Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs, allegedly attacks Cassie Ventura in a 2016 surveillance video obtained by CNN.
The video footage, taken on March 5, 2016, shows a well-known rapper, producer, and entrepreneur involved in a confrontation at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, LA. CNN validated the location using publicly available photos of the hotel's interior.
The video depicts Ventura walking toward the elevators, with Combs, wrapped in a towel, chasing after her. He grabs Ventura by the back of the neck and pushes her to the floor. While still holding the towel, he kicks her, and then goes back to pick up a purse and a suitcase near the elevators. Combs kicks Ventura again while she lies motionless, drags her by her sweater, and eventually leaves.
Ventura eventually gets up and picks up a phone on the wall. Combs, still wearing a towel and socks, returns, appears to shove Ventura before sitting on a chair and throwing something at her. He turns around again as someone exits an elevator door.
Ventura, who reached a settlement with Combs, declined to comment.
Ventura's attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, stated, "The heartbreaking video merely reinforces the disturbing and predatory conduct of Mr. Combs. It's impossible to find the words to describe the bravery and resilience that Ventura has shown in coming forward."
We reached out to representatives for Combs and InterContinental Hotels for comment. Combs has denied Ventura's accusations before.
The lawsuit against Combs
Ventura and Combs had an on-and-off relationship from 2007 to 2018. They attended the Los Angeles premiere of the movie "A Perfect Match" together on March 7, 2016.
As per Ventura's complaint, which cited the incident as taking place "around March 2016," Combs became "extremely intoxicated" and punched Ventura in the face, causing a black eye. After falling asleep, she attempted to leave the hotel room, but he woke up and followed her into the hallway while yelling at her.
"He grabbed at her, and then took glass vases in the hallway and threw them at her, causing glass to shatter around them as she ran to the elevator to escape," the complaint alleged.
Ventura took a cab to her apartment following the incident.
"Upon realizing that her running away would make her abuser even angrier, and completely trapped 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 claims. "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."
Ventura's lawsuit alleged Combs paid the InterContinental Century City $50,000 for the hallway security footage from that time. This incident is one of many allegations made in the November lawsuit where Ventura claimed she was raped in 2018 and subjected to years of physical and other abuses by Combs.
Ventura, who was signed to Combs' label, stated in her lawsuit that he used his power and influence over her throughout their professional and romantic relationship. According to the complaint, she was 19 when they first met, and their business relationship continued until 2019. It detailed claims of physical violence from Combs towards Ventura and forced her to engage in sex acts with other men during that time.
Ben Brafman, an attorney for Combs, said in a statement to CNN the day the lawsuit was filed, "Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations."
The suit was resolved the following day.
"A decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing," Brafman told CNN in a statement at the time. "Mr. Combs' decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best."
Details of the settlement were not disclosed.
Continuing legal woes
Since November, Combs has faced five other civil lawsuits accusing him of a variety of sexual misconduct and other illegal activities. He has denied the accusations, and the cases are all still ongoing.
Authorities investigated Combs' homes in California and Florida in April as part of a federal inquiry conducted by a Homeland Security team specializing in human trafficking crimes, informed a senior federal law enforcement official involved in the probe. The investigation originated from numerous sexual assault accusations raised in the civil lawsuits, shared a second law enforcement insider knowledgeable about the searches.
Aaron Dyer, a lawyer for Combs, released a statement then, describing the raids as an "excessive application of military-grade force."
"This excessive surprise raid, accompanied by a sophisticated, synchronized media presence, culminates in a hasty judging of Mr. Combs and is simply a witch hunt driven by groundless allegations filed in civil litigation," he said. "No finding of criminal or civil responsibility has been established with any of these assertions. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continuously defend himself, striving to clear his name."
CNN's Kevin Flower and Megan Thomas aided in reporting this story.
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Despite the legal settlement, Ventura's attorney continued to criticize Combs' behavior, stating that the Entertainment industry should hold its prominent figures accountable for such actions. The video evidence of the incident further highlighted the seriousness of the allegations against Combs, raising questions about his conduct within the Entertainment industry.
Source: edition.cnn.com
