Surveillance video from 2016 seems to indicate Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, at a lodge, matching an assault allegation Ventura made in a now-settled lawsuit towards the hip-hop mogul in November.
Within the video, obtained by CNN and dated March 5, 2016, Combs seems to push Ventura to the bottom close to an elevator, kick her a number of occasions whereas she is mendacity on the ground, and drag her down a hallway.
After briefly dragging Ventura down the hallway, Combs, wrapped solely in a shower towel, seems to let her go. He then sees Ventura getting up earlier than selecting up a few of her belongings from the ground and transferring in direction of a cellphone within the hallway close to the elevators. Combs can then be seen returning and apparently pushing Ventura. Just a few seconds later, he sits in a chair, grabs an object from a desk, and seems to throw it at her. He then walks away earlier than turning to Ventura as soon as extra, simply as one of many elevator doorways opens and somebody is seen leaving.
“The heartbreaking video has solely additional confirmed Mr. Combs’ disturbing and predatory conduct,” stated Ventura’s legal professional, Douglas Wigdorin a press release despatched to Billboard. “There aren’t any phrases to precise the braveness and energy that Ms. Ventura has proven in talking out to carry this to gentle.”
A consultant for Combs didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Billboard.
Ventura sued Combs on November 16, 2023, alleging that he repeatedly bodily abused her over a decade, together with an allegation of rape when she tried to go away him in 2018. She additionally accused Combs of forcing her to have intercourse with staff. sexual whereas he masturbated. In a press release on the time, Combs’ legal professional, Ben Brafman, stated the hip-hop large “vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations,” arguing that Ventura had “persistently demanded” a $30 million cost within the six months previous to his lawsuit. Ventura’s legal professional disputed Brafman’s assertion, saying as a substitute that Combs supplied Ventura an “eight-figure” quantity to silence her and forestall the submitting of this lawsuit.
The case, introduced below a newly enacted regulation in New York that created a restricted window for abuse survivors to take authorized motion over years-old allegations that may in any other case be barred below the statute of limitations, was resolved the day after be introduced.
Ventura was in an on-and-off relationship with Combs for 11 years till they broke up in 2018. Within the lawsuit, she stated she met Combs in 2005, when she was 19 and he was 37. After signing along with his label Dangerous Boy Data, Ventura claimed that Combs “lured” her right into a romantic relationship wherein he had “full management” over her life.
Since Ventura filed his lawsuit, Combs has been hit with 4 further sexual misconduct lawsuits. In November, the tycoon resigned as chairman of his digital media firm Revolt earlier than reportedly promoting his stake within the firm in March. Additionally in March, federal brokers raided Combs’ houses in Los Angeles and Miami “in connection” with a federal investigation into intercourse trafficking, in response to CNN.
Combs has strongly denied all sexual assault allegations made towards him. “Let me be completely clear: I didn’t do any of the horrible issues which might be alleged,” he stated in a press release posted on social networks December sixth. “I’ll battle for my identify, my household and for the reality.”