P Diddy’s altercation with Cassie Ventura caught on video prompts reactions from celebrities | Entertainment & Arts News

Stars have criticized rapper P Diddy after CCTV footage was released showing him assaulting singer Cassie Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016.

Warning: This story contains images that may be distressing to readers

The video, obtained by CNN, was filmed on March 5th eight years ago and shows the 54-year-old – also known as Sean Combs – shirtless and wearing only a white towel and colorful socks, physically attacking Ventura.

The R&B singer, legally known as Cassandra Ventura, was Combs’ protege and girlfriend at the time.

The footage also shows Combs pushing, dragging her, and throwing a glass vase towards her.

This incident closely matches the description of an event at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles described in a lawsuit filed by Cassie last year.

Reacting to the video on X, formerly Twitter, actress Emily Ratajkowski commented: “Monster”.

Fellow rapper 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, shared the video with a sarcastic remark: “Now I’m sure Puffy didn’t do it, he is innocent this proves nothing! This is what his lawyers are gonna say, God help us all.”

Jackson also posted a screenshot of a statement by Combs from December last year, where Combs denied allegations against him and accused the accusers of seeking money.

50 Cent wrote: “The lie detector test has determined this was a lie…”

He also shared a statement from LA police describing the footage as “extremely disturbing and hard to watch,” but stating it occurred too long ago to be prosecuted.

Under California law, there is a one-year statute of limitations for assault.

Read more: What is Sean Combs accused of?

Ventura’s husband, Alex Fine, posted a detailed statement on Instagram titled “Letter to women and children,” condemning men who commit violence against women.

‘Men who hurt women hate women’

He stated: “Men who hit women are not men. Men who enable it and protect those people are not men…

“Hold the women in your life with the utmost regard. Men who hurt women hate women.”

The personal trainer also shared the contact number for a domestic abuse helpline for those in need of assistance.

Meanwhile, lawyers representing Ventura criticized Combs’ apology as “pathetic” after he shared a brief video on social media apologizing and expressing disgust at his own behavior.

‘Disingenuous words’

Meredith Firetog, a partner at Wigdor LLP, stated: “Combs’ recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt.

“When Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were seeking money.

“That he only felt compelled to ‘apologize’ once his repeated denials were proven false shows his desperate nature, and his insincere words will not convince anyone.”

‘Leave god and mercy out of this’

US singer and reality star Aubrey O’Day, who previously collaborated with Combs, also criticized his apology video, stating on X: “Diddy did not apologize to Cassie. He apologized to the world for seeing what he did… Leave god and mercy out of this, they aren’t present here, and you know it.”

This is the first direct response Combs has made to recent allegations of physical and sexual violence against him.

Multiple claims

In March, his homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by Homeland Security as part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation by federal authorities in New York.

In April, Combs was named in a lawsuit that alleges his son sexually assaulted a woman working on a yacht chartered by his father.

Ventura, who began dating Combs a few years after meeting him in 2005, and split with him in 2019, sued him in November, alleging she was trafficked, raped, drugged, and abused by Combs over a decade.

The lawsuit claimed he forced her into sexual acts with male prostitutes while he recorded them. The case was settled the day after it was filed.

Combs has denied the allegations in the lawsuits, with his lawyers stating he denies any wrongdoing.