Cassandra Ventura’s short-lived rape and abuse lawsuit against her former long-term boyfriend Sean “Puffy” Combs was settled in November, but a 2016 surveillance video reveals just how horrific the rap mogul could be to the singer. In fact, despite constant denials of various accusations of abuse, Combs himself must know how damning the footage is because he allegedly bought it for $50,000 the day after the incident in Los Angeles.
In the graphic clip obtained exclusively by CNN (see it here), Combs is seen with a towel around his waist in a corridor of a Century City hotel. He grabs the back of Ventura’s hoodie and hurls her to the floor, then kicks and appears to drag her back toward their room. Later, she picks up a hotel phone, and Combs returns and appears to shove her. The clip also appears to show a then-seated Combs throwing an object in Ventura’s direction.
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The video appears to corroborate an allegation made in Ventura’s suit against Combs. It reads in part:
“In or around March 2016, during an FO at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, Mr. Combs became extremely intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye. After he fell asleep, Ms. Ventura tried to leave the hotel room, but as she exited, Mr. Combs awoke and began screaming at Ms. Ventura. He followed her into the hallway of the hotel while yelling at her. He grabbed at her, and then took glass vases in the hallway and threw them at her, causing glass to crash around them as she ran to the elevator to escape.”
Also in that suit, it says: “upon information and belief, Mr. Combs paid the InterContinental Century City $50,000 for the hallway security footage from that evening.” Elsewhere Ventura and her lawyer note that hotel staff suggested in comments to her they had seen the video and Combs violent attack, confirming by implication its existence.
Representatives for Combs didn’t respond to a request for comment from Deadline today on the video. However, Ventura’s lawyer Doug Wigdor was quick to weigh in. “The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs, ” the New York-based lawyer told Deadline. “Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”
Ventura sued Combs, his Bad Boy Entertainment and other entities last year, claiming she “endured over a decade of his violent behavior and disturbed demands.” According to the complaint, “For Ms. Ventura, the dark times’ were those she spent trapped by Mr. Combs in a cycle of abuse, violence, and sex trafficking.”
The parties announced a settlement of the case a day after it was filed. “I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control,” Ventura said at the time. Added Combs then, “We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love.”
Combs still is facing myriad other lawsuits claiming sexual assault and other crimes. Federal Homeland Security agents raided his Los Angeles and Miami homes in March as part of what was described as an “ongoing investigation.” The mogul decried the raids as an “ambush” and has denied all of the allegations against him, calling them “meritless” and a “witch hunt.”
A 2016 video shows Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulting then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in an altercation that matches some allegations in now-settled lawsuit https://t.co/fYUQ2z2MYN
— CNN (@CNN) May 17, 2024
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