Sean 'Diddy' Combs posts shocking statement after vile video of him beating, dragging girlfriend Cassie Ventura surfaces

For eight years — until the video was released — Combs vehemently denied Ventura's allegations of abuse.

"It's so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that," Diddy said in a video on Instagram in which he did not name Ventura or refer to her directly. "I was f—ed up. I hit rock bottom — but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable."

The rapper added: "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. I went and I sought out professional help, started going to therapy and rehab, had to ask God for his mercy and grace," he said. 

Ventura's lawyer, Meredith Firetog, hit back on Sunday afternoon:

"Combs' most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt. When Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday."

She added: "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."

Here's what we know about the allegations against Sean 'Diddy' Combs

• CNN released an exclusive video of Sean "Diddy" Combs abusing his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, on March 5, 2016.
• The Bad Boy Entertainment founder can be seen in the clip kicking, dragging, stomping and throwing items at the "Me and U" singer.
• Despite the viral clip, the LA District Attorney's Office says it can't prosecute Combs over the video because the incident took place too long ago and the statute of limitations has expired.
• 
  
  Diddy released an apology video for his actions on Instagram, citing his "inexcusable behavior" for beating Ventura and saying, "I was f-ked up."
• Ventura's lawyer Meredith Firetog lashed out at Diddy's "pathetic" apology, saying "Combs' most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt."
• Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs in November 2023 based on several allegations, including rape and physical abuse for over a decade.
• Combs and Ventura settled the lawsuit one day after she filed it.
• Model Crystal McKinney then filed a separate lawsuit accusing the rapper of drugging her and forcing her to perform oral sex on him during a 2003 visit to his NYC studio when she was 22.
• NYC Mayor Eric Adams says his administration is considering taking back Combs' key to the city after the horrifying footage surfaced.

The horrifying, caught-on-video attack, published Friday by CNN and dated March 5, 2016, shows the rapper and producer, wearing only a bath towel, running after Ventura at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles.

Combs can be seen grabbing her by the back of the neck and throwing her to the floor. He later can be seen kicking her twice as she lies still on the carpet. 

The 54-year-old rapper then dragged Ventura by her sweatshirt before walking away. 

Footage then shows Ventura slowly starting to stand up after the attack before Combs, still in a towel, returns and shoves her. 

A few seconds later, Combs sits in a chair, grabs an object from a table and throws it at Ventura, the footage shows. 

He walks away, only to turn toward Ventura yet again — just in time for someone to exit the elevator.

"The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs," Douglas H. Wigdor, a lawyer for Ventura, said in response to the video — which appeared to match the allegations in the latter's now-settled lawsuit against Combs.

"Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light," Wigdor added.

Ventura — who was in an off-and-on relationship with Combs between 2007 and 2018 — sued the Bad Boy Records founder in November 2023, alleging that he subjected her to years of violence and sexual abuse.

In the filing, Ventura alleged that Combs paid the InterContinental $50,000 for the security footage from a physical altercation in March 2016, according to CNN. 

During that attack, Ventura's complaint claimed, Combs became "extremely intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye."

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When Combs later fell asleep, Ventura tried to leave, but he woke up and allegedly "followed her into the hallway of the hotel while yelling at her." 

"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 lawsuit read.

Ventura was finally able to get away — but feared Combs' wrath, the complaint continued.

"Upon realizing that her running away would cause Mr. Combs to be even angrier with her, and completely stuck in his vicious cycle of abuse, Ms. Ventura returned to the hotel with the intention of apologizing for running away from her abuser," it stated.

"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."

The suit also claimed that Combs used his wealth and influence to control Ventura, whom he met when she was 19 and he was 37. 

Ventura was also signed with Combs' label and they were in business together through 2019. 

The suit was resolved the day after filing with an undisclosed settlement. At the time, Combs' attorney insisted that his client was innocent of "these offensive and outrageous allegations."

Since November, however, Combs has been hit with five other lawsuits accusing him of rape, sexual misconduct and other crimes.

In April, authorities raided his California and Florida mansions as part of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security team that deals with human trafficking.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.