Casandra “Cassie” Ventura has broken her silence for the first time since a 2016 video surfaced, revealing her being subjected to physical abuse by her ex-partner, Sean “Diddy” Combs.
In a statement shared on Instagram on Thursday, May 23, Ventura, aged 37, expressed her gratitude “for all of the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet.”
She further conveyed that “the outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now.”
“However, this is only the beginning,” she emphasized. “Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from the past.”
Ventura also acknowledged that “This healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me.” She concluded her statement with a heartfelt thank you.
Ventura initially brought forward allegations against Combs in a lawsuit filed last November, which has since been settled. She accused the music mogul of raping and sex trafficking her over a decade of an abusive relationship.
In a statement at the time, Ventura asserted, “After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships.”
Despite Combs, aged 54, denying the allegations, referring to them as “offensive and outrageous,” his stance changed following the release of surveillance footage by CNN on May 17. The video depicted Combs engaging in aggressive behavior towards Ventura, prompting him to issue a public apology.
Reflecting on the video, Combs stated, “It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life. Sometimes you gotta do that. I was f—ed up. I mean I hit rock bottom but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.” 50 Cent has sent a message to Diddy’s ex.
https://x.com/50cent/status/1793645126314754425
