Cassie's friend testifies Diddy held her over balcony as sex-trafficking trial continues

Bryana Bongolan had a difficult time remembering parts of the alleged 2016 balcony incident.

While on the stand Wednesday in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial for sex crimes, Bryana (who used the nickname "Bana"), confirmed she spoke about allegedly being dangled off a balcony by Diddy during various government meetings.

Allegations about the incident were detailed in a November 2024 lawsuit Bana filed against Diddy where she requested $10 million in damages.

Diddy's lawyer, Nicole Westmoreland, said that Bana told the government during the first meeting that the balcony incident happened at a party. Bana said she didn't remember, looked at the document, and reaffirmed that she didn't remember saying the incident was at a party, just that they were hanging out.

She confirmed that the first time she met with the government as they were working on Diddy's case, she made the allegation about the balcony incident. She couldn't remember if she said she told her girlfriend to hide in the bathroom.

She said the allegation about Diddy banging on the door was made in her civil complaint, but did not say if that was the first time she made the claim.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Bryana Bongolan, Cassie Ventura’s friend, testified Wednesday that the first time she alleged Sean “Diddy” Combs threatened to kill her was in a demand letter.

Nicole Westmoreland, asked about Combs allegedly telling Bongolan “I could kill you.” The defense lawyer claimed Bongolan told the government the threat happened at a party, not a photo shoot. Westmoreland said it was a lie that was repeated. There was an objection from the prosecution that was sustained followed by a brief sidebar.

Bongolan then agreed that the first time she alleged Diddy said he could kill her was in a demand letter from her lawyers.

After the demand letter went out with inaccuracies, Bongolan said she let her attorney go.

She testified she does not remember when she first told the government about Combs allegedly threatening he could kill her.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense asked prosecution witness Bryana Bongolan why she couldn’t remember details of multiple events, including when the rapper allegedly threw a knife at Cassie Ventura.

Nicole Westmoreland, Diddy’s defense attorney, asked Bongolan several questions about Cassie’s 29th birthday. Bongolan replied, “I don’t remember” to most of the questions, which included if she was on drugs.

Westmoreland then asked about the knife incident. Earlier in her testimony, Bongolan testified that Diddy once showed up to Cassie’s apartment banging on her door. He allegedly came in and threw a knife towards Cassie. Bongolan told Diddy’s defense attorney she doesn’t know how it happened.

Westmoreland asked if Bongolan told the government that Combs and Cassie would get into knife fights often. She claimed she doesn’t remember. She looked at a document to refresh her memory, but continued to say, “I don’t remember.”

Westmoreland asked Cassie’s friend if she told the government the fight happened in the kitchen. Bongolan clarified, saying she was suggesting where the knife came from. Westmoreland said, “You really don’t remember this?”

Bongolan testified she saw a knife get thrown. She told the jury she did not call the police or leave the house.

“You weren’t worried he would come back?” Diddy’s lawyer asked. Bongolan replied, “Guess not.” She claimed that she doesn’t remember how she felt then.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Bryana Bongolan most recently worked with her friend Cassie Ventura in November 2023, she testified Wednesday in the Sean "Diddy" Combs federal trial.

Bongolan, testifying under the nickname "Bana," admitted she didn't tell anyone about the lawsuit she filed against Diddy that same year.

During cross-examination with the rapper's lawyer, Nicole Westmoreland, Bana said she was not working on lawsuits with Cassie the last time they were together. She added that she didn't tell any of her friends she was thinking about suing the Bad Boy Records founder.

She told Westmoreland that she and Cassie spoke about the balcony incident before the lawsuit was filed. They discussed the location (hotel versus apartment), specific dates and who was there.

Bana said Cassie told her she saw Diddy dangling her over the balcony, and Bana insisted that Cassie was there. Bana hired a civil lawyer in January 2024.

Fox News Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Rihanna and Beyoncé were mentioned during Wednesday’s testimony in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial.

The rapper’s lawyer, Nicole Westmoreland, questioned Bryana Bongolan about Cassie Ventura’s clothing lines. Bongolan, who is friends with Cassie, confirmed the singer-songwriter’s clothing lines didn’t work out because they were competing against Beyoncé and Rihanna.

Westmoreland asked if it’s hard to be productive in business when you are getting high every day. There was an objection from the prosecution that was sustained, meaning the jury was told to disregard.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Cassie Ventura’s friend claimed she got hundreds of pills for the singer-songwriter over the course of their friendship.

Diddy’s defense lawyer Nicole Westmoreland asked about Bongolan and Cassie doing drugs together.

Bongolan admitted on the stand the two did drugs together often. According to Bongolan, they did marijuana, edibles, cocaine and ketamine. She described how she felt after taking each drug. Cassie’s friend also admitted to being stuck in “a K hole.”  Other drugs she allegedly did with Cassie included ecstasy and MDMA. Bongolan also described a “coco puff,” which is opening a blunt and putting cocaine in there. Bongolan agreed with Diddy’s defense team that they had a serious drug problem.

Bongolan told the jury she sold drugs and likely went to get hundreds of pills for Cassie throughout their friendship.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Bryana Bongolan filed a $10 million lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs two years ago to "seek justice" for the alleged 2016 balcony incident.

