‘We Had Our Own Storms’: Former Diddy Collaborator Shares Regrets Over Cassie

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With Sean “Diddy” Combs facing legal challenges, several people with past connections to him have come forward to share their experiences. Celebrities like 50 Cent, Suge Knight, and Nick Cannon have publicly discussed the music executive, who is currently in prison for four years (50 months). Former members of the girl group Danity Kane, which Combs helped create, have also spoken out. Most recently, D. Woods, a long-time member of Danity Kane, shared her perspective on Diddy’s relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.

Danity Kane’s Dawn Richard (D. Woods) recently spoke with People magazine, alongside bandmate Aundrea Fimbres, following a short reunion with some of her former group members. During the interview, she discussed the group’s beginnings, her experiences with Diddy, and the recent allegations of abuse involving Cassie Ventura. Reflecting on her early career, Woods said she wishes she had reached out to Cassie more often.

I mentioned to the group that at least we had each other. Even though we weren’t always close or in agreement, we had that connection as a group of five. Cassie, though, seemed to be on her own. We were all dealing with our own personal struggles, just trying to get through things, so we didn’t notice she was struggling or think to reach out and see if she was okay.

Cassie and Sean “Diddy” Combs had a complicated relationship that lasted from 2007 to 2018, and they were often seen together in public. In 2023, Cassie sued Combs, alleging abuse and sex trafficking, and the case was settled quickly. A video from 2016 showing Combs physically assaulting Cassie surfaced the following year. While Combs later apologized, many felt his apology wasn’t sincere.

Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in September 2024 and his trial began in 2025. During the trial, several people, including his ex-partner Cassie, testified against him, and he was ultimately found guilty of transporting individuals for the purpose of prostitution. D. Woods chose not to testify, but recently described her experiences working with Diddy, the head of Sean John.

We were all so inexperienced, navigating life at the same time. It felt strange, like watching a movie about ourselves – a group of people caught up in something, but it was actually our own reality. We’d sit on the couch, reacting to everything as if we were giving advice to characters on TV – yelling things like, ‘You need to get a lawyer!’ – but we were powerless to intervene because it was happening to us.

D. Woods became a member of Danity Kane in 2005 after appearing on the final episode of the second season of Making the Band 3. She joined Aubrey O’Day, Aundrea Fimbres, Shannon Bex, and Dawn Richard (who later filed a lawsuit against Sean Combs alleging abuse). In 2008, Combs fired both Woods and O’Day. O’Day has since spoken publicly about her experiences with Diddy, sharing details in the docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning.

Diddy is currently incarcerated at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey, with a scheduled release in the summer of 2028. While he serves his sentence, it’s unclear if other past collaborators, such as D. Woods and Aubrey O’Day, will publicly share their thoughts on the situation.

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2026-01-18 20:38