehabilitation and trauma therapy.
When asked about her reasons for testifying at Combs’ trial, Kathy replied, “I can’t bear this burden any longer. I can’t carry the shame and guilt.”
