CNN
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Virtually 48 hours after being proven bodily assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016 in a surveillance video obtained completely by CNN, Sean “Diddy” Combs has apologized.
Simply earlier than 1pm ET on Friday, CNN revealed the video through which Combs is seen grabbing, shoving, dragging and kicking Ventura throughout an altercation that matches allegations in a now-settled federal lawsuit filed by Ventura in November. At publication time, representatives for Combs, an influential determine within the music business who based the music label Unhealthy Boy in 1993, had not responded to requests for remark.
Combs, a rapper, producer and enterprise mogul, was silent for practically two days as backlash mounted – together with within the feedback part of his previous social media posts – and a media storm swirled.
Simply after 11am ET on Sunday, Combs launched a video on Instagram, through which he apologized for an incident he’d beforehand denied ever taking place within the first place.
“It’s so troublesome to mirror on the darkest instances in your life, however generally you bought to do this,” Combs stated in a video assertion posted to Instagram. “I used to be f**ked up — I hit all-time low — however I make no excuses. My conduct on that video is inexcusable.”
He continued: “I take full duty for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I used to be disgusted then once I did it. I’m disgusted now.”
Combs didn’t point out Ventura by identify.
Ventura’s lawyer Meredith Firetog stated in a press release on Sunday following the discharge of Combs’ apology: “Combs’ most up-to-date assertion is extra about himself than the many individuals he has harm. When Cassie and a number of different girls got here ahead, he denied the whole lot and recommended that his victims have been searching for a payday. That he was solely compelled to ‘apologize’ as soon as his repeated denials have been confirmed false reveals his pathetic desperation, and nobody will probably be swayed by his disingenuous phrases.”
Combs beforehand issued a blanket denial of the allegations in Ventura’s November lawsuit, through which Ventura claimed she was raped in 2018 and subjected to years of repeated bodily and different abuses by Combs.
He has additionally denied via his spokesperson the allegations from the 5 different civil fits that have been filed in opposition to him following Ventura’s, and his lawyer has referred to as the claims “lies” and recommended the plaintiffs are motivated by monetary acquire and public notoriety.
His vehement denials have been amplified given how outstanding an leisure determine Combs, who has passed by numerous stage names together with Puff Daddy, was as soon as thought-about to be. Credited with work that’s considered instrumental within the development of the hip-hop style, Combs has received three Grammys in his profession and is a notable entrepreneur underneath the Combs World banner.
Combs added in his assertion that he “went and I sought out skilled assist.”
“I bought into going to remedy, going to rehab. I needed to ask God for his mercy and charm. I’m so sorry,” he stated. “However I’m dedicated to be a greater man each day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m actually sorry.”
In November, Ventura accused Combs of rape and abuse in a 35-page criticism.
In that doc, through which there have been a number of allegations that Combs was bodily violent towards Ventura and compelled her to interact in numerous intercourse acts with different males throughout their time collectively, there have been particulars about an altercation that occurred “round March 2016” on the now-closed InterContinental Lodge in Century Metropolis, Los Angeles.
Throughout this incident, the criticism stated, Combs grew to become “extraordinarily intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura within the face, giving her a black eye.”
After Combs fell asleep, Ventura tried to depart the lodge room, however he awoke and “adopted her into the hallway of the lodge whereas yelling at her,” the criticism stated.
“He grabbed at her, after which took glass vases within the hallway and threw them at her, inflicting glass to crash round them as she ran to the elevator to flee,” the criticism alleged.
After Ventura bought within the elevator, her criticism states that she took a cab to her residence.
“Upon realizing that her operating away would trigger Mr. Combs to be even angrier along with her, and utterly caught in his vicious cycle of abuse, Ms. Ventura returned to the lodge with the intention of apologizing for operating away from her abuser,” the criticism claims. “When she returned, lodge safety workers urged her to get again right into a cab and go to her residence, suggesting that that they had seen the safety footage exhibiting Mr. Combs beating Ms. Ventura and throwing glass at her within the lodge hallway.”
The criticism alleges Combs paid the InterContinental Century Metropolis $50,000 for the hallway safety footage.
When contacted by CNN, a consultant for InterContinental Motels stated on Friday, “This lodge is not underneath IHG administration, and we should not have any entry to prior incident data or footage.”
Ventura, a singer who was formally signed to Combs’ label, claimed in her go well with that he “exerted his energy and affect” over her all through the course of their skilled and romantic relationship. In keeping with the criticism, she was 19 once they met and Combs was 37, and their enterprise relationship lasted till 2019. Their off-and-on relationship lasted from 2007 – 2018.
Ben Brafman, an lawyer for Combs, stated in a press release to CNN on the day after Ventura’s go well with was filed that Combs “vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations.”
The go well with was resolved the next day. On the time, Brafman informed CNN in a press release that the “choice to settle a lawsuit” was “on no account an admission of wrongdoing.”
Brafman’s assertion added: “Mr. Combs‘ choice to settle the lawsuit doesn’t in any method undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He’s completely satisfied they bought to a mutual settlement and desires Ms. Ventura one of the best.”
