Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing significant backlash after a video surfaced showing him allegedly abusing his former partner, Cassie Ventura. The footage, which has gone viral, depicts the music mogul shoving, kicking, and dragging Cassie in a hotel hallway back in March 2016. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has since commented on the matter.
In a statement released on May 17, the District Attorney’s Office acknowledged the disturbing nature of the video. “We are aware of the video that has been circulating online allegedly depicting Sean Combs assaulting a young woman in Los Angeles. We find the images extremely disturbing and difficult to watch,” the statement read.
Despite the graphic nature of the footage, it appears that Diddy will not face any charges for the incident. The District Attorney’s Office explained that the statute of limitations for prosecuting such an assault has expired. “If the conduct depicted occurred in 2016, unfortunately, we would be unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted,” the statement clarified.
The incident took place at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. Although the abuse happened within LA County, the legal timeframe to prosecute has lapsed. The District Attorney’s Office also mentioned that no case related to the attack has been presented by law enforcement against Diddy. They encouraged any victims or witnesses to report crimes to law enforcement or seek support from their Bureau of Victims Services.
The video, which CNN exposed on Friday, has yet to elicit a response from Diddy or his representatives. Cassie has also remained silent about the public exposure of her trauma. However, her attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, stated that the footage “confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs.” Wigdor praised Cassie for her bravery in bringing her abuse to light in November 2023. Cassie had previously sued Diddy for abuse, assault, and trafficking, a case that was settled within 48 hours for an undisclosed amount.
Cassie’s lawsuit has seemingly inspired others to come forward with similar allegations against Diddy. On Friday, Cassie’s husband, Alex Fine, shared a letter he had written about men who commit domestic violence. Celebrities like Judge Greg Mathis and Erica Campbell have shown support for Cassie online, while Slim Thug has apologized for previously doubting her allegations.
The viral video, compiled from multiple camera angles dated March 5, 2016, shows Diddy running in a towel after Cassie, grabbing and dragging her, and then kicking her before picking up her luggage. He is seen dragging her on the floor back to a hotel room as she braces her head. Minutes later, Cassie returns to the elevator bank and picks up a phone on the wall. Diddy comes back and appears to shove her into a corner, then sits on a chair near her and aggressively throws an object at her.
CNN verified the location based on publicly available photos of the former hotel’s interior. The footage has only intensified the backlash against Diddy, who posted an apology video two days after CNN released the footage. In his video, Diddy admitted it was him in the footage and expressed remorse for his actions. “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now,” he said. He also mentioned seeking professional help and going to therapy and rehab.
Cassie had been in a decade-long relationship with Diddy in the early 2000s and filed a lawsuit in New York federal court last November, alleging sex trafficking, human trafficking, sexual battery, sexual assault, and gender-motivated violence. She settled the lawsuit one day later, but her suit led to several more alleged victims coming forward.
In her lawsuit, Cassie alleged that Diddy paid the InterContinental Century City $50,000 for the hallway surveillance footage from the incident. She described the assault almost identically to the video in her lawsuit. Diddy also allegedly faces a federal investigation, with Department of Homeland Security agents conducting raids at his Los Angeles mansion and Miami waterfront home.
Diddy has denied all allegations and has been keeping a low profile since the raids. He shared a cryptic message on Instagram on May 14, stating, “Time tells truth,” captioned with “Love” and several emojis. The backlash continues to mount as more details emerge, and the public remains divided on the issue.
