Dawn Richard Testifies Usher Was Witness to Diddy’s Alleged Abuse

More witnesses offered stories of alleged brutality in the sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, including R&B singer Dawn Richard.

On Monday morning, May 19, Richard — who was a member of the groups Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money — returned to the witness stand for a second day.

The singer competed on the third season of MTV’s Making the Band in 2005, and was selected by Combs to become part of platinum-selling group Danity Kane.

In her testimony, Richard told the court she witnessed Combs allegedly physically assault his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura multiple times between 2009 and 2011.

“I saw him punch her, choke her, drag her and kick her,” Richard said, as reported by USA Today.

Related: Diddy-Dirty Money Singer Kalenna Harper Responds to Dawn Richard Lawsuit

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial moves into its second week, with new evidence released to the public.https://t.co/boseSkKVnZ

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) May 19, 2025

Richard said she was “shocked” by the violence, but too “scared” of the powerful Bad Boy Records founder to do anything.

She began her testimony on Friday and recalled an incident in 2009 when she said the mogul tried to “hit” Cassie over the head with a pan of eggs because his then-girlfriend was taking too long to prepare breakfast.

Richard, who was with her Diddy-Dirty Money bandmate Kalenna Harper in the mogul’s house that day, said Cassie appeared used to the violence and quickly dropped to the floor to protect herself.

On Monday, Richard said Combs locked the two Diddy-Dirty Money singers in a room after the egg incident and warned “if we said anything, we could go missing” and “we could die.”

Harper has tried to distance herself from the case and said Richard’s experiences “do not align” with her “truth.”

“Show Stopper” singer Richard also testified about a star-studded dinner party at a restaurant in 2010. She said Diddy allegedly “punched” Cassie in the stomach in front of the other guests, including Usher, Ne-Yo, and Interscope Records CEO Jimmy Iovine, according to People magazine.

The singer filed a 55-page civil lawsuit against Combs in September 2024, and accused the mogul of assault, sexual battery, withholding her earnings, and other allegations.

She mentioned the restaurant incident in the lawsuit, as previously reported.

“Mr. Combs hissed at Ms. Ventura in a screaming whisper and forcefully punched her in the stomach causing her to double over in visible pain, crying,” the complaint read, adding that Diddy’s personal assistant Capricorn Clark escorted Cassie out of the restaurant, “while the mogul continued socializing with the dinner guests.”

Under cross-examination on Monday, the mogul’s attorney Nicole Westmoreland pressed Richard, who admitted she hasn’t had the same level of success since Combs disbanded Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money.

“You felt that Mr. Combs ruined your career not once, but twice?” Westmoreland asked.

“Yes,” Richard answered.

Westmoreland asked if she filed the suit to “get a lot of money” out of the mogul. Richard insisted she wants to be “compensated” for her work.

The attorney additionally noted that there have been inconsistencies in Richard’s statements.

“Your testimony has changed a number of times. You would agree that as time progresses, your story changes?” Westmoreland asked.

“I have to go back to memory that I didn’t want to come back to,” Richard explained. “The environment was volatile, and it was very hard to work in.”

Following Richard, Cassie’s former friend Kerry Morgan testified that Combs once attacked her in Cassie’s home. She said she was given $30,000 after signing a nondisclosure agreement, and hasn’t spoken to Cassie since then, according to the Associated Press.

The mogul’s former personal assistant David James took the stand just before court ended for the day. James said in the interview process to join the mogul’s staff, he was told: “This this is Mr. Combs’ kingdom. We’re all here to serve it.”

Diddy, 55, is charged with five felony counts including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

His attorneys have said he could be violent at times, but all of the sex acts were consensual.