Sean 'Diddy' Combs Breaks Silence About Video of Him Brutally Assaulting Cassie Ventura

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Sean “Diddy” Combs broke his silence about a video released late last week showing him brutally assaulting his former girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, at a hotel in 2016.

In a Sunday, May 19 video message posted on social media, the 54-year-old music mogul confirmed that it was him in the video and apologized for his actions.

“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life. But sometimes you gotta do that,” Combs began, shaking his head as he faced the camera. After explaining that he had “hit rock bottom,” the rapper said he was making “no excuses” for what happened in the video.

“My behavior on that video is inexcusable,” he said. “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it, I’m disgusted now. 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,” he added, bringing his video to an end. “I’m truly sorry.”

Ventura, 37, filed a lawsuit late last year accusing Combs of beating and raping her over several years. Diddy denied her allegations, and the lawsuit was settled the day after Ventura’s legal team filed it. Combs has denied similar allegations brought in the months since by multiple other individuals.

On Friday, May 17, CNN released surveillance footage that showed a March 5, 2016, incident in the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles’ Century City neighborhood. In the footage, which featured multiple camera angles of the hotel’s hallways, Combs was seen chasing Ventura and assaulting her as she waited for an elevator.

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Ventura declined to comment on the video at the time it was released, according to CNN. But Douglas Wigdor, an attorney representing her, told the network that the “gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs.”

Wigdor further said of Ventura, “Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”

Shortly after the video was released, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office released a statement that addressed the “extremely disturbing” images it contained and explained why charges would not be brought in connection with the 2016 incident.

“If the conduct depicted occurred in 2016, unfortunately we would be unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted,” the statement said. “As of today, law enforcement has not presented a case related to the attack depicted in the video against Mr. Combs, but we encourage anyone who has been a victim or witness to a crime to report it to law enforcement or reach out to our office for support from our Bureau of Victims Services.”

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