Former Designer Testifies That Sean ‘Diddy’ Hung Her Over 17th-Floor Balcony in Terrifying Attack
In powerful courtroom testimony on Wednesday, Bryana “Bana” Bongolan, a former graphic designer for Sean “Diddy” Combs, described a horrifying moment nearly a decade ago that still haunts her to this day.
In powerful courtroom testimony on Wednesday, Bryana “Bana” Bongolan, a former graphic designer for Sean “Diddy” Combs, described a horrifying moment nearly a decade ago that still haunts her to this day. Bongolan told a Manhattan federal jury that Combs lifted her over the railing of a 17th-floor balcony, dangled her in the air for nearly 15 seconds while shouting profanities, then pulled her back and threw her onto patio furniture. “I was scared to fall,” she told the jury at Combs’ ongoing federal sex trafficking trial.
The alleged incident took place in September 2016 at an apartment in Los Angeles belonging to R&B singer Cassie, Combs’ former girlfriend and close friend of Bongolan.
Bongolan said the attack left her with a large bruise on her leg, along with pain in her back and neck. Photos shown to the jury revealed her wearing a neck brace, and the bruise, she said, was about the size of a softball.
Still Living With the Trauma
Even today, nearly eight years later, Bongolan, now 33, said she suffers from nightmares and paranoia. “I have nightmares and I have a lot of paranoia and I used to scream a lot in my sleep, but it’s dissipated a little bit,” she said.
She explained that she now checks behind doors before entering rooms and remains hyper-alert in her daily life. Her most recent nightmare happened just days before her testimony, she told the court. Bongolan now works as a creative and marketing director at her own art agency.
Diddy’s Lawyers Say She Was on Drugs — She Denies It
Combs’ legal team tried to cast doubt on Bongolan’s story, suggesting she was a heavy drug user at the time and may have been under the influence when the incident occurred. Bongolan, however, firmly denied being high that night.
She does have a pending lawsuit against Combs and admitted during questioning that she and Cassie shared what the defense described as a “serious drug problem.”
Bongolan said they would sometimes sprinkle cocaine into joints — known as a “Coco Puff” — and that she regularly sold drugs to Cassie, occasionally with Cassie putting up the money. Defense lawyer Nicole Westmoreland described their relationship as a “drug partnership.”
Bongolan also admitted that Combs gave her drugs three or four times, including ecstasy and cocaine. She even recalled a New Year’s Eve party in Miami in 2017 where she used ketamine with both Cassie and Combs for around eight hours.
“I’m the Devil and I Could Kill You”
Bongolan testified that Combs once threatened her during a photo shoot, telling her, “I’m the devil and I could kill you.”
She also claimed the balcony incident began early one morning when Combs arrived at Cassie’s apartment angrily banging on the door. Bongolan had been asleep on the couch with her ex-girlfriend nearby. She said she quickly hid her ex in the bathroom and stepped out onto the balcony to act casual and smoke a joint.
As she was lighting the blunt or about to do so, she said, Combs grabbed her and lifted her over the edge.
“Did You Just Hang Her Over the Balcony?”
Cassie, who had been sleeping in the bedroom, came out moments later and reportedly said to Combs, “Did you just hang her over the balcony?”
After learning that Bongolan’s ex-girlfriend was also in the apartment, Combs left in a hurry, Bongolan said.
Cassie later confirmed this event in her own testimony last month, telling jurors, “I saw him bring her back over the railing of the balcony and then throw her onto the patio furniture.”
The Trial So Far
Bongolan’s emotional testimony came during the fourth week of Combs’ federal trial in Manhattan, where the music mogul is facing serious charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and abuse spanning over two decades. If convicted, he could face 15 years to life in prison.
The case has featured multiple witnesses alleging similar abuse by Combs, including Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura. She testified across four days about being beaten and coerced into “freak-offs” — drug-fueled sex marathons that were allegedly recorded and orchestrated by Combs.
Before Bongolan testified, forensic video expert Frank Piazza showed the court footage of Combs physically assaulting Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in March 2016. That disturbing video has been shown more than a dozen times during the trial.
More Testimony Coming
Bongolan is one of at least three witnesses granted immunity in exchange for testifying. She is also seen as a key setup to the next major witness: a woman known only by the pseudonym “Jane,” who is expected to testify about being abused and forced to take part in Combs’ alleged sex parties.
Jane is expected to take the stand Thursday, and her testimony may become one of the most crucial moments in the trial.
As Bongolan spoke, Combs — now 55 — remained calm and focused, occasionally talking with his defense team. Before her cross-examination began, he even waved over his lawyer to consult privately.
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