Video appears to show rap mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs beating girlfriend Cassie in 2016

By Max Matza for BBC News

Warning: This story contains details that may upset some readers.

CCTV has emerged appearing to show rap mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs attacking singer Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016.

The video, aired by CNN, has surfaced in the wake of allegations by Ventura about her ex-boyfriend and producer in a lawsuit last year.

She has not commented, but her lawyer said it confirms “the disturbing and predatory behaviour of Combs”.

A lawyer for Combs has not responded to a BBC request for comment.

The BBC has not independently verified the video, which appears to be a compilation of surveillance footage angles dated 5 March, 2016.

According to CNN, it was filmed at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles.

The clip appears to show Ventura leaving a hotel room to walk towards a row of elevators.

A shirtless man is seen holding a towel around his waist, and hurrying down a hallway.

When he catches up to her, he grabs her and throws her on the floor, causing her to drop some luggage.

He kicks her while she is on the ground, before picking up her bags and kicking her a second time then attempting to drag her by her shirt.

The attacker is seen leaving for a moment, before returning and shoving Ventura as she stands up. He then sits in a chair near the lifts and throws an object.

A lawyer for R&B singer Ventura, Douglas Wigdor, said in a statement: “The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour of Combs.

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

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office said on Friday that the assault captured in the video might be too old to prosecute.

“We find the images extremely disturbing and difficult to watch,” it said in a statement.

“If the conduct depicted occurred in 2016, unfortunately we would be unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted.”

In a now-settled federal lawsuit last year, Ventura alleged that “around March 2016” Combs “became extremely intoxicated and punched Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye”.

“After he fell asleep, Ventura tried to leave the hotel room, but as she exited, Combs awoke and began screaming at Ventura.

“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,” the documents said.

The lawsuit alleged that the rap mogul had purchased the footage from the hotel for US$50,000 (NZ$81,500).

Her legal action against Combs, which accused him of rape and sexual trafficking over a decade, was settled for an undisclosed sum one day after it was filed in November last year.

Combs’ lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said at the time that the settlement “is in no way an admission of wrongdoing”.

“Combs’ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ventura the best.”

Since then, several other women have filed lawsuits accusing the rapper of sexual misconduct.

His homes in Los Angeles and Miami, Florida, were raided last month as part of a federal investigation into human trafficking.

Ventura formally was signed to Combs’ record label, Bad Boy, and released several hits in the 2000s, including songs that featured Diddy.

Her most famous tracks include ‘Me & U’, ‘Long Way to Go’ and ‘Official Girl’ featuring Lil Wayne.

– BBC

Where to get help

Women’s Refuge:(0800 733 843

It’s Not OK 0800 456 450

Shine: 0508 744 633

Victim Support: 0800 842 846

HELP Call 24/7 (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): 04 801 6655 – push 0 at the menu

The National Network of Family Violence Services NZ has information on specialist family violence agencies.