Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: Rapper Kid Cudi, Cassie Ventura’s ex, testifies

Well-known rapper Kid Cudi has taken the stand today as part of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial in New York City.

Star rapper Kid Cudi has taken the stand at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ New York trial accusing the singer of breaking into his Los Angeles home after he discovered his relationship with Combs’ then girlfriend Cassie Ventura.

“I wanted to confront him, I wanted to fight him,” the star said of Combs’ alleged home invasion.

Cudi, whose full name is Scott Mescudi, is the biggest name so far to testify at Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial. Combs has denied all the charges.

Cudi also detailed how in the midst of tensions with Combs, a Molotov cocktail was thrown into his Porsche and set alight.

Rapper Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi arrives for the Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking trial at Manhattan Federal Court on May 22, 2025 in New York City. Picture: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images.

Music artist Kid Cudi testifies on the witness stand. Picture: Elizabeth Williams via AP.

The musician also said he had been “played” by Ms Ventura regarding their relationship.

In his testimony, Cudi said he met Ms Ventura in 2008 and the pair briefly dated in 2011.

“When we first dated (Ms Ventura) told me she and Combs had problems and were not dating anymore.”

Cudi added that Ms Ventura told him Combs had hit and kicked her and she was “scared of him finding out we had been hanging out”.

Combs apparently did find out about their relationship in December 2011. Cudi said he received an early morning call from a “nervous and scared” Ms Ventura that left him “confused” because he thought she was “no longer dealing with Combs”.

Cudi said he picked Ms Ventura up and took her to a hotel for “safety” after she revealed she had given Combs his home address in the Hollywood Hills.

Ventura and Combs in 2017. Picture: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File

Cudi dated Ventura more than a decade ago. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

Hours later, Ms Ventura’s friend Capricorn Clark called to say she was outside Cudi’s house and Combs was inside.

“She sounded scared, on the verge of tears,” Cudi testified, further alleging Ms Clark had been forced from her apartment to go to the house by Combs.

Combs, centre, motions a heart sign to his family in court. Picture: Elizabeth Williams via AP

Cudi relayed a phone call he said he made to Combs as he drove home.

“Motherf***er, you in my house?,” Cudi said.

“I want to talk to you,” he alleged Combs replied.

“On my way over,” said Cudi.

“I’m waiting for you”.

Cudi told the jury he “wanted to confront Combs, I wanted to fight him”.

“If (Combs) wanted to talk, talk (but) this crossed a line”

Nonetheless, Cudi decided to call police.

When he arrived there was no Combs but Cudi said a stack of Chanel Christmas presents for his family had been unwrapped and his dog, which usually roamed the house, had been locked in a bathroom. All of which suggested someone had been in the property.

While Cudi spent Christmas with Ms Ventura and her family In Connecticut, he said Combs persistently tested him.

“I told him, you broke into my house, you messed with my dog. I don’t want to talk to you”.

Cudi and Ms Ventura broke up after Christmas with the star saying “the drama was getting out of hand”.

“We needed some space for her safety and mine. I knew Sean Combs was violent”.

Rapper Kid Cudi leaves the federal court. Picture: AFP.

Early in 2012, Cudi said his dog sitter called him to say his Porsche was on fire outside his home. When he saw the car, he said a Molotov cocktail was on the drivers seat. The car was unsalvageable.

Cudi said “my reaction was, WTF” and the damage was “intentional”.

Police didn’t press any charges against anyone – including Combs – regarding the alleged break in or car blaze.

Cudi said he then got in touch with Combs saying “this is getting out of hand”.

The pair met at private club Soho House in Los Angeles.

“Sean Combs was standing straight looking out of the window with his hands behind his back like a Marvel supervillain,” said Cudi.

The rapper said Combs told him Ms Ventura was “my girl’ while Cudi said he thought they’d broken up.

To the jury, Cudi said of Ms Ventura “she played me”.

At the Soho House meeting, Cudi said he asked Combs “what we gonna do about my car” to which Combs said he had idea what he was talking about.

“He’s lying,” Cudi told the jury.

Cudi said no more break ins or car damage occurred.

He said he saw Combs two years later, the first time they were face-to-face since the Soho House meeting.

He claimed Combs took him aside and said “man, I just wanna apologise for everything, all that bulls***.

“After the apology,” said Cudi, “I found peace. An apology was the last thing I was expecting from him”.

Originally published as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: Rapper Kid Cudi, Cassie Ventura’s ex, testifies