Bongolan, who used the nickname Bana, claimed on the stand that her first attorney sent Diddy demand letters asking for compensatory damages. She said she did not approve the letters before they were sent out, and had been contemplating suing Diddy.

She claimed Rob Holladay reached out on behalf of Diddy to settle with Bana. She allegedly declined what was offered. There is an objection that is sustained.

Bana filed a lawsuit against Diddy in 2024 to "seek justice for what happened to me," she told the court. She said her lawyer wrote the complaint, and that the words are not the same as what she has testified to.

She also claimed that she would give the money back to not have been dangled over a balcony.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Cassie Ventura’s friend, Bryana Bongolan, testified that she is now sober after doing drugs with the singer-songwriter throughout their friendship.

While on the stand, Bongolan recalled Jan. 2, 2018 as the last day she hung out with Diddy and Cassie. She revealed the date is tattooed on her neck because it’s the day she decided to get sober.

Bongolan said there had been a New Year’s Eve party in Miami. She claimed they did ketamine together for eight hours. Bongolan said she couldn’t do it anymore and left.

She testified she is now sober.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Bryana Bongolan, Cassie Ventura's friend, claimed on the stand Wednesday that she didn't report the 2016 balcony incident to authorities.

While testifying in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial, Bryana (who goes by Bana) admitted the "Victory" rapper reached out a few days after he allegedly held her over a balcony.

She claimed to tell Diddy that she didn't want any problems, and didn't report the incident to police because she "was scared."

Bana admitted she still hung out with Cassie and Diddy after the incident.

Bana said she met Diddy about one year into her friendship with Cassie. She wasn't fond of what she saw in their relationship.

She described their romance as "volatile" with a lot of ups and downs. At one point, Bana claimed she witnessed Cassie with a black eye.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Bryana Bongolan, Cassie Ventura’s friend, wore a neck brace after Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly held her off a balcony.

Bongolan testified that after allegedly dangling her off the balcony, Diddy threw her on the balcony furniture.

Bongolan said she left Cassie’s apartment and went home after the incident in 2016. She went to take a shower because she felt “disgusting” and noticed a bruise on her leg. She said she also had back and neck pain.

The jury was shown photos, which were taken on the day of the alleged incident, of Bongolan's legs with a visible bruise.

Bongolan claimed she went to the chiropractor the same day as the incident because she “was freaked out.” According to her, one of her managers said to go to the chiropractor. Bongolan claimed the chiropractor asked, “Who did this to you?” She said she did not tell the chiropractor. “I was scared,” Bongolan explained to the jury.

The jury was then shown a photo of Bongolan’s back and neck. There were bandages where the pain was, according to her testimony. Bongolan was wearing a neck brace from the chiropractor.

Bongolan explained she did not seek other medical attention right away because she “was scared” and had drugs in her system. She later sought medical treatment when she decided to get sober.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Bryana Bongolan testified Wednesday that her friend, Cassie Ventura, confronted Sean "Diddy" Combs after he allegedly held Bryana over a balcony in 2016.

Bryana, who used the nickname Bana for short, told the court that after Diddy allegedly held her over the balcony, he then threw her on balcony furniture. She testified that she wasn't sure if she was injured or not.

Cassie was allegedly in her bedroom during the incident, but came out of the room in disbelief.

Bana claimed Cassie said, "Did you just hang her over the balcony?" Diddy and the "Me & U" singer allegedly spoke directly after the incident.

She claimed that Cassie told him that Bana's girlfriend was in the house, and Diddy then "swiftly left."

Fox News Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Cassie Ventura’s friend Bryana Bongolan testified she thought she was going to fall when she was allegedly "held over a 17 story balcony" by Sean “Diddy” Combs in late September 2016.

Bongolan said Diddy arrived early in the morning, banging loudly on the door. Cassie’s friend testified she was “stressed out.” During her testimony, the jury was shown a photo of the balcony at Cassie’s apartment.

According to Bongolan, she was close to the ledge when Diddy allegedly came up from behind her, lifted her up and held her up on the balcony. Bongolan claimed she weighed about 100 to 115 lbs at the time. Bongolan explained her feet were on the rail and she was trying not to slip. She said she was pushing back on Diddy because she was afraid of falling. “For a split second, I was thinking I was going to fall,” she told the jury.

Bongolan said Combs was yelling at her loudly, “You know what the f--- you did.”  She testified to this day, she doesn’t know what the rapper was referring to.

Cassie’s friend claimed Diddy was holding her over the balcony for about 10 to 15 seconds as he repeated “You know what the f--- you did” multiple times.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Sean "Diddy" Combs may benefit in court by having a woman lead his defense, criminal defense lawyer Jo-Anna Nieves previously explained to Fox News Digital.

Teny Geragos, the daughter of famed lawyer Mark Geragos, signed on to represent the disgraced music mogul shortly after Diddy was arrested and charged with federal sex crimes in September.

Her presence in the courtroom defending Diddy "sends an unspoken messaged to the jury that 'if a smart, credible woman like Geragos doesn't believe these allegations, maybe you shouldn't either,'" Nieves said.