Particulars of the settlement weren’t disclosed.
Since November, Combs has confronted 5 different civil lawsuits accusing him of a variety of sexual misconduct and different criminality. He has denied the allegations, and the circumstances stay lively.
Combs continued this denial. On December 6, 2023, he posted a observe to Instagram that stated: “Sufficient is sufficient.”
“For the final couple of weeks, I’ve sat silently and watched individuals attempt to assassinate my character, destroy my status and my legacy,” he wrote. “Sickening allegations have been made in opposition to me by people searching for a fast payday. Let me be completely clear: I didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged. I’ll battle for my identify, my household and for the reality.”
As of this text’s publication, the feedback on Combs’ December Instagram publish have been turned off.
On Friday, CNN revealed surveillance video compiled from a number of digicam angles dated March 5, 2016 that appeared to point out the Combs throughout the 2016 incident on the InterContinental Lodge in Century Metropolis that was talked about in Ventura’s criticism.
CNN verified the situation primarily based on publicly accessible photographs of the previous lodge’s inside.
Within the video, Ventura exits a lodge room and walks to a financial institution of elevators. Combs, holding a towel round his waist, runs down a corridor after Ventura. He grabs her by the again of the neck and throws her to the ground. Nonetheless holding his towel closed with one hand, he then turns to kick her, the video reveals.
As Ventura is on the bottom, Combs retrieves a handbag and suitcase from the ground close to the elevators. He turns round and kicks Ventura once more as she lies immobile on the ground. About 4 seconds transpire between the 2 kicks, in accordance with the video. He then briefly drags Ventura by her sweatshirt towards a room earlier than strolling away.
Ventura is then seen slowly standing up. She gathers objects from the ground and strikes to select up a cellphone on the hallway wall close to the elevators. Combs, nonetheless in a towel and socks, returns. A mirror straight throughout from the safety digicam reveals Combs showing to shove Ventura.
Seconds later, he sits down on a chair, grabs an object off a desk and forcefully throws it towards Ventura. Combs is seen strolling away, then turns towards Ventura as soon as once more when an elevator door opens and somebody seems to exit.
Ventura, who reached an undisclosed settlement with Combs, declined to touch upon the video obtained by CNN.
Ventura’s different lawyer, Douglas H. Wigdor, stated in a press release on Friday: “The gut-wrenching video has solely additional confirmed the disturbing and predatory conduct of Mr. Combs. Phrases can not specific the braveness and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has proven in coming ahead to carry this to gentle.”
Ventura acquired an outpouring of assist on social media within the days that adopted the discharge of the video, with many highlighting Ventura’s story as a option to assist different victims of home violence.
Combs additionally confronted widespread backlash from many on-line, together with Aubrey O’Day, a former member of the group Danity Kane who, like Ventura, was represented by Combs’ Unhealthy Boy label. On Friday, she wrote on her X web page that “the image is getting much more clear for you all I can think about.”
Danity Kane was fashioned by Combs in 2005 by way of the MTV actuality competitors present “Making the Band.” O’Day says she was fired by Combs and has beforehand been extremely important of him.
Following the discharge of the video, the Los Angeles County District Legal professional’s Workplace issued a press release saying it was “conscious of the video that has been circulating on-line allegedly depicting Sean Combs assaulting a younger lady in Los Angeles.”
“We discover the pictures extraordinarily disturbing and troublesome to look at,” the statement posted on Instagram reads. “If the conduct depicted occurred in 2016, sadly we might be unable to cost because the conduct would have occurred past the timeline the place against the law of assault could be prosecuted. As of right this moment, legislation enforcement has not introduced a case associated to the assault depicted within the video in opposition to Mr. Combs, however we encourage anybody who has been a sufferer or witness to against the law to report it to legislation enforcement or attain out to our workplace for assist from our Bureau of Victims Providers,” the district lawyer’s workplace stated.
The Los Angeles Police Division stated it was additionally “conscious of the video” however didn’t have an open investigation involving Combs, the division informed CNN in a press release early Saturday. The LAPD didn’t reply to CNN’s query on whether or not a report was ever filed concerning the assault.
On Friday, Alex Nice, a private coach and Ventura’s husband, issued an apparent response to the surveillance video in a “letter to girls and youngsters” posted to Instagram. He stated within the caption that he wrote the letter “awhile again however the phrases ring true not simply right this moment however on a regular basis.”
“Males who hit girls aren’t males. Males who allow it and shield these individuals aren’t males,” he wrote within the letter. “As males violence in opposition to girls shouldn’t be inevitable, examine your brothers, your folks, and your loved ones. Our daughters, sisters, moms, and wives ought to really feel protected and beloved. Maintain the ladies in your life with the upmost regard. Males who harm girls hate girls.”
Nice and Ventura have been married since 2019. They’ve two daughters.
On the finish of the letter, Nice included the cellphone variety of the Nationwide Home Violence hotline and wrote partly “to the abusers, you’re completed, you’re not secure anymore, you’re not protected anymore.”