Popular American rapper and music producer, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, has expressed remorse for his actions in a leaked video that showed him assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
Diddy, in the video dated March 5, 2016, was seen roughly pushing Ventura to the ground, kicking her several times, and dragging her down a hallway.
In an apology video posted on his Instagram page on Sunday, the rapper reflected on the incident, saying “It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, sometimes you gotta do that. I was fucked up, I mean 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.”
Diddy added that he has since sought professional help, “I went and sought out professional help, and I had to go into therapy. I go on rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry. But I’m committed to being a better man each and every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said Diddy cannot be prosecuted over the video because “If the conduct depicted occurred in 2016, unfortunately we would be unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted.”
The office encouraged victims or witnesses of crimes to report them to law enforcement or reach out to the DA’s Bureau of Victims Services for support.
The viral video appears to align with allegations Ventura made in a lawsuit filed in November, which has since been settled. In the lawsuit, she accused Diddy of multiple instances of assault, including one instance of rape and another where he forced her to have sex with male sex workers while he masturbated.
Douglas Wigdor, Ventura’s attorney, who commented on the video, in a statement sent to Billboard, said, “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.”
Ventura and Diddy had an on-and-off relationship for 11 years, which ended in 2018. She met Diddy in 2005 when she was 19 and he was 37.
After signing to his ‘Bad Boy’ Records label, Ventura claimed that Diddy “lured” her into a romantic relationship and assumed complete control over her life.
Since Ventura’s lawsuit, Diddy has faced four additional sexual misconduct lawsuits.
In November, he stepped down as chairman of his digital media company, Revolt, and reportedly sold his stake in the company in March. That same month, federal agents conducted raids on Diddy’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami in connection with a federal sex trafficking investigation.
Diddy however denied all allegations of sexual assault. In a statement posted on social media on December 6, he said, “Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family, and for the truth.”