Kanye West Questions “Did Cassie Extort Puff,” Social Media Reacts

Warning: The following article contains triggering language related to sexual assault, abuse, and rape.

Ye is back on X with more controversial statements. Early Friday morning (Feb. 21), the rapper, formerly known as Kanye West, invited followers to give their opinion on the sexual assault and abuse allegations Cassie Fine made against Sean “Diddy” Combs.

“Did Cassie extort Puff?” he asked the social media audience. His upload comes after the landmark case Fine filed against Combs, and the widespread 2016 surveillance video of Combs punching and kicking her in a hotel was made public last year following abuse accusations made by the R&B singer against her former partner.

The replies included several posts from accounts bearing a purchased blue verification check on the platform, often an indicator of users attempting to drive engagement for monetary gain. Some responses, however, opposed the Chicago’s musician prompt.

“Crazy to think this ni**a made ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’”, said one user. “The single best album I ever heard in any genre of music……now cuz mind is completely gone.”

“She got beaten. On film. He doesn’t have enough money to cover that trauma. Whatever she got cash wise she deserves wayyyyyyy more,” added another.

One account blatantly responded, “Don’t release whatever music you’re gonna release.”

Another user declared, “Alright you unfollowed..”

In November 2023, Fine filed a lawsuit against Combs, accusing him of repeated physical abuse for over a decade, sex trafficking, sexual battery, sexual assault, and violations of New York City’s gender-motivated violence law. While the two settled for an undisclosed amount just days later, the litigation opened the floodgates for hundreds of alleged victims to file suit against the Hip-Hop mogul, as well as a criminal trial.

Currently, Combs remains behind bars awaiting trial after being arrested in September 2024. He faces charges including racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution.

According to the BBC, the Harlem native could be sentenced to life in prison for the racketeering charge, and another statutory minimum sentence of 15 years if found guilty of the sex trafficking charge. The trial is set to begin in May 2025.