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Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura’s lawyer has responded to Sean “Diddy” Combs’ apology following the release of hotel footage that shows him allegedly assaulting the singer in 2016.
Meredith Firetog, who represents Ms. Ventura and other women who have sued Mr. Combs, said that the singer’s apology was “more about himself than the many people he has hurt.”
“When Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday,” she said in a statement.
“That he was only compelled to ‘apologize’ once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words.”
Mr. Combs admitted to the allegations of him beating his ex-girlfriend, Ms. Ventura, in a hotel hallway in 2016 after a video of the alleged incident was released by CNN on May 17.
The rapper soon released a video apologizing for the attack on Ms. Ventura, saying he was “truly sorry” and that his actions were “inexcusable.”
“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now,” Diddy said in the video statement posted to Facebook and Instagram on May 19.
“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Mr. Combs said in the video, wearing a T-shirt with a solemn expression on his face.
He added “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.”
The security video from the incident shows Mr. Combs in a hotel hallway, wearing a white bath towel around his waist, punching, pulling, and kicking Ms. Ventura, an R&B singer.
Another part of the video appears to show Mr. Combs dragging Ms. Ventura, who was also his protege and throwing a vase at her.
The video, dated March 5, 2016, appears to closely align with the allegations made against him by Ms. Ventura in her November 2023 lawsuit, which describes an incident that occurred at an InterContinental Hotel in the Century City area of Los Angeles.
In the suit, Mr. Combs is alleged to have paid the hotel $50,000 for the security video immediately after the incident in an attempt to erase any evidence against him.
Mr. Combs or his representatives neither denied nor confirmed the allegations, and CNN has not offered any statement on how the footage was obtained.
The suit further alleged that Ms. Ventura tried to get away from a sleeping Mr. Combs, after he had already punched her in the face prior to the recorded security footage.
In December, following Ms. Ventura’s and three other women’s lawsuits against him, Mr. Combs posted a statement in which he staunchly denied any involvement in the incidents.
“Let me be absolutely clear. I did not do any of the awful things being alleged,” that post said.
Singer and model Cassie Ventura (L) and rapper Diddy (aka Sean Combs) arrive for the traditional Clive Davis party on the eve of the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in New York on Jan. 28, 2018. (Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images)
While Mr. Combs is unlikely to face criminal prosecution for the attack seen in the video and other allegations in Ms. Ventura’s suit due to the statutes of limitations expiring years ago, he is the subject of a federal investigation. Federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement officials raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami in March. He has not been charged, and the investigation is still ongoing.
Mr. Combs and Ms. Ventura started an on-off romantic relationship in 2007, which lasted for more than a decade. Prior to this, Ms. Ventura had signed to Mr. Combs’s label in 2005.
Ms. Ventura and Mr. Combs split in 2018, shortly before she met her now-husband, Alex Fine.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
From NTD News
