A 2016 surveillance camera footage has just been obtained by CNN which shows rap mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs beating up his girlfriend at the time, Cassie Ventura and then dragging her across the floor. The video is seemingly dated 5 March, 2016.
The horrific video shows Ventura exiting a hotel room and standing in an elevator lobby while putting her shoes on. Diddy is then seen running towards her wearing only a towel. He grabs her and throws her down to the floor. He then kicks her.
Ventura lies motionless on the ground whilst Diddy picks up her purse and suitcase from the floor and then kick her again. He then grabs her sweatshirt and starts dragging her across the floor before walking away.
Ventura slowly stands up when Diddy walks back to her and shoves her. Moments after, Diddy sits down on a chair and throws an object toward Ventura.
A lawyer for Ventura, Douglas Wigdor, released a statement, saying: "The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour of Mr Combs. Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”
Ventura’s husband Alex Fine released a statement after the footage was released: “Men who hit women aren’t men. Men who enable it and protect those people aren’t men. As men, violence against women shouldn’t be inevitable. Check your brothers, your friends, and your family. Our daughters, sisters, mothers, and wives should feel protected and loved. Hold the women in your life with the upmost regard. To the abusers, you’re done, you’re not safe anymore, you’re not protected anymore, the men by your side are just as weak, you’re so miserable with yourself that death would be considered a kindness.”
In a now settled federal lawsuit last year, Ventura claimed that “around March 2016” Diddy had become “extremely intoxicated and punched Ms Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye”.
The documents said: "After he fell asleep, Ms Ventura tried to leave the hotel room, but as she exited, Mr Combs awoke and began screaming at Ms Ventura. He 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 also claimed that the now obtained footage had been purchased by Diddy for $50,000.
The case had accused him of rape and also sexual trafficking. It was settled over an undisclosed amount of money in November last year.
After the settlement, Diddy’s lawyer said in a statement: "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.”
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