LOS ANGELES (AP) – Sean “Diddy” Combs admits to punching his ex-girlfriend, Kathy, in a hotel hallway in 2016 after CNN released video of the assault, saying in a video apology: I am truly sorry,” he said, calling his actions “unforgivable.”
“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted when I did it. I’m sick of it,” the music mogul said. said in a video statement It was posted on Instagram and Facebook on Sunday.
Security video aired Friday shows Combs, wearing only a white towel, punching and kicking R&B singer Cassie, who was his protégé and longtime girlfriend at the time. The footage also shows Combs pushing and dragging Kathy and throwing her vase of flowers at her.
Surveillance video from 2016 obtained by CNN shows Sean “Diddy” Combs violently grabbing, shoving, dragging and kicking his then-girlfriend, Kathy Ventura, during an argument at a California hotel. was. https://t.co/JrnJhWOaQt pic.twitter.com/xeRBtoGBDV
— CNN (@CNN) May 17, 2024
Kathy, whose real name is Cassandra Ventura, sued Combs in November, accusing her of years of sexual, physical and emotional abuse. The lawsuit was settled the next day, but Strict scrutiny of COMS has been accelerated.several more lawsuits were filed the following month, as well as a sex trafficking investigation by federal detectives, and authorities raided Combs’ residences in Los Angeles and Miami.
He has denied the allegations in the lawsuit, but neither he nor his representatives responded to the newly surfaced video until Sunday.
“It’s so hard to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you have to,” Diddy said in the video. Furthermore, he added: “I went to seek professional help. I went to therapy and started going to rehab. I had to ask for God’s mercy and grace. I’m sorry. But every day I I’m committed to being a better man. I’m not asking for forgiveness.”
In the self-shot apology video, Combs appears to be on a patio, looking gloomy and wearing a T-shirt. This is the hip-hop mogul’s most direct response and first apology to the allegations six months after they threatened his reputation and career.
Ventura in December at least 3 other women Combs had filed a lawsuit against him. posted a statement on Instagram Widely deny the truth of all of that.
“Let me be absolutely clear: I did nothing as terrible as is being alleged,” the post read.
Security camera footage dated March 5, 2016, closely resembles the depiction of the incident at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles’ Century City neighborhood described in Ventura’s lawsuit.
Combs paid the hotel $50,000 for security video shortly after the incident, according to the complaint. Neither he nor his representatives have addressed the specific allegations. CNN did not say how it obtained the footage.
Ventura tried to run away from the sleeping Combs, but Combs had already punched her in the face before the video began, according to the complaint.
Combs is not at risk of criminal prosecution for assault. The statute of limitations on the assault and battery charges he likely faces expired several years ago.
The same is true of many of the allegations in the lawsuit, but federal agents pursuing Mr. Combs are likely looking for potential crimes that could be brought under the law.
Ventura signed to Diddy’s label in 2005. The two had an on-and-off romantic relationship for over 10 years starting in 2007.
