[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
The legal battle surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs continues to generate new twists — and in this latest one, now Cassie Ventura is firing back at a former male model who has accused her of playing a role in alleged misconduct during so-called “freak-offs.”
According to newly surfaced court filings first reported by TMZ on Tuesday, Cassie is asking a judge to throw out claims brought against her by Edmond Laurent, who has alleged that he was sexually assaulted and battered at points during the now-infamous freak-off ordeal. In her latest response, the singer argues that the lawsuit against her over the freak-off troubles has no merit and paints a very different picture of what happened, per the news outlet.
Related: Daphne Joy Breaks Silence About Alleged Leaked Diddy Sex Tape
One of the most eye-catching parts of Cassie’s filing involves a text message she says Laurent sent after she publicly accused Diddy of abuse in 2023. According to the documents, Laurent appeared to express sympathy and support for her at the time, when he allegedly texted her:
“Hi hope you ok i’m sorry I didn’t know he was doing that to you. I will definitely be a witness for you. Edmond L.”
Cassie argues that message directly contradicts the position Laurent is taking now, in suing her!
In her new filing, Ventura claims the major change between that supportive communication and the lawsuit that followed was her settlement with Diddy. She points to the timing and suggests that Laurent’s current allegations emerged only after she received a reported $20 million settlement in connection with her own legal action against the music mogul.
Damn…
The singer is not holding back in her response, either. Per TMZ, she characterized Laurent’s lawsuit as “baseless and harassing” and argues that attempts to portray an alleged victim as an abuser could discourage others from speaking out. Her filing also describes the case as an improper use of the court system, the outlet noted.
FYI, Laurent’s lawsuit alleges that he believed he was drugged with Rohypnol and ketamine during encounters involving both Diddy and Cassie. He claims he was the victim of sexual battery and assault.
But Cassie’s legal team says those accusations ignore key details. While she has acknowledged participating in the events at issue, she has consistently maintained that she was herself a victim of Diddy’s abuse.
Related: Wait, Um, Sarah Ferguson And Diddy?? Seriously?!
And in fact, in her new response, she also noted that Laurent’s own complaint describes her as being incapacitated by drugs during the alleged incidents. Because of that, Cassie argues it is unreasonable to suggest that she was acting voluntarily or independently. Instead, she contends that the claims — even as presented by Laurent — point toward Diddy as the person allegedly directing what was happening.
As the fallout from the many lawsuits connected to Diddy continues to unfold, this latest filing highlights just how fiercely disputed the facts remain.
For now, Cassie is asking the court to dismiss the claims against her entirely, setting the stage for yet another legal showdown in a saga that shows no signs of slowing down.
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If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn more about resources, consider checking out https://www.rainn.org/resources.
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