Cassie’s Lawyer Says Diddy’s Apology Video Was ‘More About Him Than The People He Hurt’

All eyes are on Sean “Diddy” Combs after video footage of him physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, in 2016 was recently released.

Cassie is seen leaving a hotel room and heading towards an elevator. She is followed out of the room by Combs, who proceeds to grab her neck and throw her to the ground while he is shirtless and has a white towel wrapped around his waist. He kicks her two more times before grabbing her belongings and dragging her back to her hotel room. The disturbing incident took place at a hotel that the two were staying at together in 2016—Cassie and Diddy dated from 2007 to 2018.

The video sparked major outrage, and more support for Cassie since the hotel surveillance footage matches an incident that the songstress detailed in her quickly settled November lawsuit against Diddy. Seemingly trying to do damage control, Diddy released an apology on Sunday. Combs posted a video on Instagram with the caption, “I’m truly sorry.” 

In the clip, Combs states, “It’s difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life. Sometimes you gotta do that. I was f—ked u. I mean, I hit rock bottom but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.”

“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video,” he continued. 

When describing his feelings towards his actions, Combs added, “Disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it, I’m disgusted now. I went and I sought out professional help, going to therapy, going to rehab. 

“I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry, but I’m committed to be a better man. Each and every day.” He finished by saying that he was “not asking for forgiveness” and was “truly sorry.”

Many aren’t buying Combs’ apology, especially since a few days before the hotel surveillance footage was made public, he posted an Instagram post that said, “Time tells the truth.” It implied that he wasn’t guilty of any wrongdoing that he was accused of in Cassie’s lawsuit, or the scathing lawsuit that his former producer and videographer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones filed in February.

Cassie’s lawyer, Meredith Firetog, was among those who didn’t believe Diddy’s video was sincere. Firetog expressed via a statement to People that “Combs’ most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt.”

Firetog continued: “When Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday. That he was only compelled to ‘apologize’ once his repeated denials were reported false shows his pathetic desperation and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words.” 

The aforementioned video seems to substantiate one of the allegations in Cassie’s 2023 lawsuit. It was stated that Combs “became extremely intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye” while they were staying at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, California, in 2016.

“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 lawsuit continued.

Added in the court document was that: “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.”

Cassie eventually escaped and went back to her apartment but “Upon realizing that her running away would cause Mr. Combs to be even angrier with her, and completely stuck in his vicious cycle of abuse, Ms. Ventura returned to the hotel with the intention of apologizing for running away from her abuser,” the suit revealed.

The court filing explained that “when [Cassie] 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 showing Mr. Combs beating Ms. Ventura and throwing glass at her in the hotel hallway.”

Cassie’s previous lawyer, Douglas H. Wigdor, commended Ventura for her bravery.

“The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs,” Widgor told People via a statement.

“Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”