Escort in Diddy Sex Trafficking Case Claims He Was Secretly Filmed in 2012 Encounter with Cassie Ventura

Prosecutors on Tuesday played several 'freak off' videos for jurors during Combs' ongoing federal criminal case in Manhattan

A male escort who testified in the ongoing sex trafficking and racketeering trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has claimed he was secretly recorded during a paid sexual encounter with singer Cassie Ventura in 2012. Sharay Hayes, a professional exotic dancer who performs under the name "The Punisher," said he was shocked to learn that footage of the encounter was shown to jurors this week.

Hayes alleged he was paid $800 to have sex with Ventura while Combs watched during what he described as the first of several so-called "freak off" sessions hosted by the rapper at the Trump International Hotel in Manhattan. He said he was unaware he was being filmed and only recently learned about the footage, which was played in court as part of the prosecution’s evidence.

Sharay Hayes, who went by his stage name 'The Punisher,' said he did not know he was being filmed while he had his sexual encounters with Cassie Ventura and Sean 'Diddy' Combs

“I’m shocked that there is a video because whatever video was taken was something that was done candidly without my knowledge,” Hayes said. “I never saw any video or anything to that degree. So, my first reaction is just shocked that something is out there.”

Jurors were shown multiple video clips of Ventura engaging in sexual acts with male escorts, allegedly arranged and paid for by Combs. Although Hayes was not named in court during the presentation, prosecutors indicated that one of the clips dated October 14, 2012 — the same day Hayes claims he was hired.

Hayes (R) is questioned by defense attorney Xavier Donaldson (L) on May 20, 2025, as shown in this court artist drawing

Hayes, who testified on May 20, described being greeted at the hotel by a scantily clad Ventura and a nearly nude Combs, who wore a burqa to conceal his identity. He testified that Combs gave directions while watching and masturbating during the encounters.

“The directions were subtle, but the masturbation was a lot,” Hayes said. “The ‘whack, whack, whack’ sound — that was loud and a lot.”

The Punisher, pictured here during one of his stage performances, said he had about a dozen 'freak off' encounters with Ventura and Combs.

He also described the environment of the sessions as discreet, noting that his phone was taken away at the beginning of each meeting. “I thought it would be the opposite because part of the criteria was that my phone would be taken away to avoid those things [being filmed],” he said. “So the last thing I would have expected was for there to be photos or filming going on.”

Hayes expressed concern that the footage could be leaked online, especially to social media or pornographic sites. “My concern goes to how public this can become, and how much is out there, and what type of issue that can create or embarrassment that may come from it,” he said.

Casie Ventura claimed Combs allegedly raped, drugged and beat her numerous times during their 11-year on-and-off relationship. His lawyers concede Combs could be violent, but denies using threats or his music industry clout to commit abuse

Combs, 55, is currently facing serious federal charges in New York, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and abuse. If convicted, he could face decades in prison. He has pleaded not guilty and turned down a plea deal prior to the trial. His legal team admits he could be violent at times but denies that he used his fame or industry influence to coerce or abuse others.

Hayes claimed he participated in more than a dozen similar sessions between 2012 and 2013, often receiving between $1,200 and $2,000 per encounter. He said he only realized who Combs and Ventura were about a year after their first meeting, during a session at the Essex House Hotel where a television display greeted the rapper by name.

During the sessions, Hayes testified that he was instructed not to look at or acknowledge Combs. “The room is set up in a way where he’s positioning himself out of my line of sight,” he said. Hayes also stated that Ventura mostly appeared comfortable, which may complicate the prosecution’s narrative that she was coerced.

Hayes (center) arrived on May 20, 2025, at the federal courthouse to testify in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial in Manhattan

On Tuesday, jurors viewed ten sealed clips showing Ventura engaged in “freak off” encounters with other male escorts. The clips ranged from 20 seconds to five minutes in length. Reactions among the jury varied, with some looking away or visibly unsettled. One juror shook his head as he left for lunch, while another furrowed her brow during the viewing.

Hayes was not warned in advance that his video would be played in court. Although he acknowledges the choices he made, he is troubled by the long-term implications. “I just had to get to a point of whatever feelings are associated with it because it’s obviously embarrassing, and it’s with me for the rest of my life,” Hayes said.

“Whenever someone Googles ‘Sharay Hayes,’ for the rest of my life, this is what people will see. So, to add a video to what’s already been written, it’s just another thing to manage and I have to just block out and push forward because it’s out of my control. I just hope that this evidence doesn’t end up in somebody’s hands.”