Sean “Diddy” Combs apologized Sunday after footage was released showing him hitting his ex-girlfriend Cassie in 2016, matching the description of an incident she described in a now-settled lawsuit.
Combs, who is the subject of a federal investigation and numerous civil lawsuits, posted a video statement on his Instagram page saying his “conduct on that video is inexcusable.”
“It’s so hard to think about the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you have to do that. I was confused — I mean, I hit rock bottom — but I’m not making excuses,” Combs said. “My behavior in that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted by it. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted by it now.”
He said he “went into therapy and rehabilitation” after that incident.
“I’m so sorry,” Combs said. “But I am determined to be a better man every day. I am not asking for forgiveness. I am truly sorry.”
Cassie, 37, whose name is Casandra Ventura, alleged in a federal lawsuit in November that Combs raped and physically abused her, including hitting, kicking and stomping her during their relationship. Her lawsuit included details of Combs’ sexual assault at a hotel, which appeared to be supported by the video released by CNN on Friday.
Combs had previously denied his former partner’s allegations, calling them sickening. He also said the settlement, announced a day after the lawsuit was filed, was “in no way” an admission of wrongdoing.
According to CNN, the video was shot in a hotel hallway in March 2016 and offers multiple angles of the incident, which begins when a woman in a hooded sweatshirt walks to the elevator with a bag in her hands. A man, identified by CNN as Combs, is then seen running down the hallway in a towel without a shirt on.
He walks up behind a woman at an elevator, grabs her and throws her to the ground. The man then appears to kick her twice. He then begins dragging the woman by her sweatshirt as she lies on the ground.
Moments later, he sits in a chair before appearing to pick up an object and throw it. The video images do not have sound.
Douglas Wigdor, an attorney for Cassie, said Friday that the video “only further validated Mr. Combs’ disturbing and predatory behavior. Words cannot express the courage and determination Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to expose this.”
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 no one could be charged in connection with the video.
“As of today, law enforcement has not filed a case related to the attack on Mr. Combs depicted in the video,” the statement said.
However, Combs is the subject of a federal investigation and his properties in California and Florida were raided by Homeland Security Investigations agents in March. The 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 claims against Combs last year, the rapper has been hit with five lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault, sex trafficking and engaging in other criminal activity.
Combs has denied all allegations and has filed paperwork with the court to dismiss a lawsuit against Jane Doe and partially dismiss another woman’s lawsuit.
One of his attorneys, Aaron Dyer, also released a statement after the federal raids in March saying Combs was innocent. He described the raid as an ambush and said there was a rush to judgment based on “meritless allegations in civil lawsuits.”
“No criminal or civil liability has been established for any of these allegations,” Dyer said.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
