A lawsuit by singer Cassie containing by music producer Sean 㽶ƵֱDiddy㽶Ƶֱ Combs has been settled, the artists announced Friday, one day after the lawsuit was filed.
The settlement was announced in a statement sent by attorney Douglas Wigdor, who represents Cassie, whose full name is Casandra Ventura.
The statement said they had reached a deal 㽶Ƶֱto their mutual satisfaction㽶Ƶֱ Friday evening, but no terms of the agreement were disclosed and no further statements would be issued beyond those made by Ventura, Combs and Wigdor in the email distributed by the lawyer.
In her statement, Ventura said: 㽶ƵֱI have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control. I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support.㽶Ƶֱ
Combs said: 㽶ƵֱWe have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love.㽶Ƶֱ
Ben Brafman, an attorney for Combs, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. On Thursday, he said in a statement that Combs 㽶Ƶֱvehemently denies㽶Ƶֱ the allegations.
The lawsuit alleged Combs brought the singer into his 㽶Ƶֱostentatious, fast-paced, and drug-fueled lifestyle㽶Ƶֱ soon after she met him and signed to his label in 2005, when she was 19 and he was 37.
Ventura, now 37, said Combs, now 54, began a pattern of abuse as soon as their on-and-off relationship began in 2007.
The lawsuit alleged that, 㽶Ƶֱprone to uncontrollable rage,㽶Ƶֱ Combs subjected Ventura to 㽶Ƶֱsavage㽶Ƶֱ beatings in which he punched, kicked and stomped her. It alleges he plied her with drugs and forced her to have sex with other men while he masturbated and filmed them.
According to the lawsuit, as Ventura was trying to end the relationship in 2018, Combs forced her into her Los Angeles home and raped her.
The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly as Ventura has.
Combs is among the most influential hip-hop producers and executives of the past three decades. The founder of Bad Boy Records and a three-time Grammy winner, he has worked with a slew of top-tier artists including Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112.
This year, he released his fifth studio album, 㽶ƵֱThe Love Album: Off the Grid,㽶Ƶֱ which earned two Grammy nominations this month. It was
㽶ƵֱThe bad boy of entertainment is getting the key to the city from the bad boy of politics!㽶Ƶֱ Mayor Eric Adams said in September as he presented a giant key to Combs in Times Square. Combs was born in New York City and raised in nearby Mount Vernon.
Ventura gained fame with the Ryan Leslie-produced hit single 㽶ƵֱMe & U,㽶Ƶֱ which rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart in 2006. It was her only studio album. As an actor, she was in several projects including Fox㽶Ƶֱs 㽶ƵֱEmpire,㽶Ƶֱ 㽶ƵֱStep Up 2:The Streets㽶Ƶֱ and 㽶ƵֱSpenser Confidential.㽶Ƶֱ
Brafman㽶Ƶֱs statement on Thursday said Ventura had for the past six months persistently demanded $30 million while threatening to write a damaging book about her relationship with Combs. The lawyer said the demands were rejected as 㽶Ƶֱblatant blackmail.㽶Ƶֱ
Ventura withdrew the initial threat before filing a lawsuit 㽶Ƶֱriddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs㽶Ƶֱs reputation and seeking a payday,㽶Ƶֱ Brafman said.
Wigdor responded Thursday in a statement saying Combs had offered her 㽶Ƶֱeight figures to silence her㽶Ƶֱ and prevent the lawsuit from being filed.
㽶ƵֱShe rejected his efforts and decided to give a voice to all woman who suffer in silence,㽶Ƶֱ Wigdor said.
Wigdor praised his client in a statement included in his email announcing the settlement on Friday.
㽶ƵֱI am very proud of Ms. Ventura for having the strength to go public with her lawsuit. She ought to be commended for doing so,㽶Ƶֱ he said.
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Associated Press Writer Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
Larry Neumeister, The Associated Press