Current:Home > NewsSean 'Diddy' Combs seen hitting and dragging ex Cassie Ventura in 2016 surveillance video -MarketLink
Sean 'Diddy' Combs seen hitting and dragging ex Cassie Ventura in 2016 surveillance video
View
Date:2025-04-16 05:35:14
Video footage from 2016 of Sean "Diddy" Combs seen kicking, hitting and dragging then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura has surfaced.
The hotel surveillance video, obtained by CNN and released Friday, is reportedly from March 5, 2016, and compiled from multiple camera angles. The incident matched an allegation levied in Ventura's November sex trafficking, rape and physical abuse lawsuit against the hip hop mogul. The two settled the civil suit one day after it was filed.
In the video, Ventura is seen in a black sweater with the hood up and duffle bag in hand, calling an elevator in what CNN reports is the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. In a different camera angle, Diddy is seen in a bath towel running down the hotel hallway.
He catches up with Ventura before the elevator comes, striking and yanking Ventura by the hair and throwing her to the ground. The producer then kicks Ventura twice while she lies on the ground, picking up her bag and dragging her back toward the hotel rooms.
He then lets her go, appearing to say something to her as he walks back to a hotel room with her bag.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
"The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs," Doug Wigdor, Ventura's lawyer, said in a statement to media Friday. "Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light."
In a statement shared with USA TODAY Friday, a spokesperson for InterContinental Hotels Group said, "This hotel is no longer under IHG management, and we do not have any access to prior incident records or footage."
USA TODAY has reached out to reps for Combs for comment.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Cassiesettle bombshell lawsuit alleging rape, abuse, sex trafficking
In the video, Ventura is then seen picking up a phone near the elevators in the hotel hallway. In a different clip, Combs walks back from the room to the hallway and lunges toward where Ventura was just seen.
In a different video angle, Diddy is seen sitting on a chair and throwing a vase on a table down the hallway.
In Ventura's now-settled lawsuit, she recalled an incident in which Diddy "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," the suit continued. "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."
Ventura left at one point, the lawsuit said, but because she was "in his vicious cycle of abuse," she returned "with the intention of apologizing for running away."
The suit continued: "When she returned, hotel security staff urged her to get back into a cab and go to her apartment, suggesting that they had seen the security footage."
The lawsuit alleged that Diddy paid $50,000 to the hotel for the footage.
Sean 'Diddy' Combsasks judge to reject lawsuit alleging rape of 17-year-old girl in 2003
Diddy, Cassie video comes after lawsuit and settlement
Diddy and Ventura dated on-and-off from 2007 to 2018. In her lawsuit, Ventura, who began a professional and sexual relationship with the rap mogul starting when she was 19, alleged she was raped, trafficked and viciously beaten by Combs over the course of a decade.
The former couple reached a settlement one day after the singer filed her lawsuit. A settlement amount was not disclosed.
"I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control," Ventura said in a statement at the time. "I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support."
"We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best," Combs said in a separate statement. "Love."
The lawsuit was one of several filed against the music mogul in recent months, including a lawsuit by "The Love Album" producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones Jr.
Diddy rival 50 Cent speaks out about Cassie video released by CNN
Fierce Diddy critic and rival Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson spoke out on X shortly after the video was released for public consumption.
"Now I'm sure puffy didn't do it, he is innocent this proves nothing ! This is what his lawyers are gonna say, God help us all," 50 Cent wrote on X, alongside eyeball and prayer hands emojis.
On Sunday night, Diddy's son Christian "King" Combs released a song titled "Pick a Side," which references federal agents' raid of Diddy's two homes in March and 50 Cent's continuous social media posts about Diddy's legal woes.
50 Cent responded with sarcasm on Instagram, captioning one photo of King Combs and Diddy, "I feel so threatened by the things Christian is saying on his record. I'm afraid for my life, please don't hurt me guys. I never mentioned or posted anything about puffy's kids because KEEFE D said he killed 2Pac. LOL."
The latter half referred to Duane "Keffe D" Davis, who was indicted by a Nevada grand jury in September for the 1996 drive-by shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur; rumors have circulated for decades that Diddy was responsible for orchestrating the Las Vegas shooting.
50 Cent and Diddy's feud spans decades as the rapper has alleged he is working on documentary on the Bad Boy rapper's sexual assault allegations called "Diddy Do It?"
Contributing: Anika Reed; Naledi Ushe
If you are a victim of domestic violence, The National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org) allows you to speak confidentially with trained advocates online or by the phone, which they recommend for those who think their online activity is being monitored by their abuser (800-799-7233). They can help survivors develop a plan to achieve safety for themselves and their children.
veryGood! (1793)
Related
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Get 80% Off Banana Republic, an Extra 60% Off Gap Clearance, 50% Off Le Creuset, 50% Off Ulta & More
- Get the scoop on National Ice Cream Day!
- Black voters feel excitement, hope and a lot of worry as Harris takes center stage in campaign
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- 3 rescued after homeowner's grandson intentionally set fire to Georgia house, officials say
- 3 'missing' people found safe, were never in car when it was submerged off Texas pier, police say
- Bernice Johnson Reagon, whose powerful voice helped propel the Civil Rights Movement, has died
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- John Harbaugh says Lamar Jackson will go down as 'greatest quarterback' in NFL history
Ranking
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Harris looks to lock up Democratic nomination after Biden steps aside, reordering 2024 race
- Andre Seldon Jr., Utah State football player and former Belleville High School star, dies in apparent drowning
- Bruce Springsteen's net worth soars past $1B, Forbes reports
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- 3,000 migrants leave southern Mexico on foot in a new caravan headed for the US border
- What to know about Kamala Harris, leading contender to be Democratic presidential nominee
- Trump, JD Vance, Republican lawmakers react to Biden's decision to drop out of presidential race
Recommendation
A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
On a summer Sunday, Biden withdrew with a text statement. News outlets struggled for visuals
1 pedestrian killed, 1 hurt in Michigan when trailer hauling boat breaks free and strikes them
Harris gets chance to press reset on 2024 race against Trump
Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
'Mind-boggling': Woman shoots baby in leg over $100 drug debt, police say
Pressure mounts on Secret Service; agency had denied requests for extra Trump security
Utah death row inmate who is imprisoned for 1998 murder asks parole board for mercy ahead of hearing