Lawyers for Cassie Ventura blast ‘pathetic’ Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs apology: ‘More about himself’
Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ accuser’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura lashed out at his “pathetic” apology Sunday after footage emerged of the rapper viciously beating her back in 2016.
“Combs’ most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt,” said attorney Meredith Firetog, a partner the firm representing Ventura, Wigdor LLP.
“When Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday,” Firetog said in a statement posted to X.
“That he was only compelled to ‘apologize’ once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words.”
Combs was seen in disturbing surveillance footage released by CNN Friday throwing Ventura — then his girlfriend — to the ground in a hotel before kicking her, dragging her down a hallway, and then throwing things at her.
In a video released on his Instagram Sunday, Combs said he took “full responsibility” for his actions before waxing about how he was at “rock bottom” when the video was filmed.
Here’s what we know about the allegations against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
- CNN released an exclusive video of Sean “Diddy” Combs abusing his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, on March 5, 2016.
- The Bad Boy Entertainment founder can be seen in the clip kicking, dragging, stomping and throwing items at the “Me and U” singer.
- Despite the viral clip, the LA District Attorney’s Office says it can’t prosecute Combs over the video because the incident took place too long ago and the statute of limitations has expired.
Diddy released an apology video for his actions on Instagram, citing his “inexcusable behavior” for beating Ventura and saying, “I was f–ked up.”- Ventura’s lawyer Meredith Firetog lashed out at Diddy’s “pathetic” apology, saying “Combs’ most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt.”
- Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs in November 2023 based on several allegations, including rape and physical abuse for over a decade.
- Combs and Ventura settled the lawsuit one day after she filed it.
- Model Crystal McKinney then filed a separate lawsuit accusing the rapper of drugging her and forcing her to perform oral sex on him during a 2003 visit to his NYC studio when she was 22.
- NYC Mayor Eric Adams says his administration is considering taking back Combs’ key to the city after the horrifying footage surfaced.
He went on to talk about how he’d been going to therapy since then to become a better person, and that he was “disgusted” with himself at the time of the beating, and still is today.
Despite settling a November 2023 lawsuit with Ventura, which alleged that the rapper subjected her to years of physical violence and sexual abuse, Combs has adamantly denied the charges — which included a vivid description of the 2016 hotel assault.
In the November filing, Ventura said Combs had punched her in the face and she was wearing the hooded sweatshirt seen in the video to hide a black eye as she fled the hotel.
Combs has been hit by five other lawsuits since Ventura’s alleging rape, sexual misconduct, and other alarming accusations.
His Florida and California homes were raided in April by a Department of Homeland Security human trafficking team.
