TRIGGER WARNING: The following article contains descriptions and images of physical abuse.
After months of public scrutiny and amid several legal battles, CNN has released exclusive footage of rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs physically assaulting then girlfriend and singer Cassie Ventura in 2016. The video has quickly garnered online attention due to its graphic nature. It begins with Ventura exiting a hotel room and walking into the hallway. Combs follows her, grabs her from behind, and throws her to the ground. He kicks her repeatedly and attempts to drag her across the floor before leaving to return to the hotel room. Ventura is seen attempting to use a hotel phone in the hallway, but Combs returns and appears to push her into a corner. The footage then shows him throwing what appears to be a glass vase in Ventura’s direction.
The news outlet confirmed that the security footage was taken at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, a now-closed venue that Ventura cited in her 2023 federal lawsuit against Combs. In the lawsuit, Ventura alleged that Combs had become intoxicated and given her a black-eye during their stay at the hotel. When Combs fell asleep, she attempted to leave their hotel room. She then describes what seems to be the incident depicted in the now-public video. Ventura further alleged that Combs paid InterContinental Hotel $50,000 for the security footage.
The lawsuit, which attracted major media attention at the end of last year, also accused Combs of raping Ventura in 2018 in addition to claims of repeated physical abuse, sexual assault, and sex-trafficking. The suit was settled just one day after it was filed in November.
Since then, Combs has faced 5 civil suits with numerous allegations of sexual misconduct and illegal activity, according to CNN. In February, music producer Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones Jr. filed a suit against Combs accusing him of sexual assault. Combs’ homes were also raided in April in a federal investigation seemingly connected to allegations of sex-trafficking.
Known for his musical prowess in the R&B world, Combs has faced allegations of misconduct for the majority of his career, including his arrest with then girlfriend Jennifer Lopez in 1999. Combs and Ventura began dating in 2007 and were together on-and-off until 2018.
Combs has not yet commented on the video. Ventura declined to do so, though her attorney Douglas H. Wigdor provided a statement to CNN.
“The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs,” he said. “Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”
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