Cassie Ventura addressed a distressing video showing her ex-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulting her, saying it “broke me down to someone I never thought I would become.” Ventura, 37, thanked her supporters for their love and said the response has created a safe space for her younger self, but emphasized that this is only the beginning of her healing. She highlighted domestic violence as a critical issue and expressed her ongoing recovery. Ventura urged people to believe victims the first time they speak out and offered support to those still living in fear. She concluded with gratitude for the support and encouragement for others to reach out for help. The video, released by CNN, shows Diddy violently attacking Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016.
Diddy has since released an apology video, in which he said he took “full responsibility” for his actions before waxing about how he was at “rock bottom” when the video was filmed. He said, 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.
The music honcho notably did not mention Ventura’s name in his apology video, reportedly for legal reasons.
Ventura dated Diddy from 2007 to 2018. She has since moved on with personal trainer Alex Fine, whom she wed in September 2019. The pair share two daughters, Frankie, 4, and Sunny, 3.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.