Sean “Diddy” Combs issued an apology Sunday after footage emerged that appeared to show him beating his ex-girlfriend Cassie in 2016, matching the description of an alleged incident she detailed in a now-settled lawsuit.
Combs, who is the subject of a federal investigation and several civil lawsuits, released a video statement on his Instagram page in which he said his “behavior in that video is inexcusable.”
“It’s so hard to reflect on the darkest moments in your life, but sometimes you have to. I was screwed — I mean, I hit rock bottom — but I don’t make excuses,” Combs said. “My behavior in that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I am disgusted. I was disgusted when I did it. I am disgusted now.”
He said that after that incident, he “started going to therapy and rehabilitation.”
“I’m sorry,” Combs said. “But I am committed to being a better man every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness.
Cassie, 37, whose name is Casandra Ventura, alleged in a federal lawsuit in November that Combs raped and physically abused her, including punching, beating, kicking and stomping on her throughout their relationship. Her lawsuit included details of being assaulted by Combs in a hotel, which appeared to be confirmed by the video released by CNN on Friday.
Combs has previously denied his ex-partner’s allegations, calling them disgusting. He also said the settlement, announced the day after the lawsuit was filed, was “in no way” an admission of wrongdoing.
According to CNN, the video was captured in a hotel hallway in March 2016 and offers several angles of the incident, which begins when a woman in a hooded sweatshirt walks to the elevator with a bag in her hands. It then shows a man, identified by CNN as Combs, running down the hallway wrapped in a towel and shirtless.
He walks up behind a woman near an elevator and grabs her and throws her to the ground. The man then appears to kick her twice. He then begins dragging the woman by her hoodie while she is on the ground.
Moments later, he sits down in a chair before appearing to pick up an object and throw it. The video has no audio.
Douglas Wigdor, Cassie’s attorney, said Friday that the video “only further confirmed Mr.’s disturbing and predatory behavior. Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura demonstrated in coming forward to bring this the light.”
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office said in a statement Saturday that it was aware of the “disturbing and difficult to watch” video. Because the incident falls outside the statute of limitations for assault, the prosecutor said he would “be unable to charge” anyone in connection with the video.
“To date, authorities have not brought any cases related to the attack depicted in the video against Mr. Combs,” the statement said.
Combs is, however, the subject of a federal investigation and had his properties in California and Florida raided in March by Homeland Security Investigations agents. Agents executed search warrants from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and seized the music mogul’s phones in Miami before he was scheduled to leave for a trip to the Bahamas.
Since Cassie came forward with her allegations against Combs last year, the rapper has been the target of five lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault, sex trafficking and involvement in other criminal activities.
Combs denied all allegations and filed court paperwork seeking to dismiss a Jane Doe lawsuit and partially dismiss another woman’s lawsuit.
One of his attorneys, Aaron Dyer, also released a statement after the March federal raids saying Combs was innocent. He described the operation as an ambush, saying there was a rush to judgment based on “unfounded accusations made in civil actions.”
“There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability in any of these allegations,” Dyer said.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
