Nearly 48 hours after CNN exclusively aired disturbing surveillance footage appearing to show Sean “Diddy” Combs physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016, the hip-hop mogul has issued an apology.
On Friday, CNN published the hotel security video from March 5, 2016, which seems to depict Combs grabbing, shoving, dragging and kicking Ventura during an altercation. The footage closely matches allegations made in a November 2023 lawsuit filed by Ventura, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, that was quickly settled.
Despite requests for comment when the video first aired, representatives for the influential music executive and founder of Bad Boy Records initially remained silent as backlash mounted online and in media coverage.
However, on Sunday morning, Combs broke his silence by posting a video apology on Instagram. “It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” he stated. “I was f****d up – I hit rock bottom – but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.”
Combs, who did not mention Ventura by name, expressed disgust at his own actions depicted in the footage. “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I am disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”
The apology marks a stark reversal from Combs’ previous blanket denials of the abuse allegations in Ventura’s lawsuit, in which she claimed he raped her in 2018 amid years of physical and other abusive behavior during their relationship.
Ventura’s attorney, Meredith Firetog, deemed Combs’ statement “more about himself than the many people he has hurt” and questioned the sincerity, noting he only apologized “once his repeated denials were proven false.”
Combs also said in the video that he “sought out professional help” by going “to therapy, going to rehab.” He added, “I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”
The emergence of the hotel surveillance footage lends credibility to the numerous allegations of misconduct raised against Combs in recent civil lawsuits and a reported federal criminal investigation. As one of hip-hop’s most influential figures, his actions and response carry significant weight.