Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense hammered Cassie Ventura on Friday over her bombshell accusation that the mogul raped her, dredging up a messy web of breakup texts and the couple’s final tryst in an attempt undercut her story.
The eight-months-pregnant Ventura, 38, remained composed in Manhattan federal court as defense attorney Anna Estevao quizzed her over when the Bay Boy Records allegedly raped her.
The R&B singer had told prosecutors Combs sexually assaulted her in August 2018 – a month earlier than she claimed in a civil lawsuit – and contended it happened after a meal in Malibu as she sought closure amid their breakup.
Estevao revealed texts from that August as she tried to poke holes in Ventura’s accusation.
“Hit me when you can ‘heart emoji,’” Ventura texted Combs.
During the same conversation, Combs texted Ventura: “I know I look bad to you. I could tell I didn’t turn you on yesterday. I fell off.”
In September 2018, Combs and Ventura were texting amid their final breakup — and Estevao pointed out that she didn’t mention the alleged sexual assault.
“You don’t say anything to the effect of the last time we saw each other you raped me?” Estevao asked Ventura.
“Right,” Ventura responded.
“In fact you’re saying you want to keep the peace?” Estevao asked.
“Right,” Ventura said.
The cross-examination also shockingly revealed Combs’ potential bipolar disorder for the first time as Estevao asked Ventura about the mogul’s mood during the night of the alleged rape.
Ventura testified that she said Combs was acting “strangely” earlier that night at dinner — “nice but strangely” — and that he “wasn’t in his right mind” because when she pleaded with him to stop, he didn’t.
Combs’ attorney then asked Ventura to confirm whether she told prosecutors that “his behavior [that night] could be attributed to his bipolar disorder.”
Ventura muttered, “I guess so.”
The testimony also revealed Combs and Ventura were intimate a days after the alleged rape and following their breakup.
Ventura confirmed that she got a FaceTime call from her now-husband, Alex Fine, the last time she and Combs slept together in September 2018.
“When you were having sexual intercourse did you get a FaceTime call? Did you answer?” Estevao asked.
“No,” Ventura replied.
“Did you recognize the caller ID to be your now-husband?” Estevao pressed, to which Ventura replied, “Yes.”
Ventura said that Fine, a personal trainer with whom she shares two children, eventually found out that she had been sleeping with her ex.
He also later discovered about the alleged rape — and punched a wall when he did, Ventura testified.
Despite alleging years of unwanted “freak-offs” and accusing Combs of rape, Ventura testified she doesn’t “hate” him.
“I don’t hate him,” Ventura replied, before swatting aside a suggestion by the attorney that she still had love for Combs today.
“I have love for the past and what it was.”
Combs, 55, faces up to life in prison if convicted on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and other crimes related to his so-called “freak-offs.”
He has pleaded not guilty.