Sean “Diddy” Combs issued an apology on Sunday after a surveillance video from 2016 surfaced, showing him physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Casandra Ventura. The video corroborates Ventura’s allegations from a lawsuit she filed last year. Combs has faced several civil lawsuits accusing him of being a violent sexual predator who used alcohol and drugs to subdue his victims. His homes were also raided by federal agents earlier this year.
In the video, Combs is seen hitting, dragging, and kicking Ventura, who claimed in her lawsuit that he subjected her to coercion through physical force and drugs over a decade, including a rape in 2018. Combs expressed remorse in an Instagram video, stating that his behavior in the video was inexcusable and that he sought professional help, including therapy and rehab, after the incident. He apologized and committed to being a better man every day.
Ventura’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, released a statement condemning Combs’ behavior in the video as disturbing and predatory. Ventura initially filed a lawsuit against Combs last fall, which was settled out of court, but it was followed by additional sexual assault claims against the rapper. The two had met when she was 19 and he was 37, and he later signed her to his label and they began a romantic relationship.
Combs has consistently denied all accusations against him, stating in a December 2023 statement on Instagram that people were trying to assassinate his character and destroy his reputation and legacy. In March, federal agents conducted a high-profile raid on Combs’ properties in Miami and Los Angeles, suggesting that an investigation into the rapper is underway. Despite the ongoing legal and public scrutiny, Combs remains committed to improving himself and addressing the allegations against him.