Fact Check: Did Cassie Ventura claim Nicki Minaj told her to stay with Diddy despite alleged abuse?
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: With Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial already dominating headlines, it's becoming harder and harder to separate cold facts from fiction. A recent claim floating around the internet this week dragged rapper Nicki Minaj into the mess.
According to Complex, it all started when a post on X (formerly Twitter) featured what looked like a post from Inner City Press — a nonprofit outlet run by courtroom journalist Matthew Russell Lee.
Lee has been covering the Diddy case nonstop from inside the federal courtroom.
In the post in question, the music mogul's ex, Cassie Ventura, was allegedly asked by prosecutors about which entertainers she could have turned to for support. She reportedly said that too many people were “loyal” to Diddy, before abruptly naming Nicki Minaj.
“I reached out to Nicki Minaj, and she told me to stop complaining,” the post read. “It’s part of the game. You are rich and famous. Girls will die to be in my shoes.”
Fact Check: False
As soon as the post started gaining traction online, the real Matthew Russell Lee jumped on social media to shut it down. On Friday morning, May 16, he made it clear that the viral quote attributed to Cassie Ventura — and the mention of Nicki Minaj telling her to just suck it up — was not real.
“The post below is NOT from Inner City Press,” Lee declared.
Note: Inner City Press has been informed that a falsified post of its reporting has been circulating - the post below is NOT from Inner City Press, which is reporting (right now) what's said in the US v. Sean Combs trial, which has NOT included the below pic.twitter.com/7V0leIC2wm
— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) May 16, 2025
Not only did he deny it, but he also provided receipts, posting the actual exchange between Cassie and defense attorney Anna Estevao during her testimony.
"Beyond Kid Cudi, what other musicians were you put in the studio with? Were you put in the studio with Nicki Minaj?" Estevao asked.
“Yes,” Cassie replied.
That’s the only moment Nicki's name has come up in the trial so far, according to Lee. He called it “the first and so far only reference” to the rap queen.
Estevao: Beyond Kid Cudi, what other musicians were you put in the studio with? Were you put in the studio with Nicki Minaj?
— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) May 16, 2025
Ventura: Yes.
[Note: this is the first and so far only reference to Nicki Minaj in this trial - see: https://t.co/RPFGaYMc7Y
Cassie was also asked about other music stars she worked with — including Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and Pusha T. As fans may recall, she and Nicki collaborated in 2012 on 'The Boys', which dropped as the lead single for the Re-Up version of Nicki’s second album, 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded'.
Cassie Ventura’s husband speaks out
Cassie Ventura’s husband, Alex Fine, recently issued a powerful statement through her attorney as the trial rolled on.
Addressing whispers that he “saved” Cassie, Alex was clear about how he sees her story. “I have felt tremendous pride and overwhelming love for Cass,” he said. “I have felt profound anger that she has been subjected to sitting in front of a person who tried to break her."
His comments came the same day that Cassie wrapped up harrowing testimony detailing years of alleged abuse at the hands of Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Friday marked Day 5 of the trial and featured further testimony.
Dawn Richard — former 'Danity Kane' member — also took the stand as the next woman to accuse Diddy of abuse after Cassie. She told the court she witnessed the music mogul abusing Cassie firsthand and said he threatened her and another 'Danity Kane' member to stay quiet.
Richard is also suing Diddy, filing an abuse lawsuit against him last year. Her claims only added to the ever-growing pile of allegations now unfolding in federal court.
