Los Angeles, CA – Sean “Diddy” Combs has recently made a public apology for his actions in 2016, where he assaulted his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, in a hotel hallway. The CCTV footage released by CNN captured the incident, showing Combs punching, kicking, shoving, dragging, and throwing objects at Cassie, who is an R&B singer. In his video statement posted on Instagram and Facebook, Combs expressed deep remorse for his behavior, acknowledging that his actions were “inexcusable” and taking full responsibility for his violent behavior.
Following the release of the video, Cassie, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, filed a lawsuit against Combs, alleging years of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. The lawsuit was settled the next day, but it sparked further scrutiny of Combs, leading to additional lawsuits and a federal criminal sex-trafficking investigation that involved raids on Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami.
While Combs had previously denied the allegations in the lawsuits, he chose to address the newly emerged video only recently through a heartfelt apology. In the apology video, Combs appears somber and reflective, expressing his commitment to self-improvement through therapy and seeking God’s grace.
Legal representative Meredith Firetog, who represents Ventura and other women suing Combs, criticized his apology, stating that it seemed more focused on himself than the harm he caused to others. Firetog emphasized that Combs had initially denied the allegations and only chose to apologize after the evidence proved otherwise, questioning the sincerity of his words.
Despite Combs’ denial of the allegations in the lawsuits, the video evidence closely resembled the incident described in Ventura’s lawsuit against him. The suit claimed that Combs had paid the hotel $50,000 for the security footage immediately after the altercation, a specific detail that Combs and his representatives have not addressed.
Although Combs is not facing criminal prosecution for the assault due to the expiration of statutes of limitations, federal investigators are likely exploring other potential charges. Ventura, who signed with Combs’ label in 2005, had a complicated romantic relationship with him for over a decade. The public apology from Combs marks a significant turning point in the ongoing scrutiny of his actions and reputation.