Cassie Was 'Hopeful That Justice Would Come' Ahead of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Arrest: 'Her Life Was in Danger' (Source Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Cassie Ventura at the Met Gala in 2018.Photo:ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

AsSean “Diddy” Combsfaces thefallout of his arrest, singerCassieis standing strong with the support of her family, according to a source, nearly one year afterher lawsuitopened the floodgates of sexual assault allegations against her music mogul ex.

Combs, 54, was arrested on Monday, Sept. 16 andcharged in a three-count indictmentwith racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The arrest came after Cassie (née Casandra Ventura) accused the star of rape, sex trafficking and domestic violence in a November 2023 lawsuit that wasultimately settled the next day.

Shortly after Ventura, 38, filed suit, other accusers followed, and Combs — who has denied all claims against him — is currently facing at least four other sexual assault lawsuits.

“The amount of courage it took Cassie to speak out, and be one of the first to speak out, can’t be underscored enough,” a Ventura source tells PEOPLE exclusively. “It was terrifying in a very real way. There have been so many people protecting Diddy for so long and it’s not an exaggeration to say her life was in danger through all this.”

Cassie Ventura in 2018.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

According to the source, the past year has been a difficult stretch for Ventura, who has been leaning onhusband Alex Finefor support. The pair were married in 2019, and share daughters Frankie, 4, and Sunny, 3.

“It’s been really, really hard for her, and for Alex as well, but he has been the biggest support,” the insider adds. “She was very hopeful that justice would come.”

“But this is only the beginning,” she wrote. “Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from the past.”

“This healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me,” she also said. “Thank you.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2017.Rebecca Sapp/WireImage

Rebecca Sapp/WireImage

An indictment against Combs that was unsealed on Tuesday, Sept. 17 alleged that from 2008 on, the star “abused, threatened and coerced women and others, and led a racketeering conspiracy that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice, among other crimes,” according to a press release from Homeland Security Investigations - New York.

source: people.com