NEW YORK (PIX11) — One of the escorts who testified Tuesday about the alleged “freak-offs” in the Sean Combs civil trial is now speaking exclusively to PIX11 News.
Introduced to jurors as “The Punisher,” 51-year-old Sharay Hayes told PIX11 that, based on his experience, he didn’t even know what alleged crime he was called to testify about.
“I can’t say any part of my experience gave me any cues that this was a woman in distress,” Hayes said. “My testimony didn’t have violence or aggression. It was surprising I was called to testify.”
Hayes was a prosecution witness, although some believe his testimony may have inadvertently helped the defense.
Just hours after stepping off the witness stand, Hayes reflected on the surreal experience of testifying in a high-profile trial involving music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Hayes said he was not intimidated, but did not look at Combs, “The story is honestly what happened. Obviously, he was there.”
Hayes, who has worked in the adult entertainment industry for 30 years, said he first became involved with Combs and singer Cassie Ventura in 2012, after receiving a phone call from Ventura herself.
Testifying that Cassie set up the encounters and paid him thousands in cash afterwards.
Hayes said it was his first foray into escort work and insisted he would never have participated in what were described as “freak-offs” if he thought Cassie was being coerced.
“It was more of a fetish scenario,” he said. “I can’t say any part of my experience gave me any cues that this was a woman in distress.”
According to Hayes, Combs directed the encounters but never aggressively. Now, in light of sex trafficking allegations surrounding the case, he says he regrets his involvement.
“I’m hoping I’m not viewed as somebody who did something to Cassie or contributed to her experience in a negative way,” he said.
Hayes said he stopped getting calls for the alleged events after he failed to meet the physical demands of the job — something he attributes to erectile dysfunction, which he later wrote a book about. The book details his time with a famous couple, though he does not name names.
Also taking the stand Tuesday was Ventura’s mother, Regina, who presented photos of what she said was her daughter’s physical abuse. She also shared an email in which Cassie expressed fear that Combs would release a sex tape unless she paid him $20,000 — a sum that was later returned.
Combs’ former assistant, David James, also testified. He described accompanying Combs to confront Suge Knight in California while armed with guns and said he eventually quit, believing his “life was in danger.”
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