Singers Usher and Ne-Yo and a hotshot music exec were at a restaurant when Sean “Diddy” Combs punched Cassie Ventura in the stomach, according to dramatic testimony in Manhattan court Monday.
Former “Danity Kane” member Dawn Richard was grilled by Combs’ lawyer, Nicole Westmoreland about her allegation that the Bad Boy Records founder attacked his then-girlfriend at a West Hollywood, California eatery in 2010.
Westmoreland pressed Richard about why she hadn’t divulged that the A-listers, including industry honcho Jimmy Iovine, were there when Combs allegedly gut punched Ventura.
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“Any reason you left those individuals out when the government asked you the question?” Westmoreland asked Richard, 41.
“She just asked me who was there,” Richard said.
“Why didn’t you say their names?” the defense attorney continued to press.
“I’m not sure,” Richard answered.
Richard left unclear whether the trio of notables had witnessed the alleged assault.
Her testimony launched the second week of Combs’ federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial — and put another high-profile singer up on the stand after Ventura took the stand for several grueling days.
Richard was featured on the 2004 MTV show “Making the Band” about Combs wrangling together the Danity Kane group.
She later sued him, claiming sexual abuse and that she allegedly witnessed him beat Ventura.
Richard followed Ventura as a witness for the prosecution last week.
When asked to identify Combs by prosecutors, Richard pointed to him — prompting the disgraced hip-hop mogul to dramatically raise both of his hands.
She claimed Friday that Combs gave her a veiled death threat the day after she witnessed him beat Ventura in his Los Angeles home in 2009.
Combs’ defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland leapt on that accusation Monday, highlighting variations in Richard’s testimony.
“Mr. Combs had threatened you,” Westmoreland said during the clinical and relentless questioning. “You perceived the threats as death threats. [You] feared for your life.”
Richard responded that she was “scared.”
“You’re away from [Combs] in 2011. But then you come and ask him to work with him again?” Westmoreland asked.
“Mm-hmm,” Richard responded.
Richard’s testimony also added to the list of celebrities who’ve made cameos in the sordid trial.
Usher had lived in Combs’ New York mansion for a year as part of the “Puffy Flavor Camp” when he was an up-and-coming star at the tender age of 14.
The “Yeah!” singer later told Howard Stern during a 2016 interview he had seen “some things.”
“It was pretty wild. It was crazy. There were very curious things taking place and I didn’t necessarily understand it,” Usher said.
Stern asked Usher if he’d send his own children to Puffy Flavor Camp, drawing an emphatic response: “Hell no!”
Ne-Yo recently drew negative attention for his friendship with Combs, as the “So Sick” crooner’s ex-girlfriend labeled him “Diddy Jr.”
“Diddy Jr., tell them about the freak-offs. Tell them the truth,” Sade Bagnerise yelled in a resurfaced video.
Bagnerise later retracted her comments.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges that carry up to life in prison, if convicted.
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Usher, Ne-Yo, music exec Jimmy Iovine were at restaurant where Sean 'Diddy' Combs punched Cassie Ventura in stomach: testimony – New York Post
