Sean 'Diddy' Combs has taken responsibility for his actions in a recently leaked video that appears to show him assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. The music mogul expressed his disgust with his own behavior and revealed that he sought professional help, including therapy and rehab, in the aftermath of the incident.
In a self-recorded video posted on Instagram, Combs addressed the alarming footage, saying, "It's so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life. Sometimes you got to do that. I was f---ed up. I mean I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable." He added, "I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I'm disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it. I'm disgusted now."
The leaked video, obtained exclusively by CNN, shows Combs running down a hallway wearing only a towel around his waist and socks. When he reaches the elevators, he can be seen throwing a woman, presumably Ventura, to the ground, kicking her twice, and dragging her out of the camera's view. The incident seems to corroborate allegations made by Ventura in a lawsuit she filed against Combs in November 2023, accusing him of physical and sexual abuse. The lawsuit was dropped the following day, and an undisclosed settlement was reached.
Combs' apology did not directly reference Ventura, but he acknowledged the gravity of his actions and the steps he took to address his behavior. "I went and I sought out professional help. I had to go into therapy, and go to rehab," he revealed. "Had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I'm so sorry. But I'm committed to [being] a better man each and every day. I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'm truly sorry."
Following the video's release, Ventura's lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, told Fox News Digital, "The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs. Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light." The LA District Attorney's office confirmed that Combs cannot be prosecuted based on these allegations due to the statute of limitations.
Suzi Siegel, Combs' former assistant from 2008 to 2009, told CNN that while she never personally witnessed him being abusive toward Ventura during her time working for him, she was not surprised by the allegations or the recently surfaced footage. "I would say that I was around him a lot and I got a feeling for who he was," Siegel said. "I didn't see anything that could get him in trouble. But I think that [there's a] power dynamic in a situation like that - especially her, at the beginning of her career, so young and beautiful and talented."
Siegel added that she felt "sick and violently angry" by the recent developments, despite not having seen any corroborating evidence during her time as Combs' assistant. "Obviously, I saw it with the rest of America today. But when I saw it, I knew that it was something that he could be capable of," she said.
