The sex trafficking and rape allegations against Diddy, explained.

Content warning: This story includes descriptions of sexual assault and domestic violence that may be distressing to some readers/listeners.

In November 2023, Sean 'Diddy' Combs was sued by his ex-partner Cassie, who accused Combs of rape and repeated physical abuse over a decade.

Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, is an R&B singer once signed to Combs' record label. In a suit filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan, she said that not long after she met him in 2005, he began a pattern of abuse including supplying her with drugs, physical assault and forcing her to have sex with male prostitutes while he filmed it, per the New York Times.

In a statement, Ventura, 37, said she finally felt ready to speak up.

"After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships," she said.

As well as claims of repeated assault, Ventura's lawsuit alleges Combs, 54, requested she carry his gun and blew up the car of rapper Kid Cudi, whom Ventura dated in 2012.

Cudi confirmed her account through a spokesperson: "This is all true," he told the New York Times.

Cassie Ventura, pictured in January 2018. Image: Getty.

In one incident, the suit claims Combs dangled Ventura's friend over a 17th-floor hotel balcony.

The suit states that after Ventura signed to Combs' label, which released her debut album in 2006, he began to exercise extreme levels of control over not just her career, but her apartment and clothing too. She states that Combs even had access to her personal medical records and after she had an MRI scan for memory loss, her results went directly to him.

It also features multiple direct instances of alleged violence, including an allegation that in 2018 Combs forced himself into Ventura's apartment and raped her. After that, the suit states, she left him for good.

Combs, through his lawyer, vehemently denied the allegations and alleged Combs has been 'blackmailed' by Ventura for the past six months.

Just one day after Ventura filed the lawsuit, she settled with Combs out of court.

"We have decided to resolve this matter amicably," Combs said in a statement on November 18. "I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love."

Sean 'Diddy' Combs with Cassie, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Jay-Z and Beyonce. Image: Getty.

In recent months, multiple accusers have also stepped forward, detailing their own sexual assault allegations against the music mogul.

In February, a music producer filed a lawsuit alleging Combs coerced him to solicit prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them. Combs' attorney Shawn Holley has said of those allegations that "we have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies".

Another of Combs' accusers was a woman who said the rap producer raped her two decades ago when she was 17.

On March 25, two properties belonging to Combs in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by US federal agents.

Two law enforcement officials said the searches were connected to a sex trafficking investigation by federal authorities in New York. It was not clear whether Combs was the target of the investigation.

The officials were not authorised to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity.

A representative for Combs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Combs is among the most influential hip-hop producers and executives of the past three decades.

Formerly known as Puff Daddy, he built one of hip-hop's biggest empires, blazing a trail with several entities attached to his famous name. He is the founder of Bad Boy Records and a three-time Grammy winner who has worked with a slew of top-tier artists including Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112.

— with AAP.

This post was originally published in November 2023 and has since been updated.

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.

Feature image: Getty.