Cassie Breaks Silence as Video Releases of Diddy’s Hotel Assault

Cassie Ventura is speaking out publicly for the first time since a 2016 video surfaced showing her then-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulting her in a hotel.

“Thank you for all the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I haven’t met yet,” Ventura wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “The outpouring of love has created a place where my younger self can settle down and feel safe now, but that’s just the beginning.”

“Domestic violence is THE problem. It changed me into someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always recover from my past,” said continued Ventura. “Thank you to everyone who took the time to take this matter seriously. My only request is that EVERYONE opens their hearts to believing victims the first time. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth in a situation in which you were helpless in.”

Diddy apologizes after video of alleged assault surfaces: ‘I’ve hit rock bottom’

Ventura ended his statement with a message to those going through similar situations, saying: “I extend my hand to those who still live in fear. Reach out to your people, don’t cut them off. No one should carrying this weight alone. This healing journey is endless, but this support means everything to me.

Combs apologized in a video earlier this week after CNN released surveillance footage on May 17 showing Combs chasing Ventura down a hallway, grabbing her by the back of the neck, pushing her to the ground and kicking her as she lay on the ground. .

“I’ve hit rock bottom, but I can’t make any excuses,” he said in part. “My behavior in this video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in this video.”

Ventura’s attorney released a statement in response to Diddy’s video, saying, “Combs’ most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt.”

The story continues

In November 2023, Ventura settled a lawsuit against Combs that accused him of sex trafficking and sexual assault. According to court filings, Ventura alleged that Combs “often hit, beat, kicked and stomped on her” during their relationship.

Combs is facing a series of civil lawsuits that accuse the music mogul of allegations including rape, sex trafficking and more. The latest, the sixth overall, was filed this week by former model Crystal McKinney, who claims she was “drugged and sexually assaulted” by Combs after meeting him at a 2003 Fashion Week event in New York.

MORE: Sean “Diddy” Combs faces new civil lawsuit

ABC News contacted Combs about McKinney’s civil lawsuit, but did not hear back.

Combs is also the target of an ongoing federal investigation into allegations of human and sex trafficking, which culminated in a search of his homes in Los Angeles and Miami by federal agents in March. He has denied any wrongdoing related to this investigation.

If you or a loved one is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or access help through their chat at thehotline.org.

ABC News’ Julia Reinstein contributed to this report.

Cassie breaks silence as video surfaced of Diddy assault in hotel, originally posted on goodmorningamerica.com