Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-crimes trial took a star-studded turn with testimony from Kid Cudi.

Cudi, the rapper and one-time boyfriend of Combs' ex-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine, took the stand on May 22 to allege that Combs once broke into his home and "messed with" his dog. He also spoke about discovering that his car was "on fire" in 2012, after Ventura Fine alleged earlier in the trial that Combs threatened to blow up Cudi's car.

Ventura Fine and Cudi briefly dated in 2011 during a break in her relationship with Combs after they musically collaborated.

On the stand, Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, described receiving a call from a "nervous" and "scared" Ventura Fine in December 2011, telling him that Combs had found out about their relationship. Later in the day, Cudi said Capricorn Clark, Combs' former assistant, called to let him know that Combs was inside Cudi's house.

Cudi recalled driving to his house and calling Combs on the way, asking if he was inside. According to Cudi, Combs sounded calm and told him that he was waiting for him to arrive because he wanted to talk. When Mescudi arrived to his home, he said that no one was inside, but gifts he had received from Chanel had been opened, and his dog was locked up in the bathroom. Mescudi said he normally let his dog roam around the house.

Afterward, Mescudi said he got back in his car and called Combs, wanting to confront him, and Combs said he was willing to meet up. But Mescudi said he reconsidered "the gravity of the situation" and decided against it. Instead, he said he called the police and made a report.

Mescudi said Combs later texted him a few times saying he wanted to "get to the bottom of" things, to which Mescudi replied, "You broke into my house. You messed with my dog. I don't really wanna talk to you." But Combs' defense lawyer Brian Steel maintained that Cudi left his door unlocked, and that there was no forced entry or broken furniture.

Kid Cudi testifies Cassie told him Diddy abused her

Cudi also testified that Ventura Fine told him that Combs "would hit her" and sometimes "kick her." He said he was in love with Ventura Fine but that they ended things because the "drama" was "getting out of hand," and he "just wanted to give it some space, for my safety and for her safety."

When asked why he had safety concerns, Cudi responded, "Because I knew Sean Combs was violent."

Ventura Fine's prior testimony matched claims from her November 2023 lawsuit aimed at Combs, which accused the Bad Boy Records founder of domestic violence and sexual abuse during their relationship. After Cassie's lawsuit was filed, a Cudi spokesperson confirmed the allegations to The New York Times and corroborated his ex's claims in the suit.

During her four days of bombshell testimony the week of May 12, Ventura Fine testified that after Combs saw emails between Cassie and Combs' ex-assistant about bringing a toiletry bag to Mescudi's house, Combs got angry and lunged at her with a wine bottle opener between his fingers. The opener didn't hit her and she ran off, she said.

Ventura Fine also testified that an "irate" Combs threatened to release "freak-off" videos of her and told her he would have someone else physically hurt both her and Mescudi while he was out of the country.

Kid Cudi, Diddy allegations include blown up car

Ventura Fine previously said that Combs threatened to blow up Mescudi's car. That car was in fact blown up in Mescudi's driveway, according to Ventura Fine's November 2023 civil lawsuit.

On May 22, Cudi recalled receiving a call in January 2012 that his car was on fire, and jurors were shown photos of the destroyed vehicle. He also described a meeting he had with Combs and Ventura Fine at a private members club known as SoHo House after discovering his car had exploded. Combs said he had no knowledge of the damage, and Cudi said he felt now and at the time that Diddy "was lying."

Ventura Fine split from Combs in the fall of 2018 after the death of his other ex-girlfriend, Kimberly "Kim" Porter, also the mother to three of his biological children. Ventura Fine married personal trainer Alex Fine a year after splitting from Combs in 2018.

Who is Kid Cudi?

Cudi is an award-winning rapper who has released 10 studio albums, beginning with his 2009 debut "Man on the Moon: The End of Day." He has been nominated for five Grammy Awards.

Outside of his music career, Cudi has also acted in films like "X" and "Silent Night" and shows like "Westworld" and "Knuckles."

Is Kid Cudi married?

Cudi is not married, but he announced his engagement to menswear designer Lola Abecassis Sartore in November.

Contributing: Brendan Morrow

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kid Cudi takes the stand in Diddy trial: What he revealed, from car explosion to his dog

Reporting by Aysha Bagchi, Patrick Ryan, Brendan Morrow and Jay Stahl, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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