On Sunday, Sean “Diddy” Combs issued an apology after the release of a 2016 video that shows him shoving and kicking his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
CNN obtained and released the security footage in question on Friday, May 17, in which Diddy could be seen pushing over and kicking Cassie in front of an elevator at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. As Cassie walks toward the elevator wearing a hoodie and carrying a bag, Diddy is shown running out of a hotel room after her, wearing a towel around his waist. They meet at the elevator, where Diddy yanks her to the ground before kicking her, picking up her bags and attempting to drag her back to the room. Cassie proceeds to get up and make a call on a hotel phone located near the elevator, and Diddy later returns to the elevator, shoves Cassie into a corner and throws an object in her direction.
The 54-year-old Combs responded via a video on Instagram, captioned: “I’m truly sorry.” He proceeds to state: “It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life Sometimes you gotta do that. I was f—– up. I mean I hit rock bottom but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable … 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.” He concludes the video by stating that he is “not asking for forgiveness,” and is “truly sorry.”
Prior to the video showing Combs assault on Ventura, the rapper vehemently denied he allegations of abuse and rape, calling them “offensive and outrageous.” Just days after Ventura’s November 2023 lawsuit against Combs, the pair settled for an undisclosed amount, which the rapper claimed was in “no way an admission of wrongdoing” at the time.
In response to Combs’ video apology, Cassie‘s legal team issued a statement. Meredith Firetog, a partner at Wigdor LLP, shared the following with Us Weekly: “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.”
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