A gruesome video has surfaced of American rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs violently assaulting his girlfriend at the time, Casandra Ventura, in a hotel corridor in March, 2016.
The disturbing footage was obtained and published by CNN last week, and corroborates the allegations of abuse and coercion Ventura made in a lawsuit in November last year. The case was almost immediately settled out of court, with Combs’ lawyer issuing a statement stressing his client’s innocence.
“Just so we’re clear, a decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing,” his lawyer said 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.”
The disturbing video shows Combs hitting, dragging and kicking Ventura in front of elevators at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles.
Ventura’s lawyer released a statement after the video was published last week, describing it as “gut-wrenching.”
“[The video] has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour of Mr. Combs,” her lawyer said.
“Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”
Ventura was in an off-and-on relationship with Combs between 2007 and 2018.
Ventura’s husband published an open letter on Instagram addressed “To women and children” on Friday night, saying “Men who hit women aren’t men. Men who enable it and protect these people aren’t men.”
“[T]he words ring true not just today but every day,” he expressed. “To all the survivors you’re not alone and there are men and women who care only for your well being and safety. To all the women and children, I’m sorry you live in a world where you’re not protected, and you don’t feel equal. I want my kids and every kid to live in a world that’s safe for women and girls, protects them and treats them as equals.”
Over the weekend, Combs posted a video on Instagram, apologising for his actions and describing them as “inexcusable.”
“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Combs said. “I was f — ed up. I hit rock bottom — but I make no excuses. My behaviour on that video is inexcusable.”
“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.”
The lawsuit
Last November, Ventura filed a lawsuit against her former partner, alleging Combs had subjected her to more than a decade of coercive abuse, “gaining control of all aspects of her life while plying her with drugs and alcohol.”
“After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships,” Ventura said in a statement.
According to the lawsuit, the pair met when Ventura was 19 and Combs was 37. Ventura had signed a record deal with Combs’ label Bad Boy Records in late 2005.
In the filing, Ventura claimed that on the night of the attacks shown in the video, Combs became “extremely intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye.” After Ventura attempted to leave the premise, Combs 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,” Ventura’s complaint read.
“Upon realising 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 apologising for running away from her abuser.”
“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 accused Combs of raping her in 2018, beating her, commanding her to carry a firearm to “make her uncomfortable and demonstrate how dangerous he is” and forcing her into “unwanted sexual encounters with male sex workers.”
She also alleged Combs paid the InterContinental Hotel $US50,000 for the security footage.
Why the police can’t charge Combs
Last week, after the video of the violent attack was released, The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office released a statement in which it said it was unable to charge Combs due to the statute of limitations in the state of California.
“[We are] unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted,” the statement read.
In California, the statute of limitations for misdemeanour assault is 12 months and three years for felony assault.
The office of district attorney George Gascón said he was “aware of the video that has been circulating online allegedly depicting Sean Combs assaulting a young woman in Los Angeles.”
“We find the images extremely disturbing and difficult to watch,” his statement read, before encouraging “anyone who has been a victim or witness to a crime to report it.”
Other lawsuits
Since November, Combs has been hit with multiple civil law suits accusing him of rape and sexual misconduct from the early 90s.
In April this year, federal agents with US Homeland Security raided two of the Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami as he faced a series of sex trafficking, sexual abuse and rape allegations.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via 1800RESPECT.org.au or text 0458 737 732.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au.