The video obtained by CNN in 2016 provides a disturbing visual account of an altercation between Sean “Diddy” Combs and his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. The incident, which aligns with the allegations made by Ventura in a federal lawsuit filed in November of that year, showcases Combs engaging in aggressive and violent behavior towards Ventura.
The footage, compiled from multiple camera angles and dated March 5, 2016, captures the incident taking place at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles. CNN verified the location by comparing it to publicly available photos of the hotel’s interior.
In the video, Ventura is seen leaving a hotel room and making her way towards a bank of elevators. Combs, wearing only a towel around his waist, pursues her down a hallway. He forcefully grabs her by the back of her neck, causing her to fall to the floor. Combs then proceeds to kick her while still holding his towel closed with one hand.
After Ventura collapses on the ground, Combs picks up a purse and suitcase from the floor near the elevators. He kicks Ventura again, even though she remains motionless. There is a four-second gap between the two kicks. Combs then briefly drags Ventura by her sweatshirt towards a room before walking away.
Ventura is later seen slowly getting up, collecting items from the floor, and reaching for a phone on the hallway wall near the elevators. Combs, still wearing only a towel and socks, returns to the scene. The security camera captures Combs seemingly shoving Ventura against a mirror.
Shortly after, Combs sits on a chair, grabs an object from a table, and forcefully throws it towards Ventura. He then walks away but turns back towards her as an elevator door opens and someone exits.
Ventura, who ultimately settled with Combs, chose not to provide a comment on the video obtained by CNN. The video serves as a visual representation of the allegations made by Ventura in her lawsuit, shedding light on the disturbing nature of the incident and the violence she claimed to have experienced.
Ventura’s lawyer, Douglas H. Wigdor, stated: “The gut-wrenching video has only further showed the traumatic and predatory conduct of Mr. Combs. phrases can not explicit the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to carry this to mild.”
CNN has reached out to representatives for Combs and InterContinental resorts for remark. Combs has formerly denied Ventura’s allegations.
Ventura’s lawsuit
Combs and Ventura, a version and singer recognized for songs like “Me & U,” had been in an off-and-on dating from 2007 – 2018. the two were photographed collectively at the l. a. most fulfilling of the film “an excellent healthy” on March 7, 2016.
in step with Ventura’s grievance, which noted the altercation as happening “around March 2016,” Combs became “extremely intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura within the face, giving her a black eye.”
After Combs fell asleep, Ventura attempted to go away the resort room, however he awoke and “followed her into the hallway of the inn even as yelling at her,” the grievance stated. “He grabbed at her, and then took glass vases in the hallway and threw them at her, causing glass to crash round them as she ran to the elevator to escape,” the grievance alleged. After Ventura were given inside the elevator, her grievance states that she took a cab to her condominium.
“Upon figuring out that her jogging away could cause Mr. Combs to be even angrier along with her, and completely caught in his vicious cycle of abuse, Ms. Ventura lower back to the motel with the intention of apologizing for jogging away from her abuser,” the complaint claims. “while she again, resort protection personnel entreated her to get back right into a cab and visit her rental, suggesting that they’d seen the security footage displaying Mr. Combs beating Ms. Ventura and throwing glass at her inside the resort hallway.”
The grievance alleges Combs paid the InterContinental Century town $50,000 for the hallway security photos of the incident. The incident turned into part of some of allegations made in the November lawsuit in which Ventura claimed she was raped in 2018 and subjected to years of repeated bodily and different abuses by Combs. Ventura, who changed into formally signed to Combs’ label, claimed in her suit that he “exerted his energy and influence” over her all through the course of their expert and romantic courting. in step with the complaint, she was 19 when they met and Combs became 37, and their commercial enterprise courting lasted until 2019. It specific claims that Combs was physically violent closer to Ventura and forced her to engage in various intercourse acts with different guys for the duration of that point.
Ben Brafman, an legal professional for Combs, said in a declaration to CNN on the day it become filed, “Mr. Combs vehemently denies those offensive and outrageous allegations.”
The suit become resolved day after today.
“A selection to settle a lawsuit, specially in 2023, is in no manner an admission of wrongdoing,” Brafman told CNN in a declaration at the time. “Mr. Combs‘ selection to settle the lawsuit does now not in any manner undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. he is satisfied they were given to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the satisfactory.” information of the settlement had been now not disclosed.
Ongoing felony issues for the reason that November, Combs has confronted five other civil proceedings accusing him of a number of sexual misconduct and different illegal activity. He has denied the allegations, and the cases remain energetic.
government searched Combs’ homes in California and Florida in April as a part of a federal investigation completed via a branch of hometown safety team that handles human trafficking crimes, in keeping with a senior federal law enforcement reputable briefed on the investigation. The research stems from a number of the same sexual assault allegations placed forth within the civil court cases, in step with a 2d regulation enforcement supply familiar with the searches.
Aaron Dyer, an attorney for Combs, issued a assertion at the time, calling the searches a “gross overuse of army-stage force.”
“This exceptional ambush – paired with a sophisticated, coordinated media presence – results in a untimely rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil court cases,” he said. “there was no locating of crook or civil liability with any of those allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will preserve to combat each single day to clear his name.”
