Note: The story below mentions and describes acts of domestic violence. If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit https://www.thehotline.org/.
A video obtained by CNN reportedly shows media mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura on March 5, 2016 at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles.
The video appears to show Combs running down a hallway with a towel wrapped around his waist. Early in the video, he takes a left turn and approaches another person, reportedly identified as Ventura, standing in front of the elevators. The video appears to show Combs’ grabing her by the neck, throwing her down and kicking her. As she lays motionless on the floor, Diddy reportedly grabs her belongings and kicks her twice before attempting to drag her down the hallway. Unable to drag her back to the room, Diddy exits the video frame as Cassie is seen walking toward and picking up a phone on the wall of the elevator area in the hotel. Afterward, video obtained by CNN shows Combs returning the elevator area, shoving Cassie and throwing multiple objects.
Combs nor InterContinental Hotels has publicly commented on the video. However, Ventura’s attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, called it “gut-wrenching.”
“The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs,” Ventura stated.
“Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”
Combs and Ventura were photographed at the premiere of Lionsgate’s A Perfect Match starring Ventura and Terrence J on the night of March 7, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. In a previously filed complaint against Combs, Ventura described an altercation that took place “around March 2016.” Among other things, the complaint accuses Combs of becoming intoxicated and punching Ventura several times, leaving her with a black eye. After he fell asleep, the complaint indicates that she left the room, but he woke up and “followed her into the hallway of the hotel while yelling at her.”
“He grabbed at her, and then took glass vases in the hallway and threw them at her, causing glass to crash around them as she ran to the elevator to escape,” the complaint reads.
Ventura claims she eventually left the hotel and went to her apartment. However, the complaint suggests that she returned to the hotel later on because she felt that “running away would cause Mr. Combs to be even angrier with her, and completely stuck in his vicious cycle of abuse.”
“Ms. Ventura returned to the hotel with the intention of apologizing for running away from her abuser,” the complaint adds.
“When she returned, hotel security staff urged her to get back into a cab and go to her apartment, suggesting that they had seen the security footage showing Mr. Combs beating Ms. Ventura and throwing glass at her in the hotel hallway.”
On Thursday, November 16, 2023, Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs, accusing him of raping and physically abusing her throughout their relationship. On Friday, November 17, 2023, the two parties reached a settlement. However, Combs maintained that the settlement is not an admission of guilt.
“Mr. Combs’ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims,” attorney Ben Brafman stated.
“He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best.”
