Former Danity Kane star Dawn Richard testified during Diddy’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial that the fallen Bad Boy Records founder would threaten to make people go “missing” if things didn’t go his way.
According to independent reporter Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press, Dawn Richard took the stand in Diddy’s ongoing case for the second time on Monday, May 19. She was asked to elaborate on some of her previous statements, including one where she mentioned that Diddy told her that people “could go missing.” When asked how she understood that comment, she replied, “That people could die.”
She was also questioned about what she witnessed regarding Diddy’s relationship with Cassie. “He would drag her and kick her and punch her in the mouth,” she said, adding that the alleged violence was triggered by her speaking up for herself. Dawn Richard testified that several security guards saw some of these attacks. She also revealed that Cassie once wore sunglasses in public to hide bruises, so she wore sunglasses alongside her “in solidarity.”
“I asked myself, ‘If he did that to someone he supposedly loved, what he do to an employee?'” said Richard, who was signed to Diddy during her Danity Kane days. “So I’d approach Mr. Combs with softness.” When asked if she ever tried to step in, she answered, “No, for my own safety.”
Prosecutors also asked if she ever saw him using drugs, which she confirmed, and if she ever saw him with weapons. She stated that she saw him with handguns. Her interaction with him after Danity Kane broke up was “sporadic,” but she admitted occasionally contacting him for business purposes.
Dawn Richard testified last week about the abusive behavior she witnessed during Diddy’s relationship with Cassie. She described one incident where he allegedly tried to hit Cassie in the head with an egg-filled skillet, causing her to drop to the floor in the fetal position. “I was scared for her, and scared to do anything… I was scared if I intervened, it might get worse,” Richard said.
Dawn Richard filed a lawsuit against Diddy last year alleging harassment and sexual abuse. She explained that she was inspired to come forward after Cassie filed her lawsuit accusing him of years of abusive behavior and sexual misconduct. He denied the allegations and claimed she was trying to get free promotion for her recently released album.
