Diddy Pushes for Release of Controversial ‘Freak-Off’ Tapes in Court

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 10: P Diddy is seen out and about on November 10, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images)

Sean “Diddy” Combs seeks court release of controversial “freak-off tapes” to prove innocence.
Defense claims videos show consensual acts, countering allegations of coercion and blackmail.
Combs faces trial for serious charges, including racketeering and sexual assault, in May.

Embattled music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has formally requested a federal court to release a set of controversial recordings, commonly referred to as “freak-off tapes,” which his legal team claims will prove his innocence.

The tapes, described by prosecutors as “elaborate and produced sex performances,” are at the center of allegations against Combs, including charges of blackmail, sexual assault, and racketeering.

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However, Diddy’s defense argues the videos depict consensual private encounters between Combs and his former partner, Cassie Ventura.

In a filing submitted to Judge Arun Subramanian, Combs’ attorneys called for the unrestricted release of nine tapes, citing their critical importance to his defense.

They contend that the videos, currently sealed to protect Ventura’s privacy, demonstrate Ventura’s “enthusiastic consent” and refute allegations of coercion or blackmail.

“These recordings unambiguously show that the individual in question not only consented but fully participated and enjoyed herself,” the defense argued.

Prosecutors maintain the recordings were part of a coercive dynamic, claiming Combs used them to intimidate and manipulate victims.

Diddy’s team disputes this narrative, pointing out that the videos were stored on Ventura’s devices and handed over voluntarily.

Ventura’s attorney initially sought to keep the tapes sealed to safeguard her privacy, with Combs’ legal team granted only supervised access to the footage late last year.

The defense now seeks full access, asserting the tapes will dismantle the prosecution’s narrative, which they call “sexist and puritanical.”

Diddy, 55, is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, awaiting his trial scheduled for May 5. Prosecutors allege that Combs engaged in a longstanding pattern of coercion, using his associates to silence victims.

The charges, stemming from over 20 lawsuits across multiple states, include serious allegations such as drugging and assaulting a teenage babysitter.