After CNN released horrifying footage from 2016 showing Diddy assaulting then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, Cassie’s husband, Alex Fine, issued a scathing response against domestic violence perpetrators. Fine, who married Cassie in 2019, posted a powerful letter on Instagram, condemning men who abuse women and those who enable such behavior.
“Men who hit women aren’t men,” Fine began. “Men who enable it and protect those people aren’t men. As men, violence against women shouldn’t be inevitable. Check your brothers, your friends, and your family.” He expressed solidarity with survivors, assuring them they are not alone in their suffering. “We want you to succeed and to flourish. To all the women and children, I’m sorry you live in a world where you’re not protected, and you don’t feel equal. I want to raise my daughters in a world where they are safe and loved,” he added. Fine and Cassie have two young children, born in 2019 and 2021.
Fine then directed a stern warning to abusers, telling them to expect justice for their actions. “To the abusers, you’re done, you’re not safe anymore, you’re not protected anymore, the men by your side are just as weak,” he said. While his message didn’t name specific perpetrators, the timing of the post, following the release of the video, made it clear that Diddy was a significant influence.
Aubrey O’Day, a former member of the group Danity Kane formed by Combs on MTV’s “Making the Band,” also spoke out against her former record label boss. She called for prayers for “all his victims” and expressed support for Cassie, hinting at her awareness of some alleged wrongdoing by Combs.
Cassie and Diddy’s relationship was thrust back into the spotlight in late 2023 when she filed a lawsuit alleging he raped and trafficked her over their 10-year relationship, from 2008 to 2018. Though they settled the lawsuit in a matter of days, Diddy is at the center of four other federal cases alleging he ran a sex trafficking ring and sexually abused others in his orbit.
The 2016 hotel surveillance video published by CNN showed Diddy attacking Cassie as she attempted to leave the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. In the video, Diddy, clad in only a towel, runs down the hotel hallway, grabs Cassie from behind, and slams her to the floor. He kicks her several times and then starts dragging her back toward the room, refusing to let her leave.
Cassie’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, released a statement in light of the new video. “The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs,” the statement reads. “Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”
This incident is the latest blow to Diddy’s reputation as he faces multiple lawsuits and allegations, including serious claims of sexual and physical assault. In March, his homes in Miami and Los Angeles were raided by agents from the Department of Homeland Security in connection to an alleged sex trafficking investigation. Diddy has vehemently denied the accusations and has yet to be charged.
The release of the video has sparked a significant public outcry, with many celebrities now offering their sympathy to Cassie. Despite settling their civil dispute, Combs has previously denied Ventura’s allegations repeatedly. This moment is seen as a watershed in the hip-hop community, long overdue in the #MeToo era.
Fine’s letter and the video have brought renewed attention to the issue of domestic violence and the need for accountability. “To the abusers, you’re done, you’re not safe anymore, you’re not protected anymore, the men by your side are just as weak, you’re so miserable with yourself that death would be considered a kindness,” Fine shared.
Cassie is said to be cooperating with federal agents amid the sex trafficking investigation against Diddy. The pair broke up in 2018, and Cassie married Fine in August 2019.
Source: CNN, The Daily Beast, Radar Online
