A newly launched video exhibits Sean “Diddy” Combs manhandling and kicking singer Cassie Ventura – his former girlfriend – in plain view of lodge surveillance cameras in 2016, earlier than the rapper, music producer and businessman quickly settled a lawsuit that she introduced in opposition to him this previous November, based on footage solely obtained by CNN.
The video in query illustrates in probably the most graphic nature attainable one of many beatings alleged and described in Ventura’s lawsuit, which Combs had vehemently denied.
Ventura’s lawsuit preceded federal authorities’ March raid of Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami as a part of a sex-trafficking investigation.
Combs, within the footage obtained by CNN, is seen exiting a room on the since-shuttered InterContinental Resort in Los Angeles’s Century Metropolis neighborhood whereas holding a towel round his waist. He runs down a hallway after Ventura, grabs her by the again of the neck and throws her to the ground close to a financial institution of elevators.
The video – which had by no means earlier than been seen publicly – exhibits Combs then kick Ventura twice and drag her earlier than letting her go and strolling away.
Ventura later stands up, gathers a few of her gadgets from the ground, and picks up a phone on the wall subsequent to the elevators. Combs quickly returns – nonetheless clad in only a towel and socks – and shoves Ventura right into a nook whereas they’re in entrance of a mirror instantly throughout from one of many safety cameras that captured footage of the assault.
He throws one thing at Ventura earlier than beginning to stroll away. The clip exhibits Combs then double again to Ventura when one of many elevator doorways opens and somebody apparently exits.
A press release that Ventura’s lawyer, Douglas H Wigdor, supplied to CNN referred to as the video “gut-wrenching”. Wigdor stated the footage “additional confirmed the disturbing and predatory conduct of Mr Combs”.
“Phrases can not specific the braveness and fortitude that Ms Ventura has proven in coming ahead to convey this to gentle,” Wigdor stated.
Combs didn’t instantly touch upon the footage, which vividly contradicted his prior vehement denials of Ventura’s allegations.
Ventura’s lawsuit in November accused Combs of rape and extreme bodily abuse spanning greater than a decade. She detailed how he allegedly compelled her to have intercourse with male prostitutes and used his community of highly effective leisure contacts to entrap her within the relationship, which reportedly began in 2007 – when she was 19 and he was 37 – and lasted on and off till 2018.
And she or he alleged that Combs paid $50,000 to purchase from the lodge the safety footage that CNN aired Friday.
Combs and Ventura settled the lawsuit someday after she filed it. The phrases of the settlement weren’t disclosed, and commentary in regards to the settlement overwhelmingly centered on how rapidly Combs moved to resolve the case in a way that prevented it from even coming near a courtroom.
Since then, Combs has confronted a number of extra lawsuits attributing rapes, sexual assaults, different cases of bodily violence and “revenge porn” distribution to him.
Combs has denied all allegations whereas pledging to “battle for [his] title”. However one authorized commentator on Friday predicted that the video printed by CNN would harm Combs’ probabilities of resolving the assorted authorized circumstances in opposition to him in his favor.
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“The video will embolden the who’re suing Diddy on behalf of plaintiffs who’ve accused him of violence and sexual assault,” leisure lawyer Camron Dowlatshahi stated in a press release. “They’ll aggressively search to have this video admitted as proof if any of their circumstances goes to trial.
“It’s uncommon to have smoking gun proof in these sorts of circumstances, and this video is a type of smoking-gun proof with respect to Diddy’s propensity for violence.”
The extent of Combs’ metastasizing authorized issues turned clearer than ever when federal brokers searched his houses in Los Angeles and Miami in the middle of a sex-trafficking investigation. The 54-year-old three-time Grammy winner as soon as referred to as P Diddy, Puff Daddy and Love spoke with authorities in the course of the searches however was not detained, was not charged and was not restricted from touring as he wished, his lawyer instructed media retailers that day.
Many distinguished leisure business figures swiftly condemned Combs on Friday in response to the video of him battering Ventura.
Supermodel Emily Ratajkowski wrote, “Monster,” on an X submit containing the video.
Singer Aubrey O’Day, whom Combs as soon as fired from the woman group Danity Kane, individually wrote on X in reference to the video: “The image is getting much more clear for you all I can think about.”
Within the US, the home violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Within the UK, name the nationwide home abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or go to Girls’s Assist. In Australia, the nationwide household violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Different worldwide helplines could also be discovered by way of www.befrienders.org