Warning: This article contains discussion of domestic violence which some readers may find distressing.
Cassie Ventura has hit back at Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ allegation that the video footage of him assaulting her was edited.
Combs is currently awaiting trial and being held at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after he was arrested in September 2024. He faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and prostitution - allegations he has denied.
In November 2023, Cassie filed a lawsuit against her ex alleging that he subjected her to a decade-long ‘cycle of abuse, violence and sex trafficking’.
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Ventura filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court in Manhattan alleging Combs 'frequently beat' her during their on-off relationship from 2007 to 2018.
Just one day later, Combs and Ventura announced they'd reached a settlement, however, footage was later shared online of an incident in 2016, which showed the rapper and producer chasing her through a corridor, wearing only a towel, before appearing to physically assault her.
In a statement, Ventura said: "After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships.
"With the expiration of New York’s Adult Survivors Act fast approaching, it became clear that this was an opportunity to speak up about the trauma I have experienced and that I will be recovering from for the rest of my life."
The video is dated as being from March 5, 2016 and shows Ventura and Combs at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles.
Ventura’s attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, told CNN: "The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs. Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light."
Cassie’s legal team has recently hit out against Combs’ claim that the hotel surveillance video is edited.
Wigdor said the footage is authentic and hopes that it will be admitted as evidence in Combs’ trial.
In a statement to DailyMail.com, the attorney said: “It’s not surprising Diddy would make a disingenuous argument to exclude the disturbing video from being shown to the jury in the upcoming trial.”
He added: “I am confident that the video fairly and accurately represents what happened, will be admitted into evidence, and that Combs will be held accountable for his depravity.”
This comes in response to Combs’ team alleging that CNN altered and even destroyed the original video, stating that it should be omitted from evidence in court.
Combs’ team told the Daily Mail: “Our written and oral communications with CNN’s counsel was clear - they destroyed the original video file they received from their source.”
CNN hit back, telling TMZ: “CNN never altered the video and did not destroy the original copy of the footage, which was retained by the source. CNN aired the story about the video several months before Combs was arrested.”
After the footage was released, Combs took to Instagram to apologize to Cassie, stating: “My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.
“I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now,” he added. “I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry. But I’m committed to be a better man each and every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”
UNILAD has reached out to Combs' representatives for comment.
Britt Jones