Cassie Ventura Breaks Silence On Diddy’s Horrifying Abuse Footage: 'No One Should Carry This Weight Alone'
Cassie Ventura broke her silence in an open letter nearly one week after video of her then-boyfriend Sean 'Diddy' Combs brutally assaulting her in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel was released.
The footage dates back to March 2016, showing a violent Combs chasing Ventura down the hallway to a nearby elevator where the 'Me & U' singer attempted to escape. Combs grabbed her by her neck, threw her to the ground and proceeded to kick and stomp on her before dragging her by her sweatshirt.
For the first time since the video's release, Ventura, 37, responded online, thanking her supporters for their love and support. She expressed that she finally feels "safe," and urges people to believe DV victims "the first time."
"Thank you for all of the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those have yet to meet. The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning. Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work. I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past," she wrote via Instagram.
"Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to take this matter seriously. My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in," she wrote. "I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear. Reach out to your people, don't cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone. This healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me. Thank you. Love Always, Cassie."
Combs — who up until this point declared himself innocent — went from denial to admission, apologizing for the footage in an Instagram video. "It's so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life but sometimes you got to do that," the Bad Boy Records' founder said. "I hit rock bottom but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I am disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it. I'm disgusted now."
However, not long ago, the rapper sang a different tune alongside his lawyer Ben Brafman.
In November 2023, the R&B singer and Combs reached "an amicable" settlement just one day after she filed an explosive lawsuit against the embattled producer, accusing him of sexual assault and physical abuse.
Brafman issued a statement doubling down on Combs' innocence. "Just so we're clear, a decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing," Brafman told the media, per The Hollywood Reporter.
"Mr. Combs' decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims," he said. "He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best."
