Cassie Ventura’s legal team slammed Sean “Diddy” Combs’ apology video days after surveillance footage of him assaulting her in 2016 leaked online.
On Sunday, the music mogul posted a minute-long video addressing the disturbing footage, in which he could be seen beating, kicking and dragging his ex in the hallway of a hotel. Although admitting he was “truly sorry” for his “inexcusable behavior,” he never mentioned Ventura by name in the apology clip.
“Combs’ most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt,” Meredith Firetog, a partner at Wigdor LLP, the legal firm representing Ventura, told Page Six in a statement Sunday.
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“When Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday,” she continued. “That he was only compelled to ‘apologize’ once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words.”
In Combs’ apology, he explained that it is “so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that.”
At the time of the assault, the “I’ll Be Missing You” rapper claimed he was “f—ked up” and had “hit rock bottom.”
“My behavior on that video is inexcusable,” he said. “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it and I’m disgusted now.”
Shortly after the assault, which happened in 2016, Combs said he “sought out professional help” and started going to “therapy and rehab” regularly.
“I’m so sorry but I am committed to being a better man each and every day,” he concluded. “I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”
The “Me & U” singer filed a bombshell lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, claiming he physically abused and raped her, amongst other things, throughout their decade-long on-again, off-again reltationship.
Although Combs called her claims “offensive and outrageous,” the pair settled for an undisclosed amount just one day after the filing.
However, the rapper’s legal team later said the settlement was in “no way an admission of wrongdoing.”
In Ventura’s filing, she detailed the 2016 hotel assualt, claiming that Combs was “extremely intoxicated” and punched her “in the face,” leaving a “black eye.”
When she tried to leave the room, with her hoodie up to conceal the injury, Combs — clad in only a towel — chased her down.
“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 filing stated.
In the video, Combs could be seen dragging Ventura to the ground by her neck before kicking her repeatedy. He then dragged her by the hood across the hall.
“The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs,” Ventura’s attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, said in a statement to Page Six last week.
“Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
