The Hidden Struggles of a Former Assistant

A former assistant of Sean "Diddy" Combs, known in court as "Mia, " shared her harrowing experience during his sex trafficking trial. She revealed that seeing Combs' name on her phone sent her into a panic. This was just days after his ex-girlfriend, R&B singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, filed a lawsuit against him. The lawsuit, which was settled for $20 million, alleged years of sexual abuse. Mia's fear was not unfounded. She had previously worked for Combs from 2009 to 2017, including a role as an executive at his film studio. During this time, she experienced both highs and lows. She described the highs as incredibly exciting, but the lows were deeply troubling. She had been sexually assaulted by Combs multiple times, with the first incident occurring just months after he forcibly kissed her at his 40th birthday party. These assaults continued sporadically, leaving her in a constant state of fear and uncertainty. After leaving her job, Mia received a settlement of $250, 000 out of a promised $400, 000. This was to cover unpaid bonuses and overtime. However, she never disclosed the sexual abuse to her lawyers. She acknowledged that she had referred to her co-workers as "family" and used the word "love" in her correspondence with Combs, even after the assaults. This was simply the way they communicated within the workplace. Mia's life took a dramatic turn after leaving her job. She has been unable to work due to post-traumatic stress. Simple things, like receiving an email asking "where are you? " or hearing her name called from across the room, would trigger her anxiety. She explained that her social media posts were a facade, a way to show a perfect life that wasn't truly hers. She had to maintain this image because her followers included many of Combs' fans. During the trial, Combs' lawyer, Brian Steel, questioned Mia about her social media posts. He pointed out a post from Combs' birthday in 2013, where she thanked him for helping her "give birth to her dreams. " Steel questioned why she would promote someone who had caused her so much pain. Mia responded that social media was a place to show a perfect life, even if it wasn't true. She had to maintain this image to protect herself.