Sean 91ƵDiddy91Ƶ Combs admitted that he in a hotel hallway in 2016 after CNN released video of the attack, saying in a video apology he was 91Ƶtruly sorry91Ƶ and his actions were 91Ƶinexcusable.91Ƶ
91ƵI take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I91Ƶm disgusted now,91Ƶ the music mogul posted Sunday to Instagram and Facebook.
The security video aired Friday shows Combs, wearing only a white towel, punching and kicking Cassie, an R&B singer who was his protege and longtime girlfriend at the time. The footage also shows Combs shoving and dragging Cassie, and throwing a vase in her direction.
Cassie, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, sued Combs in November over what she said was years of sexual, physical and emotional abuse. The suit was settled the next day, but , with several more lawsuits filed in the following months, along with a federal criminal sex-trafficking investigation that led authorities to raid Combs91Ƶ mansions in Los Angeles and Miami.
He had denied the allegations in the lawsuits, but neither he nor his representatives had responded to the newly emerged video until Sunday.
91ƵIt91Ƶs so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,91Ƶ Diddy says on the video. He adds, 91ƵI went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I91Ƶm so sorry. But I91Ƶm committed to be a better man each and every day. I91Ƶm not asking for forgiveness. I91Ƶm truly sorry.91Ƶ
Combs is looking somber and wearing a T-shirt in the selfie-style apology video, and appears to be on a patio. It is the hip-hop mogul91Ƶs most direct response and first apology after six months of allegations that have threatened his reputation and career.
Meredith Firetog, who represents Ventura and other women who have sued Combs, said the apology was 91Ƶmore about himself than the many people he has hurt.
91ƵWhen Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday,91Ƶ the lawyer said in a statement. 91ƵThat he was only compelled to 91Ƶapologize91Ƶ once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words.91Ƶ
In December, after Ventura and had filed lawsuits against him, Combs broadly denying the truth of all of them.
91ƵLet me absolutely clear. I did not do any of the awful things being alleged,91Ƶ that post said.
The security camera video, dated March 5, 2016, closely resembles the description of an incident at an InterContinental Hotel in the Century City area of Los Angeles described in Ventura91Ƶ lawsuit.
The suit alleges that Combs paid the hotel $50,000 for the security video immediately after the incident. Neither he or his representatives have addressed that specific allegation. CNN did not say how it obtained the footage.
The suit said Ventura had been trying to get away from a sleeping Combs, who had already punched her in the face before the video began.
Combs is not in danger of being criminally prosecuted for the beating. The statutes of limitations for the assault and battery charges he would be likely to face expired years ago.
The same is true of many of the allegations in the lawsuits, but the federal investigators following Combs are likely looking for potential crimes they can bring under the law.
Ventura signed to Diddy91Ƶs label in 2005. The two had an on-again-off-again romantic relationship for more than a decade starting in 2007.
Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press