A 2016 surveillance video obtained exclusively by CNN shows Sean “Diddy” Combs grabbing, pushing, dragging and kicking his then-girlfriend Cassia Ventura during an altercation that corresponds to allegations in a now resolved federal action filed by Ventura in November.
The footage, compiled from multiple camera angles dated March 5, 2016, appears to show the rapper, producer and business mogul during an incident that, according to Ventura’s complaint, took place at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles . CNN verified the location based on publicly available photos of the former hotel’s interior.
In the video, Ventura leaves a hotel room and walks to a set of elevators. Combs, holding a towel around his waist, runs down a hallway after Ventura. He grabs her by the back of the head and throws her to the ground. Still holding the towel closed with one hand, he turns to kick it, the video shows.
While Ventura is on the floor, Combs grabs a bag and a suitcase from the floor near the elevators. He turns around and kicks Ventura again as she lies motionless on the ground. About four seconds pass between the two kicks, according to the video. He then briefly drags Ventura by his hoodie towards a room before walking away.
Ventura is then seen slowly getting up. She gathers items from the floor and goes to get a phone from the wall in the hallway, near the elevators. Combs, still wearing a towel and socks, returns. A mirror in front of the security camera shows Combs appearing to push Ventura.
Seconds later, he sits down on a chair, picks up an object from a table and throws it forcefully towards Ventura. Combs is seen walking away and then turns to Ventura once again as the elevator door opens and someone appears to step out.
Ventura, who reached an undisclosed settlement with Combs, declined to comment on the video obtained by CNN.
Ventura’s attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, said, “The distressing video only further confirmed Mr. Combs’ disturbing and predatory behavior. Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura demonstrated in coming forward to bring this to light.”
CNN has reached out to Combs’ representatives for comment. Combs has previously denied Ventura’s allegations.
When contacted by CNN, a representative for InterContinental Hotels said on Friday: “This hotel is no longer under the management of IHG and we do not have any access to records or footage of previous incidents.”
The Ventura process
Combs and Ventura, a model and singer known for songs like “Me & U,” had an on-and-off relationship from 2007 to 2018. The two were photographed together at the premiere of the film “A Perfect Match” in Los Angeles. on March 7, 2016.
According to Ventura’s complaint, which cited the altercation as occurring “in or around March 2016,” Combs became “extremely intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye.”
After Combs fell asleep, Ventura tried to leave the hotel room, but woke up and “followed her into the hotel hallway while yelling at her,” the complaint said.
“He grabbed her, picked up glass vases from the hallway and threw them at her, causing the glass to shatter around them as she ran to the elevator to escape,” the complaint alleged.
After Ventura entered the elevator, her complaint states she took a taxi to her apartment.
“Upon realizing that her escape would leave Mr. Combs even more angry with her, and completely trapped in his vicious cycle of abuse, Ms. Ventura returned to the hotel with the intention of apologizing for running away from her attacker,” the claims of complaint. “When she returned, hotel security staff asked her to get back in a taxi and go to her apartment, suggesting that they had seen security footage showing Mr. Combs beating Ms. Combs.
The complaint alleges that Combs paid InterContinental Century City $50,000 for security footage of the hallway, one of several allegations made in the November lawsuit in which Ventura stated she was raped in 2018 and subjected to years of repeated physical and other abuse by Combs.
Ventura, who is formally signed to Combs’ record label, claimed in her lawsuit that he “exerted his power and influence” over her throughout their professional and romantic relationship. According to the complaint, she was 19 when they met and Combs was 37, and their business relationship lasted until 2019. It detailed allegations that Combs was physically violent with Ventura and forced her to engage in multiple sexual acts with other men during this period.
Ben Brafman, Combs’ attorney, said in a statement to CNN the day the request was filed: “Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations.”
The case was resolved the next day.
“The decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing,” Brafman told CNN in a statement at the time. “Sir. Combs’ decision to settle the lawsuit in no way undermines his categorical denial of the claims. He is happy that they have reached a mutual agreement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best.”
Details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Ongoing legal issues
Since November, Combs faced five other civil lawsuits accusing him of a range of sexual misconduct and other illegal activities. He denied the accusations and cases stay active.
Authorities searched Combs’ homes in California and Florida in March as part of a federal investigation by a Department of Homeland Security team dealing with human trafficking crimes, according to a senior federal official briefed on the investigation. . The investigation stems from many of the same sexual assault allegations made in civil actionsaccording to a second law enforcement source familiar with the search.
Aaron Dyer, Combs’ attorney, issued a statement at the time, calling the searches an “excessive use of military-grade force.”
“This unprecedented ambush – coupled with an advanced and coordinated media presence – leads to a premature rush to judgment for Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on baseless accusations made in civil proceedings,” he said. “There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every day to clear his name.”
CNN’s Kevin Flower and Megan Thomas contributed to this story.
Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is struggling with intimate partner violence, there are resources available, including the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
An earlier version of this story misstated when the searches of Combs’ homes occurred. They occurred in March.
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