Cassie Ventura’s case is not just about one woman—it’s about a pattern. A pattern where survivors are doubted, discredited, and dismissed—especially when powerful men and sex workers are involved.This isn’t about judging people’s professions. This is about calling out the silence that protects predators and the narratives that retraumatize victims. Cassie “didn’t look coerced”? That’s the problem. Trauma isn’t always loud. When someone is drugged, emotionally manipulated, or living in survival mode, they might appear compliant—but that doesn’t mean they’re giving true consent. If you’re getting paid to have sex with someone who’s high, numb, or clearly under someone else’s control—you are not off the hook. Denying it to save your own reputation only deepens the harm. When a sex worker testifies, saying someone “looked like they wanted it,” while the drug Ecstasy was involved, that’s not truth—that’s damage control. It’s self-preservation at the expense of someone else’s pain.

What Ecstasy Really Does to the Body and Mind

Ecstasy, or MDMA, is known to heighten sexual desire and physical sensitivity up to 10 times more than normal. It floods the brain with serotonin and dopamine—chemicals that increase pleasure, trust, and emotional connection. That’s why people under the influence may appear to enjoy sexual activity—even if they’re being exploited.

But let’s be clear: being drugged into pleasure is not the same as giving sober, enthusiastic consent. If a person is high, their ability to truly say yes is gone. Their brain has been chemically hijacked.

There are other ways to make money. Walk dogs. Wash cars. Clean houses. Sell your art. Have integrity, so in the future you don’t look at your past jobs with regrets. Protect yourself and your future. Don’t let temporary desperation pull you into something that could haunt you forever—or be used to silence someone else’s truth.

Let’s be real: if someone is high, they are not fully consenting. And if you participate, you’re part of the problem. You’re enabling a system of control, not intimacy.

Three Tips to Protect Yourself From Being Betrayed in Court

1. Be Mindful of Who’s in the Room If you’re in an environment with drugs, powerful people, or paid sex workers—protect yourself. Not everyone present is thinking about your safety. Some are just thinking about the paycheck.

2. Don’t Mistake Shared Secrets for Loyalty Just because someone was there doesn’t mean they’ll stand by you. If it comes down to you or their image, they’ll protect themselves. Don’t assume silence means support.

3. Stay Away From Situations That Blur the Lines Any place where drugs and sex mix is a setup for pain, betrayal, or legal trouble. If someone’s high, there’s no real consent. If someone’s being paid, there’s no guarantee of truth. Walk away while you still can. Cassie’s story is a wake-up call. Stop judging survivors by how “normal” they looked while surviving a nightmare. Trauma masks itself in compliance, and silence speaks louder than screams. Let’s stop gaslighting survivors—and start believing them.

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