In a New York courtroom on Monday, shocking new allegations emerged in the sex trafficking trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, including claims that he attempted to break into his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura’s apartment with a hammer.
The incident allegedly took place in 2016, following a violent assault at the Intercontinental Hotel.
A security video of that assault has already been shown multiple times during the trial, which has captivated the public and industry alike.
Combs, 55, faces serious federal charges including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he could face a life sentence.
Kerry Morgan, a former best friend of Ventura, gave a gripping testimony recounting the terrifying moment she witnessed Combs allegedly trying to force entry into Ventura’s Los Angeles apartment.
“He was banging on the door with a hammer,” she said, describing how she watched the scene unfold through the peephole. The courtroom listened intently as Morgan painted a picture of desperation and fear, adding, “At that moment, I didn’t think Cassie cared if he came in and killed her.”
Despite the chaos, Combs did not manage to enter the apartment, and the police reportedly arrived three hours later. However, no complaint was officially filed following the incident.
Morgan continued her testimony with further disturbing details of violence she witnessed during her friendship with Ventura.
She recalled a vacation to Jamaica where Combs allegedly lost his temper over a delay and dragged Ventura down a 50-yard hallway by her hair because she was “taking too long in the bathroom.”
Her voice quivered as she recounted the brutality of the scene. The jury sat in silence as the witness detailed a pattern of behavior that, according to prosecutors, fits into a larger, systematic abuse of power and control by Combs over women in his circle.
The court also heard that Morgan herself was allegedly subjected to physical abuse by the Bad Boy Records founder.
She described a 2018 incident in which Combs reportedly choked her and threw a wooden hanger at her head during an argument about Ventura’s supposed infidelity.
“He was demanding to know who Cassie was cheating on him with,” she said. The attack resulted in a concussion, she told the court, and she had to seek immediate medical care at an urgent facility.
That violent episode marked the end of her relationship with both Combs and Ventura, she said.
Although Morgan and Ventura had been best friends for 17 years, their friendship fractured after the physical abuse incident. Morgan testified that Ventura contacted her a month later and asked to meet at a pizza place in West Hollywood.
At that meeting, Ventura allegedly offered Morgan $30,000 to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Morgan accepted the deal, and the two have not spoken in the seven years since. In a powerful closing statement before stepping down, Morgan told the jury, “I draw my line at physical abuse.”
After Morgan’s emotional testimony, the court heard from David James, who previously worked as Combs’ personal assistant.
James described grueling working conditions, saying he regularly clocked 20-hour days, six or seven days a week.
He shared with the court a moment from his early days at Bad Boy Entertainment when a high-ranking staff member pointed to a photograph of Combs and told him, “This is Mr Combs’ kingdom. We’re all here to serve it.”
James’ words underscored what prosecutors claim was a toxic culture of control and intimidation built around the music icon.
James also recounted a disturbing conversation he overheard while in a black Escalade SUV in Manhattan with Combs and his entourage.
When a friend casually asked how Ventura was doing, Combs allegedly replied, “Cassie’s good. I got her right where I want her, she’s young.”
James testified that Combs added she was “very mouldable,” a term that prosecutors say reveals his calculated manipulation of young women under his influence.
The courtroom reacted with visible discomfort as these comments were read aloud.
The trial is set to continue on Tuesday, with James returning to the witness stand for further cross-examination.
As the proceedings unfold, more testimonies are expected to shed light on what federal prosecutors allege was a deeply entrenched system of abuse orchestrated by Combs.
With the music mogul’s legacy now overshadowed by these grave allegations, the trial may redefine the conversation around celebrity power, accountability, and justice in the entertainment industry.
