Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is “truly sorry” for beating his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016.
The scandal-plagued rapper, 54, was seen in footage released by CNN on 17 May launching a brutal attack on the 37-year-old singer at a Los Angeles hotel, and spoke out in an Instagram video on Sunday (19.05.24) to say the “inexcusable” assault came when he was “f***** up” and had hit “rock bottom”.
He started the video by saying it was “so difficult” to reflect on the “darkest times of your life”, but added: “Sometimes you have to do that.”
Diddy – who has changed his name to Sean Love Combs – added about the attack: “I was f****** up. I mean I hit rock bottom but I make no excuses. My behaviour on that video is inexcusable.
“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it and I’m disgusted now.”
Revealing how he sought help after the 2016 assault: “I went and I sought out professional help and had to go to therapy, had to go to rehab.
“Had to ask God for his mercy and grace.
“I’m so sorry. I’m committed to being a better man each and every day.
“I’m truly sorry.”
Diddy was hit with allegations including physical abuse by singer Cassie in a November 2023 lawsuit, which he settled out of court a day after it was lodged.
The 2016 footage was taken from a surveillance camera in a hallway at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City, California.
It shows Combs holding a towel around his waist as he chases after Cassie before he strikes her, hurls her to the floor and kicks her as she lies motionless on the ground.
He then grabs her bags and continues to assault Cassie before dragging her across the elevator bank into the hallway.
A second camera angle of the assault shows the singer slowly standing up and gathering her bags after the attack ends – with Combs sitting on a chair directly in front of her as she picks up a phone in the hallway.
Combs is then seen grabbing what seems to be a vase and throwing it at the singer.
Diddy was hit with a wave of lawsuits in late 2023 and early 2024, including allegations of sex trafficking and sexual assault.
The cases remain active, and he has denied all claims against him.
