A male escort who was allegedly paid to participate in Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs’ sex sessions known as ‘freak offs’ says he had no idea he was being filmed.
Exotic dancer Sharay Hayes, also known by his stage name ‘The Punisher’, claims he was given $800 to have sex with singer Cassie Ventura while Diddy watched in 2012.
He has now claimed he was unaware he was being recorded, after video of him having sex with Ventura was played to the jury in the disgraced rap mogul’s sex trafficking and racketeering trial in New York on Monday.
On Tuesday, jurors viewed several video clips of Ventura engaging in sexual acts with male escorts, whom prosecutors claimed were compensated by Combs.
Although Hayes’ name was not explicitly mentioned, prosecutors said one of the short video clips was from October 14, 2012 — the same day prosecutors allege Combs paid him to have sex with Ventura.
Hayes said he remembers that 2012 encounter as the very first ‘freak off’ session at the Trump International Hotel in Manhattan.
Sharay Hayes, who went by his stage name ‘The Punisher,’ told DailyMail.com he did not know he was being filmed while he had his sexual encounters with Cassie Ventura and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
Prosecutors on Tuesday played several ‘freak off’ videos for jurors during Combs’ ongoing federal criminal case in Manhattan
‘I’m shocked that there is a video because whatever video was taken was something that was done candidly without my knowledge,’ he told the Daily Mail on Tuesday.
‘I never saw any video or anything to that degree. So, my first reaction is just shocked that something is out there.’
Hayes testified last month that he was greeted by a scantily clad Ventura and Combs, who was wearing nothing but a ‘burqa’, to disguise his identity.
The videos, which are sealed exhibits, were not shown to the public.
Combs was seen licking his lips after watching the freak off videos from a side room of the courtroom.
When asked about Diddy’s physical response after watching the explicit footage, Hayes said: ‘My goodness.
‘This is something I’d never say, but I think this is going to be my first no comment. I’m speechless!,’ he added.
Combs, 55, is on trial in New York facing sex trafficking and racketeering charges. If found guilty, the rap mogul could spend decades behind bars.
Combs has pleaded not guilty and rejected a potential plea deal before the trial began last month.
His lawyers concede he could be violent, but he denies using threats or his music industry clout to commit abuse.
Hayes told the Daily Mail he’s concerned footage of him and Ventura could somehow be leaked.
He said he never imagined his sexual encounters with Ventura were being recorded because the former couple was very adamant about being discreet.
‘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 (R) is questioned by defense attorney Xavier Donaldson (L) on May 20, 2025, as shown in this court artist drawing
‘(My) second reaction, of course, is the normal one, right? You worry about this thing popping up on social media sites and point and even worse, porn sites.
‘Somehow, they get their hands on this footage and then it’s edited and put on porn sites for views and clicks.
‘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.’
Hayes testified at the trial on May 20. During cross-examination, Hayes testified he believed Ventura sometimes flinched when Combs would allegedly direct him and Ventura as they were having sex while the Bad Boy rapper watched and masturbated.
‘The directions were subtle, but the masturbation was a lot,’ Hayes told DailyMail.com on Tuesday. ‘I didn’t pick up any moaning, but the “whack, whack, whack” while he was masturbating — that was loud and a lot.’
However, Hayes maintains that Ventura otherwise appeared comfortable during the sexual encounters, potentially undercutting the prosecution’s argument that she was allegedly coerced to participate.
‘What was emphasized to me before we even started was to act like [Combs] wasn’t there, to not have any eye contact or don’t acknowledge [him].
‘The room is set up in a way where he’s positioning himself out of my line of sight.’
Hayes testified he was hired by the former couple up to 12 more times after the first encounter at the Trump hotel in 2012. He said he received about $1,200 to $2,000 for each session.
In a previous interview with the Daily Mail, Hayes said he did not know the identity of the mysterious couple until about a year later.
It was during a ‘freak off’ session at the Essex House Hotel in New York City when Hayes noticed the greeting on the television screen said Combs’ name.
Hayes (center) arrived on May 20, 2025, at the federal courthouse to testify in the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial in Manhattan
The Punisher said he had about a dozen ‘freak off’ encounters with Ventura and Combs. He is pictured here during one of his stage performances
Hayes maintains he does not believe his sexual encounters with Cassie rise to the allegations that Combs is facing.
However, the dancer said he believes all the video footage will be key evidence for jurors.
‘Both sides of this have been so brilliant with their approach that it seems like it depends whoever’s on, whatever witnesses on the stand, whatever legal team is dealing with them, they create a believable, provable scenario both sides,’ Hayes said.
‘I’m sure there is a way to spin even these videos in both directions.’
On Tuesday, jurors watched 10 clips of Ventura in the ‘freak offs’, ranging from around 20 seconds to five minutes long. The videos were not shown to the public.
A black male juror was seen lifting his eyebrows up and looking away before taking a swig of water.
A black female juror furrowed her brow and put her hand to her face.
Others stared blankly as they watched the footage of Ventura with male escorts from October 13, 2012, and an unspecified date in December 2014.
Cassie 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
As the jurors filed out for lunch on Tuesday, a white male juror was seen shaking his head in the courtroom, which was silent as they exited.
Combs nodded as the audio was played and occasionally looked up at the jury.
Hayes said he was not warned by prosecutors beforehand that a ‘freak off’ video of him and Ventura would be played to jurors.
He said while he has come to terms with the attention he has received because of the trial, he remains uneasy on whether any video footage could be leaked.
‘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. ‘Don’t get me wrong — they were my choices, right? But I did not necessarily think that it would be on a billboard in Times Square, you know?
He added: ‘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.’
