Recommendations of the Editorial team
The ongoing process against Sean Combs Has captivated the nation with its lurid stories about his now notorious “freak-offs”. However, an important point is hidden behind the scandalness. The crucial role that domestic violence plays, power and control over a partner. Which can then be used to commit serious crimes such as sex trade and forced labor.
The public fascination with the “freak-offs”
In her opening plea, the defense of Combs tried his misconduct against the main witness Casandra “Cassie“Ventura as a pure domestic violence and not as a sex trade. As if both were mutually exclusive. Twice, they told the jury:” Domestic violence is not a sex trade. ” They admitted that his extraordinary violence against Ventura was “dehumanized” “terrible” and ‘unused’. However, she then argued that, despite the violence, he had never forced Ventura to her “freak-offs”. The defense claims that Ventura had participated in these events voluntarily and free of charge. And his physical and emotional abuse was nothing more than drug -related jealousy fits.
The central role of domestic violence in cases of sex trade
However, sex trading victims are routinely abused physically and mentally for months and years in order to submit them to their will. Finally, their victims give in their tormentors’ demands. You know the consequences of a refusal and accept dehuman experiences just to avoid further violence. I experienced this when I, as a state prosecutor in Brooklyn, pursued the R&B musician R. Kelly for his own satisfaction because of the coercion of women and girls. The alleged behavior of Combs also fits in this scheme.
Descriptions of extreme violence by Sean Combs
In her courageous statement, Ventura described the countless means with which Combs made a relationship during her ten -year relationship and gained and maintained control over her. They started their relationship when she was 21 years old, sexually inexperienced and relatively new in the music business. Combs was 17 years older than her and already a superstar rapper, producer and business mogul. Ventura said Combs her “career”, “the way, how [sie] dressed, just everything. Everything ”controlled.
Physical abuse: kicks, blows and hair pulling
She said that he had done Ventura extreme violence. He kicked her. Joined them. And pulled on the hair. Over and over again. The jury saw its brutality in the shattering video from the Intercontinental Hotel and in photos of their injuries. The public prosecutor has called on witnesses to describe Combs’ diverse abuse. And we can assume that further confirmations of his behavior will be heard in the course of the process.
An anecdote of Ventura’s statement illustrates the connection between violence, abuse and human trafficking. Ventura said that they and Combs had traveled to a film festival in France and that they had stayed on the yacht of a friend. According to Ventura, Combs asked her to leave the yacht because he felt offended. She complied with his request. And left the boat barefoot and without its belongings. Not even your passport.
Violence with a public appearance at a festival
She told the jury how Combs had violently pushed her into her thigh at an event in the evening and painfully pressed her pearl -occupied dress on her bare skin. When she flew back to the United States, she had her seat rebooked to avoid him. But he still maneuvered himself on the square next to her.
Psychological control by public humiliation
Before the other passengers, Combs then played “freak-off” videos from Ventura. And explicitly told her that he would publish the videos to continue to humiliate her. When they landed, he told her that he wanted a “freak-off”. It is not surprising that she gave in. If the jury believes Ventura, it is hardly a jump for the jury to conclude that she gave up because she understood Combs’ deliberate, sound and clear message. Give me what I want or you will be seriously damaged. A pattern of abuse breaks a victim’s will. That is coercion. This is sex trade.
His lawyers undoubtedly collected points from the jury when they highlighted text messages from Ventura, in which she apparently expressed joy in selected freak-offs and was a willing participant. However, it is known that victims of domestic violence often look for ways to please their tormentors. To break through the cycle of violence. Ventura’s text messages could be an example of this. Or maybe your attitude to these freak-offs has changed over time.
Summary of the indictment: violence, control, blackmail
Regardless of this, it can be assumed that the jury’s public prosecutor will present convincing evidence of a long -term abuse behavior at the end of the trial. This shows that Combs pursued a calculated plan to make Ventura believed that he would have it paid for if they did not meet his relentless demands for “freak-offs”. By abusing her physically. By ensuring that she never released an album again. And by humiliating them through the publication of sex videos. In other words: sex trade. And also domestic violence.