A man who worked as a male escort has accused singer Cassie Ventura of attempting to dismiss his civil lawsuit against her through procedural means rather than addressing his core claims.
Clayton Howard filed a federal lawsuit in California in mid-2025 against both Sean “Diddy” Combs and Cassie Ventura. In the suit, he alleges he was hired for sexual encounters involving the pair over roughly a decade, starting around 2009. He claims he was coerced, drugged, and exposed to health risks, including contracting a sexually transmitted disease from Cassie. He also alleges she became pregnant by him and terminated the pregnancy without his knowledge or consent.
Howard describes Cassie as an active participant in the events, referring to her as his “primary trafficker” alongside Diddy. He says the encounters caused him physical injuries, psychological trauma, and long-term harm.
As of mid-2026, the lawsuit remains ongoing. Cassie’s legal team has filed motions to dismiss, citing issues such as statutes of limitations. Howard has stated that her side has not directly refuted the main factual allegations but is instead challenging the case on procedural grounds. He has also publicly accused her team of harassment and efforts to discredit him.
Cassie Ventura, Diddy’s former longtime girlfriend, previously filed her own lawsuit against him in 2023. She accused Diddy of physical abuse, rape, coercion, and forcing her into prolonged sexual encounters known as “freak-offs.” The case settled quickly for a reported $20–30 million. Her account contributed to wider investigations into Diddy.
Similar claims against both Diddy and Cassie have come from others, including former male model Edmond Laurent.
Documentary dispute
Howard also appeared in the Netflix docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning, executive-produced by 50 Cent and released in December 2025. In January 2026, he filed a separate $20 million lawsuit against Netflix and 50 Cent. He alleges the series distorted his story by focusing heavily on Cassie as a victim while downplaying his claims about her role. That case is also ongoing.
Diddy faces his own federal convictions and numerous civil lawsuits related to sex trafficking and racketeering allegations. The full details of events involving Howard, Cassie, and Diddy continue to be examined in court.
