The R&B singer Cassie has testified that her ex-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs' raped her in 2018 and kept control over her life by threatening to release recordings of her with male sex workers during encounters he arranged.

Casandra Ventura said the mogul pleaded with her in text messages and followed her to her apartment after striking and dragging her in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel.

Ms. Ventura testified that over time the sex sessions grew more elaborately staged, with Mr. Combs specifying that they be lit by candles or colored lights similar to what was used on music videos.