Controversial hip hop star P Diddy has admitted that he beat his ex-girlfriend Cassie in a hotel hallway in 2016 as CNN released a video of the assault. He stated in a video apology that he was “truly sorry” and his actions were “inexcusable” via Yahoo.
“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now,” the music mogul said in a video statement posted Sunday to Instagram and Facebook.
The video clip that aired Friday depicted Combs, who was wearing only a white towel, punching and kicking Cassie, his longtime girlfriend at the time. The footage also showed Diddy shoving and dragging Cassie, and even throwing a vase in her direction.
Cassie, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura had sued Combs in November over what she said was years of sexual, physical and emotional abuse. The suit was settled the next day. However, intense scrutiny of Combs took place with several more lawsuits filed in the following months, along with a federal criminal sex-trafficking investigation that led authorities to raid Combs’ mansions in Los Angeles and Miami.
He denied the allegations in the lawsuits, but neither he nor his representatives had responded to the newly emerged video until Sunday.
“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Diddy says on the video. He adds, “I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry. But I’m committed to be a better man each and every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”
In the apology video, Combs seemed to be somber and wearing a T-shirt appeared to be on a patio. It is the hip-hop mogul’s most direct response after six months of allegations that have threatened his reputation and career. Previous statements have been released through his lawyers.
The security video that dated March 5, 2016 also matched the description of the incident at an InterContinental Hotel in the Century City area of Los Angeles described in Ventura’ lawsuit. It has been noted that the suit alleged that Combs paid the hotel $50,000 for the security video immediately after the incident.
