Diddy's Ex-Bodyguard Says Rapper Paid Hotel for Cassie Abuse Footage but Didn't Know She Also Received a Copy

Roger Bonds, Diddy's former head of security, spoke out about the 2016 surveillance video of the music mogul physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie

• Sean 'Diddy' Combs' former bodyguard gave an interview to Piers Morgan Uncensored about the newly released 2016 footage of Combs physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend in a hotel

• Roger Bonds alleged that Combs paid to obtain the footage and didn't realize Casandra 'Cassie" Ventura also received a copy

• The security guard said he thinks Combs issued an apology because he's "sorry that he got caught"
  

Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly didn't know Casandra "Cassie" Ventura had access to the surveillance footage of him physically attacking her in a 2016 hotel incident.

After the disturbing video was released by CNN on May 17, Combs' former head of security, Roger Bonds, gave an interview to Piers Morgan Uncensored about his knowledge of the scenario and what he thinks of the music mogul's apology.

"He knew those cameras was there, you know? But of course, as we heard, he came back to the hotel, and he paid to get the footage — but didn’t know, which Cassie said inside her complaint, that they gave her a copy of the footage also," said Bonds.

Related: Diddy's Former Bodyguard Claims He's Witnessed the Rapper Be Violent Toward Women '4 or 5 Times'

According to Ventura's bombshell civil lawsuit that was filed in November 2023 and quickly settled, the "Me & U" singer alleged Combs paid the InterContinental Hotel $50,000 for the newly surfaced hallway footage.

In a video posted to Instagram on May 19, Combs issued an apology and said he takes "full responsibility" for the "inexcusable" behavior. However, Bonds isn't sure how sorry he feels.

"When you go through life just paying your way out, I really feel like he wasn’t sorry about that. Yeah, he might be sorry now. He’s sorry that he got caught," said Combs' former bodyguard.

"If that was a one time incident, then I would say accept his apology. But I think, in that apology, he said what he thought people wanted to hear," added Bonds.

Related: Cassie's Lawyer Responds After Diddy Breaks His Silence on Assault Video: 'More About Himself'

In the surveillance video, taken at the since-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, Combs grabs Ventura by the neck and throws her to the ground before kicking her and grabbing both her purse and suitcase. He then kicks her again, starts dragging her to the room, lets go and later throws an object at Ventura before walking away.

Ventura outlined an incident that matches the altercation seen in the video footage in her lawsuit, which accused Combs of rape, sex trafficking and domestic violence.

Related: Los Angeles D.A. 'Unable' to Charge Diddy for Cassie Assault Video Due to Timing of When It Occurred

The lawsuit says that in 2016, Combs “became extremely intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye” while in a hotel.

"After he fell asleep, Ms. Ventura tried to leave the hotel room, but as she exited, Mr. Combs awoke and began screaming at Ms. Ventura," the lawsuit claims. "He followed her into the hallway of the hotel while yelling at her. He grabbed at her, and then took glass vases in the hallway and threw them at her, causing glass to crash around them as she ran to the elevator to escape."

Related: Misa Hylton Addresses Video of Diddy Assaulting Cassie as She Shares Photos of Kids: 'Their Father Needs Help'

Per the lawsuit, Ventura managed to get into the elevator and she took a cab to her apartment.

“Upon realizing that her running away would cause Mr. Combs to be even angrier with her, and completely stuck in his vicious cycle of abuse, Ms. Ventura returned to the hotel with the intention of apologizing for running away from her abuser,” the complaint claims. “When she returned, hotel security staff urged her to get back into a cab and go to her apartment, suggesting that they had seen the security footage showing Mr. Combs beating Ms. Ventura and throwing glass at her in the hotel hallway.”

IHG Hotels previously told PEOPLE in a statement about the video, "This hotel is no longer under IHG management, and we do not have any access to prior incident records or footage."

Related: Biggest Bombshells from Diddy's Lawsuits: Disturbing Allegations of Rape, Sex Trafficking and More

Ventura's attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, also told PEOPLE in a statement about the footage, "The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs. Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light."

Combs' apology came in the form of a video posted to Instagram alongside the caption, "I'm truly sorry."

"It's so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life," he said. "Sometimes you gotta do that. I was f---ed up. I mean I hit rock bottom but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable."

The Bad Boy Records founder continued, "I take full responsibility for my actions in that video."

"Disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it, I'm disgusted now. I went and I sought out professional help, 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," Combs added.

He concluded the statement by stating that he is "not asking for forgiveness" and was "truly sorry."

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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