Sean “Diddy” Combs apologized Sunday for beating his ex-girlfriend Cassie, two days after CNN published video of the brutal 2016 attack in a Los Angeles hotel.
Combs, 54, admitted it is him seen in the disturbing video and said he was “truly sorry,” in a video statement he posted on social media.
“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video,” he said. “I was disgusted then, when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”
The video showed Combs, wearing only a towel, running through the hallway of the since-closed InterContinental Hotel. He catches up with Cassie, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, as she stands outside an elevator.
Combs grabs Cassie from behind, throws her violently to the ground, kicks her twice and begins dragging her along the floor. After Cassie eventually stands up and picks up a phone, Combs shoves a vase in her direction.
“I’m committed to be a better man each and every day,” Combs said Sunday. “I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”
Cassie, 37, filed a lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, accusing him of raping her and physically abusing her during their yearslong relationship. The video published Friday closely matches an assault described in the lawsuit dated to March 5, 2016.
In the suit, Cassie said Combs punched her and gave her a black eye, which is why she left the hotel room and walked to the elevator in the first place. She also claimed Combs paid hotel security $50,000 for the footage. CNN did not reveal how it obtained the video.
Combs and Cassie agreed to settle the lawsuit one day after it was filed, a shockingly quick resolution that sparked public suspicion. Before the video was published Friday, Combs had denied all the allegations against him.
Combs will not be charged for the assault because the statute of limitations has expired. In California, the statute of limitations is three years for aggravated assault and one year for simple assault.
However, federal authorities are investigating sex trafficking allegations against Combs, accusations also touched on in several civil lawsuits filed against the Bad Boy Records founder. Agents raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami on March 25.
The video was released one day after Combs’ former assistant and accused drug mule Brendan Paul cut a plea deal in a federal cocaine possession case against him. Paul, a 25-year-old former Syracuse basketball player, will avoid jail time as part of the agreement as long as he completes a diversion program.
