Songwriter Tiffany Red is backing up the claims that her friend Cassie made last month in a lawsuit accusing Sean "Diddy" Combs of rape, sex trafficking and physical abuse.
Red − who is credited as a writer for Jennifer Hudson's self-titled 2008 album, which won a Grammy for Best R&B Album – wrote in an open letter to Combs published in Rolling Stone on Thursday that she is "traumatized" by the music mogul.
"Throughout my time knowing Cassie, I've seen many concerning instances," Red wrote. "There were occasions when I heard (Combs) yelling at her and making threats, observed her so high I was afraid of her overdosing at a party (Combs) threw for her in Malibu, and witnessed (Cassie and Combs) getting IVs after a different night of partying."
According to her letter, Red witnessed "events detailed in my friend Casandra Ventura's now-settled civil lawsuit" − specifically Cassie's 29th birthday party. (Cassie and Combs settled on Nov. 17, one day after Cassie's suit was filed.)
"I fear for my safety as her suit alludes to me, although not by name. I hope that revealing my identity to the public will afford me some measure of protection," Red wrote. She and Cassie remain "close friends" since becoming acquainted in 2015 while songwriting together, Red wrote in the open letter.
Lawyers for Cassie did not respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY. USA TODAY has also reached out to a representative for Combs.
After Combs and Cassie's settlement, three more women have some forward accusing him of sexual abuse.
An unnamed Jane Doe on Wednesday filed a lawsuit accusing Combs and two others of gang raping her when she was a 17-year-old high school junior in 2003. On Nov. 23, Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit complaint against Combs in Manhattan accusing him of drugging and raping her when she was a college student in 1991.
In another lawsuit, filed by a Jane Doe in the New York Supreme Court, accused Combs and Guy singer Aaron Hall of the sexual assault of her and a friend. This lawsuit, obtained by USA TODAY, claims Combs and Hall took turns raping the two women in an incident that occurred in either 1990 or 1991.
Combs has since temporarily stepped down as chairman of his cable television network Revolt. Despite Combs’ recent legal troubles, Revolt did not disclose the reason for Combs’ departure in the statement.
Combs has denied all accusations against him.
According to Red's Rolling Stone letter, during Cassie's birthday celebrations in 2015, she witnessed Combs backing her into a corner at a karaoke bar as he "cursed her out" while his security surrounded them.
This alleged incident left Red feeling "helpless." She recalled Cassie "looked afraid and kept looking down at the floor. I didn’t know what to do. I was scared."
"Prior to this incident, she had confided in me that you were physically abusive, and the way you were in her face that night was alarming to me. I didn't want to leave her alone," Red wrote. She added that Cassie repeatedly told her and others that night that she did not want to leave with Combs, though she eventually did, and the former couple then returned intoxicated.
In Cassie's November lawsuit, she alleged Combs insisted they leave her birthday party and go to their hotel for a "freak off," a term Combs used to refer to the forced sexual encounters with Cassie and male sex workers.
Red confirmed in her letter Thursday that Cassie had told her about this "arrangement."
After the encounter, according to Cassie, she and Combs went back to her hotel room, where some of the singer's friends were hanging out. A "severely intoxicated" Combs later picked up one of Cassie's friends and allegedly dangled her over the balcony of the 17th-floor hotel suite.
"That night of her birthday, and so many others, are burned in my brain and have tormented me since," Red wrote. "I feel compelled to show up for Cassie and myself and confirm that everything she described in her complaint about what happened that night is consistent with what I experienced."
"Your abuse of power has inflicted ongoing harm on countless individuals, including myself, my friends, and my peers," Red continued. "You’re hurting the very Black and brown people you say you love and support. It pains me to write this letter to you as a Black woman, but when will this cycle of abuse stop? It has to stop."
On Instagram Thursday, Red shared her Rolling Stone open letter, writing: "You're right, Puff. Enough is Enough."
"Love you Cas ❤️," she continued. "Thank you, GOD, for holding me through this. Thank you @rollingstone for giving my voice and my story a platform. Thank you to my support system and @the100percenters_ team, as this journey has been heavy."
If you are a victim of domestic violence, The National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org) allows you to speak confidentially with trained advocates online or by the phone, which they recommend for those who think their online activity is being monitored by their abuser (800-799-7233). They can help survivors develop a plan to achieve safety for themselves and their children.
Safe Horizon's hotline (safehorizon.org) offers crisis counseling, safety planning, and assistance finding shelters (800-621-HOPE (4673). It also has a chat feature where you can reach out for help from a computer or phone confidentially.
Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY
