Celebrity News May 19, 2024
Diddy Apologizes for Assaulting His Ex in Leaked Video, Cassie's Lawyer Reacts
In a new video, Sean "Diddy" Combs is apologizing for his actions in that recently leaked video, in which he is seen assaulting his ex, Cassie Ventura.
Remarkably, he never mentions her name.
"It's so difficult to reflect on the darkest times of your life," the rap mogul begins. "But sometimes, you gotta do that."
"I was f**ked up. I mean, I hit rock-bottom. But I make no excuses," he goes on. "My behavior on that video is inexcusable."
"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 had to go into therapy, had to go into rehab," he claims. "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 askin' for forgiveness."
He ends with a somber, "I'm truly sorry."
Meredith Firetog, Cassie's legal representative, said in a statement to "Extra," "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.”
Though Combs and his ex settled their suit six months ago, surveillance footage surfaced last week of the superstar physically assaulting the singer in 2016.
In footage obtained by CNN, Cassie is seen leaving their hotel room and heading to an elevator at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City.
Combs is seen running in the hallway in search of Ventura in nothing but a towel.
Once he finds her at the elevator, Combs grabs Ventura by the neck and throws her to the ground. He then kicks her twice as she remains on the floor, motionless.
Combs is also seen grabbing Ventura by her hooded sweater and attempting to drag her toward a hotel room.
He seems to walk back to the hotel room with a bag in his hand.
Ventura eventually stands up and grabs a phone by the elevator.
Combs then returns and seemingly shoves Ventura, as seen on a mirror across the security camera.
Combs then sits down on a chair and grabs an object from the table and hurls it in Ventura’s direction.
Ventura has not commented on the footage, but her lawyer Douglas H. Wigdor said, “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.”
In her lawsuit, Ventura accused Combs of rape, physical abuse, and sex trafficking over the course of their 10-year relationship.
The lawsuit alleged that Combs raped Ventura “in her own home” when she tried to end their romantic relationship, “often punched, beat, kicked and stomped on Ms. Ventura, resulting in bruises, burst lips, black eyes and bleeding” and “forced Ms. Ventura to engage in sex acts with male sex workers while masturbating and filming the encounters.”
Though they settled, Diddy’s lawyer Ben Brafman insisted that it was not an admission of guilt. He said, “Just so we're clear, a decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing. Combs' decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best."
Ventura’s lawsuit also mentioned the incident that was caught on camera.
In her lawsuit, she claimed that Combs got “extremely intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye.”
When Combs fell asleep, Ventura tried to leave the room without him knowing but he woke up and “followed her into the hallway of the hotel while yelling at her.”
The docs stated, “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.”
Ventura ended up leaving in the elevator and returned to her apartment in a cab.
The docs noted, “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. 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.”
According to the docs, Combs paid $50,000 to the hotel for the footage, which didn’t surface until now.
Hours after the surveillance footage surfaced, Cassie's husband Alex Fine seemed to react to it.
On Friday, Fine took to Instagram to blast “abusers.”
He wrote in a lengthy post, “Men who hit women aren’t men. Men who enable it and protect those people aren’t men.”
“To the abusers, you’re done, you’re not safe anymore, you’re not protected anymore, the men by your side are just as weak,” Alex wrote without naming Diddy directly.
“Our daughters, sisters, mothers, and wives should feel protected and loved,” Fine stressed. “Hold the women in your life with the upmost regard. Men who hurt women hate women.”
Alex went on, “To all the survivors, find the men and women who help and love. To all the survivors, you stories are real , and people believe you. To all the survivors you’re not alone, and there are men and women who care only for your well being and safety. We want you to succeed and flourish. To all the women and children, I’m sorry you live in a world where you are not protected, and you don’t feel equal.”
Fine expressed wanting to raise his daughters Frankie, 4, and Sunny, 3, with Cassie “in a word where they are safe and love.”