"This can especially impact jurors who are on the fence."

Teny graduated from Loyola Law School Los Angeles in 2016 and worked with Brafman & Associates for eight years before becoming a founding partner of Agnifilo Intrater.

She serves on the Board of Directors of the New York Criminal Bar Association and is certified to practice law in both New York and California. Mark Geragos was in court May 12 for opening statements.

While not representing Diddy, Mark explained to Judge Arun Subramanian during the week of jury selection that he represents the rapper's mother, Janice Combs, and also speaks to Diddy "with great frequency."

Mark is known for his Rolodex of celebrities, and has represented several high-profile clients, including Michael Jackson, Scott Peterson, Jussie Smollett, Colin Kaepernick, and most recently, the Menendez brothers in their pursuit for a new trial or resentencing.

A friend of Cassie Ventura testified Wednesday in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial for sex crimes.

Bryana Bongolan, or Bana for short, told the court that Diddy once threatened to kill her.

The jury was shown evidence of Bana and Cassie on the beach during a photo shoot. She became emotional as she recalled when Diddy allegedly came up to her and said, "I'm the devil and I could kill you."

Bana, 33, couldn't tell if Diddy was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but said she was probably taking cocaine.

She testified that she was terrified, but that cocaine helped her brush off the incident. Bana couldn't say why she didn't stop seeing Diddy after the threat. "I honestly don't know why," she told the court.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Cassie Ventura’s friend, Bryana Bongolan, testified in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial Wednesday. She told the jury about her perception of Diddy and Cassie’s tumultuous relationship and a time she witnessed the rapper throw a knife at the “Me & U” singer.

The jury was shown a photo of Cassie and Bongolan shopping together in early 2016. According to Bongolan, Diddy was communicating with Cassie that day, sending all the places they had been. Bongolan claimed they did not tell Combs where they had been. She thought, “Oh wow. He really knows where we’re at.”

Bongolan said she often stayed over at Cassie’s apartment. Cassie’s friend testified Diddy would come over in the middle of the night, bang on the door and get into the apartment. She claimed sometimes Cassie would act surprised, other times like it was normal.

Bongolan recalled one time when there was violence between Combs and Cassie while testifying Wednesday. Bongolan claimed she had been sleeping but was woken up by Diddy banging on the door. She added that Cassie had been sleeping but Diddy got into the apartment. His tone was allegedly upset.

She claimed Diddy threw a knife in Cassie’s direction. Bongolan said Cassie threw the knife back, but noted it did not hit Combs. She continued that Diddy “left swiftly.”

Bongonlan said she does not remember if she was doing drugs that night. She claimed she did not call the police because “I was just scared of Puff.” Bongolan testified that she did not see injuries on Cassie that night.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Cassie Ventura's friend, Bryana Bongolan, testified Wednesday in the Sean "Diddy" Combs federal trial about her relationship with the "Me & U" singer.

Bryana, who also goes by the name Bana, claimed on the stand that she first met Cassie in 2013 or 2014 at "Young and the Reckless."

At the time, Bana was working as a graphic designer. She then worked for Diamond Designs.

Bana, 33, claimed she and Cassie would get high together. She said they used marijuana, cocaine and ketamine.

"It definitely created like a habit," Bana said on the stand. She testified that Mia, Kerry Morgan, Deonte Nash or Rob Holladay would be there, too.

Fox News Digital's Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Cassie Ventura, testified Wednesday under immunity in the Sean "Diddy" Combs federal trial.

Bryana, who uses the moniker Bana, claimed under oath that she was "held over a 17 story balcony" by Diddy in late September 2016.

She told Madison Smyser with the United States Attorney's Office that Diddy then threw her on the balcony furniture. She said she had a bruise on her leg and experienced night terrors and screaming in her sleep following the incident.

Bana said she met Diddy about one year into her friendship with Cassie. She wasn't fond of what she saw in their relationship. She described their romance as "volatile" with a lot of ups and downs.

At one point, Bana claimed she witnessed Cassie with a black eye.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

The judge in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial granted a third witness immunity Wednesday morning.

The second witness of the day, Bryana Bongolan, planned to invoke her Fifth Amendment right. Judge Arun Subramanian granted her immunity before testimony began today. She's the third government witness to be given immunity.

Diddy’s ex-assistant, George Kaplan, and InterContinental Hotel security guard, Eddy Garcia, were both granted immunity before testifying.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Before finishing his testimony, forensic video expert Frank Piazza claimed the compilation video he created reliably depicted the events of March 5, 2016.

The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial were shown a compilation video created by Piazza to illustrate the correct timeline of the altercation.

Cassie Ventura previously testified that she was attempting to leave the InterContinental hotel on March 5, 2016 after the rapper became violent during an alleged “freak off.” By the time she made it to the elevator lobby, Diddy attacked her. The moment was caught on surveillance footage.

A forensic video expert confirmed the elevator lobby video timestamp differed from the one hallway video by 5:55. The elevator lobby video also differed from other hallway video by about 5 seconds, he said.

According to Piazza, the compilation video reliably depicted what happened.

Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.