Disturbing footage that reportedly shows rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura is making rounds. The CCTV footage, dated March 3, 2016, was first aired by CNN earlier this week. The video shows Ventura leaving a hotel room and waiting at the row of elevators when a shirtless man, presumed to be Combs, runs towards her. He then grabs her and shoves her to the ground along with her luggage. He then kicks her, before dragging her across the floor by her shirt. As per CNN, this footage was taken at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles.
Last year on November 16, Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs that accused him of rape, sex trafficking, and physical abuse. The next day, the two reached an undisclosed settlement and the lawsuit was dismissed.
In light of the above-mentioned CCTV footage, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office said that even though the “images were extremely disturbing and difficult to watch”, the state might not be able to file charges, as the assault case was too old to prosecute. In California, the statute of limitations for misdemeanour assault is one year and for most felony assault charges, it’s three years. The CCTV footage here is eight years old.
Ventura’s lawyer responded to the video in a statement and said, “The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour of Mr Combs.” He added, “Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”
Throughout his career Combs has settled several physical assault cases, dating as far as 1999, when record executive Steve Stoute sued Combs for beating him in his office. The lawsuit was dismissed after they reached an out-of-court settlement.
Just a few days after Ventura made her lawsuit public in November 2023, two more people came forward and filed lawsuits against Combs. On December 6, another woman filed a lawsuit against the record producer for raping her in 2003 when she was 17 years old.
Previously, in May 2017, Cindy Ruela, who worked as Combs’ personal chef, filed a lawsuit against him for sexual harassment. The lawsuit was settled out of court in 2019. This year, music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones also filed a lawsuit against Combs. He alleges that Combs drugged and sexually assaulted him. Jones also claimed that the multiple Grammy-winning rapper was also participating in sex and drug trafficking.
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