Usher, Ne-Yo Were Present When Diddy Punched Cassie, Dawn Richard Says

While on the witness stand Monday (May 19) in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial, Dawn Richard testified that the Bad Boy founder allegedly punched his artist and girlfriend at the time, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, while attending a star-studded dinner party in 2010.

The Diddy-Dirty Money singer claims the incident took place in a restaurant where Combs and Ventura were “quietly” arguing when Combs allegedly punched her in the stomach, causing her to double over in pain.

“She immediately bent over, he [Combs] told her to leave,” Richard testified. “No one intervened.” Usher, Ne-Yo, record exec Jimmy Iovine and “other celebrities” were allegedly present in the restaurant, but Richard did not testify that they directly witnessed the alleged moment of abuse.

Richard added that she rode home with the couple and witnessed Cassie be assaulted again for saying Combs “embarrassed” her.

“He grabbed her by the neck and popped her, slapped her in the mouth,” Richard testified, adding that Combs then said to Ventura, “Shut the f**k up.”

“He would tell her he owned her,” Richard added. “I told her he should leave. Cass looked torn. She would listen, but I could see the fear.”

Richard previously recalled the evening in question in her September 2024 lawsuit against the No Way Out artist.

“In front of dinner guests, Mr. Combs hissed at Ms. Ventura in a screaming whisper and forcefully punched her in the stomach causing her to double over in visible pain, crying,” the lawsuit reads. “Ms Clark escorted Ms. Ventura out of the restaurant and Mr. Combs remained and continued socializing with dinner guests.”

Diddy’s attorney Erica Wolff addressed Richard’s lawsuit at the time, telling VIBE in a statement, “Mr. Combs is shocked and disappointed by this lawsuit. In an attempt to rewrite history, Dawn Richard has now manufactured a series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a pay day — conveniently timed to coincide with her album release and press tour.”

It continues, “If Ms. Richard had such a negative experience with Making the Band and Danity Kane, she would not have chosen to continue working directly with Mr. Combs for Dirty Money, nor would she have returned for the Making the Band reboot in 2020 or agreed to be featured on The Love Album last year. It’s unfortunate that Ms. Richard has cast their 20-year friendship aside to try and get money from him, but Mr. Combs is confidently standing on truth and looks forward to proving that in court.”