In a shocking revelation, music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has publicly admitted to assaulting his ex-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura, in a hotel hallway in 2016. The confession came in the form of a video apology posted on social media platforms Instagram and Facebook on Sunday, following the release of a security video by CNN that captured the incident.
In the video, Combs, appearing somber and dressed in a T-shirt, expressed his remorse for his actions, stating, "I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I'm disgusted now." He further added, "I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I'm so sorry. But I'm committed to be a better man each and every day. I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'm truly sorry."
The security footage, dated March 5, 2016, shows Combs, clad only in a white towel, physically assaulting Ventura, who was his protégé and long-term girlfriend at the time. The video depicts Combs punching, kicking, and dragging Ventura, and even hurling a vase in her direction.
Ventura, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, had previously sued Combs in November over allegations of years of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. The lawsuit was settled the following day, but it sparked intense scrutiny of Combs, leading to several more lawsuits and a federal criminal sex-trafficking investigation that resulted in raids on Combs' residences in Los Angeles and Miami.
Combs had previously denied the allegations in the lawsuits, and neither he nor his representatives had responded to the newly surfaced video until Sunday.
Meredith Firetog, an attorney representing Ventura and other women who have sued Combs, criticized the apology, stating, "Combs' most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt. When Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday. That he was only compelled to 'apologize' once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words."
The security camera video closely mirrors the description of an incident at an InterContinental Hotel in the Century City area of Los Angeles, as described in Ventura's lawsuit. The suit alleges that Combs paid the hotel $50,000 for the security video immediately after the incident. Neither Combs nor his representatives have addressed this specific allegation.
Despite the disturbing revelations, Combs is not in danger of being criminally prosecuted for the assault due to the expiration of the statutes of limitations for the likely assault and battery charges. However, federal investigators are likely looking for potential crimes they can bring under the law.
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