Sean “Diddy” Combs broke his silence after video footage showed him physically assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, at a California hotel in 2016.
Combs posted a video to Instagram on Sunday, writing in the caption: “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s very difficult to reflect on the darkest moments of your life, but sometimes you have to,” Combs said. “I was screwed. I mean, I hit rock bottom, but I can’t make any excuses.”
Combs called his behavior in the video “inexcusable.”
Cassie Ventura in October 2023. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
“I take full responsibility for my actions in this video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now,” he said.
Combs said he began therapy and rehabilitation following the events in that video.
“I am committed to becoming a better man every day,” he added.
Representatives for Combs did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Combs’ statement comes after CNN released video footage from March 2016 showing him physically assaulting Ventura at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. The images appeared to match an incident described by Ventura in a 2023 lawsuit against Combs. The lawsuit says Combs became intoxicated before punching Ventura and giving him a black eye.
The footage, compiled from multiple camera angles, shows Ventura leaving a hotel room and approaching a set of elevators.
Combs, wearing only a towel around his waist, then exits the hotel room and runs towards Ventura, whom he grabs by the neck and throws to the ground. The footage showed Combs shoving, dragging, kicking and throwing an object toward Ventura.
Ventura’s attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, called the footage “heartbreaking” in a statement to CNN.
“The heartbreaking video has only further confirmed Mr. Combs’ disturbing and predatory behavior. Words cannot express the courage and fortitude Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light,” Wigdor said .
Combs’ representatives declined to comment on the video footage at the time, CNN reported.
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been the subject of a series of lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
Ventura’s lawsuit against Combs accused him of rape and abuse during their ten-year relationship. Combs denied the allegations at the time.
The two reached a settlement just one day after the lawsuit was filed, according to the New York Times.
Although Ventura and Combs’ legal battle was cut short, he is still dealing with other legal issues after several other women accused him of sexual misconduct.
The consequences began to affect Combs’ business ventures, which span a range of industries. Revolt, a cable television network, announced on Instagram that Combs would step down as president.
According to Rolling Stone, more than 20 brands have severed ties with Combs’ marketplace for Black-owned businesses, Empower Global, following the accusations. The outlet also reported that Hulu canceled a planned reality TV show based on his family called “Diddy+7.”
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