Sean “Diddy” Combs shared a video apology on his Instagram on Sunday, acknowledging his behavior in recently released footage that showed him allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016 as “inexcusable.”
The surveillance video dated March 5, 2016, was initially obtained by CNN and seems to support Ventura’s claims made in a lawsuit that was since settled, accusing Diddy of being physically abusive and violent towards her.
“It’s challenging to confront the darkest times in your past, but sometimes it’s necessary. I was at my lowest. I hit rock bottom, but that’s no excuse,” Combs stated in his apology video. “The behavior in that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions. I am repulsed. I was repulsed then, and I am repulsed now.”
Previously, he denied all of Ventura’s accusations, with his attorney dismissing them as “baseless and outrageous lies intended to smear Mr. Combs’s character and extort money.”
“I am deeply sorry. I am committed to growing as a better man every day. I am not seeking forgiveness. I am genuinely sorry,” Combs continued in his apology.
Ventura chose not to comment following the release of the footage, but her lawyer provided a statement to Scripps News.
“The heart-wrenching video further confirms the alarming and predatory actions of Mr. Combs,” said Ventura’s attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor. “Words cannot express the bravery and resilience that Ms. Ventura has exhibited by coming forward to expose this.”
Combs and Ventura had a relationship from 2007 to 2018. Ventura filed a federal lawsuit against him in November, stating that the music mogul began mistreating her when she was 19. Allegations included physical abuse, drug provision, coercion into sexual acts, and a rape incident in 2018.
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She also claimed to be a victim of sex trafficking due to the multiple coerced sexual encounters across different locations. Federal authorities raided two of Combs’ residences in March as part of a sex trafficking investigation, as reported by The Associated Press.
The lawsuit was resolved the day after it was filed.
Combs has faced accusations in other lawsuits, including one from a music producer alleging Combs was involved in a criminal enterprise dealing with drugs, firearms, and sex workers, some of whom were minors.
He has refuted all allegations made against him in the remaining lawsuits, calling them “sickening.”
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The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office issued a statement on social media on Saturday, acknowledging the video circulating online and describing it as “extremely disturbing.” However, the DA’s office mentioned that if the video incident occurred in 2016, it falls beyond the statute of limitations for assault charges.
“We urge anyone who has been a victim or witness of a crime to report it to law enforcement or seek assistance from our Bureau of Victims Services,” the statement concluded.
