Ryan Leslie probably didn’t think that his name would resurface in the media when one of his former artists became single again.
But this week, the news broke that Cassie Ventura and Sean “Diddy” Combs were breaking up, going their separate ways after almost 11 years together.
The two were linked romantically for years before they finally went public with their romance in 2012. Diddy, 48, and Cassie, 32, met through her former producer and were first linked in 2007.
That former producer was Ryan Leslie, who was the one who discovered her back in 2004. Leslie also worked with her on her first single, Me & U.
As for the reason for Diddy and Cassie’s breakup, celebrity news site LoveBScott has reported that Combs may have found love with another woman, 26-year-old model Jocelyn Chew. The two were spotted at a Drake concert in Los Angeles.
Reps for Diddy and Cassie have not issued any statement, but a source told People: “The decision was amicable and they remain friends.” They added about Cassie’s future plans: “Cassie is going to focus on her music and acting career.”
Even though Ryan Leslie hasn’t been linked to Cassie for years, people are now bringing him back into the picture, saying the breakup looks like “karma”.
During an old interview with DJ Vlad, Ryan Leslie addressed the rumors that he had dated Cassie. He seemed to step around answer, saying that they were very close and they had a connection, but he did admit that he loved her, and that they shared a deep passion for music. You can check out the interview below.
When Cassie chose to sign with Diddy’s label and leave Ryan Leslie behind, he appeared to be understandably devastated.
Now that Cassie appears to be left behind for another woman, the internet have Ryan’s back.
Cassie: “Where is this relationship going”
Diddy: pic.twitter.com/myNHq2XNMG
— Don Corleone ? (@smiggz_) October 17, 2018
Cassie and Diddy broke up? After 11 years? No ring? No baby? Girlfriend for 11 years? Yeah someone’s dying
— njie, Y (@msnjiee) October 17, 2018
Lol poor Ryan Leslie wrote "Diamond Girl"
For Cassie and she still blue ticked him and dated DiddyLife has a funny way of turning full circle
Karma— Views From Kukuterian (@PM_kukuterian) October 17, 2018
I’m laughing at Cassie, Diddy is doing what she did it to Ryan Leslie, Karma is a bitch ?
— Marz emay (@EmayMarz) October 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/d_dollars15/status/1052590473209098245
Ryan Leslie after hearing Diddy left Cassie pic.twitter.com/3gYzqeZCov
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilbertAgent0) October 17, 2018
Ryan Leslie in his car when he heard Diddy left Cassie
???? pic.twitter.com/Cr1wtXQacK
— SINGAM (@amhamdanGH) October 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/Sulaiman_/status/1052650264996528128
https://twitter.com/CrashMVP/status/1052612095865425920
Me & U, one of Cassie’s biggest hits, was released in 2006 and was written and produced by Ryan Leslie. The song hit the Billboard Hot 100 that year and remained in the top 40 for nearly five months..
However, Leslie — whose own song Addiction featured Cassie — has always been humble in the way he handled being left behind.
“Man, I don’t think anyone of those people, with them not being here, would want me to broach that subject. I mean, I already had a conversation with him. [Diddy],” Ryan Leslie explained in an interview with The Breakfast Club back in 2013. “It’s life man, people have to do what they wanna do to be happy.”
At the time of writing, Ryan Leslie had not said anything about Cassie’s split from Diddy.