Sean “Diddy” Combs is pictured on the CBS Radford Studio Middle in 2018 in Los Angeles. On Sunday, Combs apologized for his actions in a video that seems to indicate him beating his former singing protege and girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a Los Angeles lodge in 2016.
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Sean “Diddy” Combs is pictured on the CBS Radford Studio Middle in 2018 in Los Angeles. On Sunday, Combs apologized for his actions in a video that seems to indicate him beating his former singing protege and girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a Los Angeles lodge in 2016.
Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP
Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs issued an apology on Sunday, two days after the discharge of a video which appeared to indicate him beating then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Combs says in a video posted to Instagram. “I was f—– up — I mean, I hit rock bottom — but I make no excuses.”
The video, which was obtained and revealed by CNN on Friday, allegedly exhibits Combs grabbing, throwing, kicking and dragging Ventura in a lodge hallway, and throwing an object at her.
CNN reported that the video was recorded on the now-closed InterContinental Resort in Century Metropolis on March 5, 2016. Components of it seem to match accusations of bodily and sexual assault that Ventura made in a civil lawsuit she filed in opposition to Combs final yr.
Whereas NPR has not been capable of confirm the authenticity of the video, in his apology, Combs appeared to take action.
“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video,” Combs mentioned. “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. I’m truly sorry.”
Ventura reached a settlement with Combs for an undisclosed determine in November, in the future after the lawsuit was filed.
After the settlement, one in every of Combs’ attorneys, Ben Brafman, issued a press release declaring Combs’ innocence. He informed NPR: “Just so we’re clear, a decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing. Mr. 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.”
NPR’s request for remark from Combs’ lawyer on Sunday was not instantly returned.
In a written assertion supplied to NPR on Friday afternoon, Ventura’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, mentioned: “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.”
Wigdor didn’t instantly reply on Sunday to a request for touch upon Combs’ Instagram submit.
Combs faces a number of lawsuits from named and unnamed plaintiffs alleging assault, rape and different misconduct. In March, federal brokers raided houses related to Combs in Los Angeles and Miami in what authorities on the time known as “an ongoing investigation.”
On Saturday, the Los Angeles County District Lawyer’s Workplace mentioned it was conscious of the video and whereas it discovered the photographs “extremely disturbing and difficult to watch,” if the incident 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 assertion mentioned that regulation enforcement has not introduced a case in opposition to Combs for the assault depicted within the video, “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.”
NPR’s Anastasia Tsioulcas contributed to this report.
