May 19, 2024,01:31pm EDT
Sean “Diddy” Combs has issued a public apology after a recently published surveillance video showed him physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend and fellow musician Cassie in 2016. This incident adds to the ongoing controversies involving the rapper, who has faced federal home searches and multiple civil lawsuits since November, accusing him of sex trafficking, sexual abuse, and rape—all allegations he has denied.
KEY FACTS
The 2016 surveillance video shows Combs grabbing, dragging, and kicking Cassie (Casandra Ventura), aligning with allegations from a lawsuit she filed and settled last year, which claimed she was trying to escape further abuse when he assaulted her at a hotel.
Combs publicly apologized on Instagram, calling his behavior “disgusting” and noting that he sought professional help, including rehab and therapy, after the incident.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office condemned the video as “extremely disturbing” but will not bring charges due to the incident falling outside the statute of limitations for assault in California.
In March, federal Homeland Security Investigations agents raided Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a sex trafficking probe. Combs has not been charged or accused of a crime by federal prosecutors.
In November, Ventura sued Combs, alleging rape in 2018 and years of abuse, leading to a $30 million lawsuit that was settled for an undisclosed amount. Combs’ attorney stated the settlement did not admit wrongdoing.
Other lawsuits followed: Joie Dickerson-Neal claimed Combs drugged and assaulted her in 1991, an anonymous plaintiff accused Combs and Aaron Hall of raping her and a friend around 1990, and another suit in December alleged a gang rape in 2003 when the accuser was 17.
Last month, producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones sued Combs, alleging unwanted advances and forced interactions with sex workers. His lawsuit also mentioned “sex-trafficking parties” hosted by Combs, with no implication of wrongdoing by named individuals like Prince Harry.
CONTRA Combs, 54, has denied all allegations against him, with his attorneys describing some lawsuits as money grabs and the accusations as “baseless” or “sickening.” He has not faced criminal charges.
TANGENT In 2017, Combs’ former personal chef, Cindy Rueda, accused him in a sexual harassment lawsuit of requiring her to serve food during or after sexual activities. This lawsuit was settled out of court.
KEY BACKGROUND The allegations against Combs span decades, dating back to the 1990s when he founded Bad Boy Records. The lawsuit from Ventura claimed Combs paid the hotel $50,000 for the surveillance footage. One of the raided homes is in Holmby Hills, where Combs bought a $40 million house a decade ago.