By Max Matza for BBC
Sean 'Diddy' Combs in 2018. Photo: AFP / Angela Weiss
Rap mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has been accused of rape and sex trafficking by R&B artist Casandra "Cassie" Ventura.
In a lawsuit seen by the BBC, Ventura said she was trapped for a decade by Combs, her-ex-boyfriend, in a cycle of abuse and violence.
The rapper and record executive - who also went by the stage name Puff Daddy - denies the allegations, accusing the singer of trying to extort him.
His lawyer said the claims were "offensive and outrageous".
Ventura alleges that the rap producer raped and beat her over 10 years starting when she was 19 and he was 37.
"After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story," she said in a statement on Thursday.
The lawsuit includes multiple graphic descriptions of the violent abuse that she says occurred beginning after she met the rapper in 2005.
According to the complaint, Combs signed her to his record label, Bad Boy, and "plied the vulnerable Ms Ventura with drugs and alcohol, causing her to fall into dangerous addictions that controlled her life".
The lawsuit labels the musician a "serial domestic abuser, who would regularly beat and kick Ms Ventura, leaving black eyes, bruises, and blood".
In her statement, Ventura said she was ready "to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships".
In a statement to BBC News, Combs' lawyer said Ventura had demanded US$30m (NZ$50m) "under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship".
His lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said the alleged demand "was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail".
"Ms Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr Combs' reputation, and seeking a pay day," he added.
In response to Brafman, Ventura's lawyer, Doug Wigdor, said Combs had offered her a payment of "eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit".
"She rejected his efforts and decided to give a voice to all woman who suffer in silence," he said.
Her lawsuit also alleges that the music mogul told her he planned to "blow up" a car owned by rapper Kid Cudi. Combs had become jealous that Ventura was in a relationship with the rapper, according to the legal action.
She said he told her of his plan during Paris Fashion Week in 2012.
"Mr Combs told Ms Ventura that he was going to blow up Kid Cudi's car," the complaint says, "and that he wanted to ensure that Kid Cudi was home with his friends when it happened. Around that time, Kid Cudi's car exploded in his driveway."
A spokeswoman for Kid Cudi told the New York Times that Ventura's account was true.
But New York police said in a statement on Friday that no investigation had yet been opened into any of the allegations.
Ventura released several hits in the 2000s, including songs that featured Diddy.
Her most famous tracks include Me & U, Long Way to Go and Official Girl, featuring Lil Wayne.
- This story was first published by BBC.
Where to get help:
Women's Refuge:(0800 733 843
It's Not OK 0800 456 450
Shine: 0508 744 633
Victim Support: 0800 842 846
HELP Call 24/7 (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): 04 801 6655 - push 0 at the menu
The National Network of Family Violence Services NZ has information on specialist family violence agencies.
