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Cassie Ventura released a statement on Friday following her graphic testimony in the federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs this week.
The singer is a key witness in Combs’ criminal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial and spent four days on the witness stand giving evidence about the abuse she says she endured during the course of their 11-year relationship.
Ventura’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, shared a statement on behalf of the singer and another on behalf of her husband, Alex Fine.
“This week has been extremely challenging, but also remarkably empowering and healing for me,” Ventura’s statement said, per the Associated Press. “I hope that my testimony has given strength and a voice to other survivors, and can help others who have suffered to speak up and also heal from the abuse and fear.”
It continued: “For me, the more I heal, the more I can remember. And the more I can remember, the more I will never forget. I want to thank my family and my advocates for their unwavering support, and I’m grateful for all the kindness and encouragement that I have received.”
Ventura, who is eight months pregnant with her third child with Fine, ended her statement by requesting privacy for herself and her family.
“I’m glad to put this chapter of my life to rest. As I turn to focus on the conclusion of my pregnancy, I ask for privacy for me and for my growing family.”
In court, Ventura discussed in graphic terms the abuse she said she experienced during her relationship with Combs. As Business Insider reported, she broke down in tears while speaking about the drug-fueled sex marathons that Combs called “freak offs.”
During her testimony, Ventura told the court that the “freak offs” made her feel “humiliated” and “pretty horrible” about herself but that she had taken part out of love for Combs and because she had wanted to make him happy.
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In his statement, Fine, who has been present in the courtroom to support Ventura, expressed pride in his wife and said the couple wanted to put the trial behind them.
“Over the past five days, the world has gotten to witness the strength and bravery of my wife, freeing herself of her past. There has been speculation online surrounding how it must feel for me to sit there and listen to my wife’s testimony,” it read.
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“I have felt so many things sitting there. I have felt tremendous pride and overwhelming love for Cass. I have felt profound anger that she has been subjected to sitting in front of a person who tried to break her,” it added.
“This horrific chapter is forever put behind us, and we will not be making additional statements,” Fine’s statement concluded.
The post Cassie Ventura said testifying was ’empowering’ after her fourth day on witness stand in the Diddy sex-trafficking trial appeared first on Business Insider.
