The Los Angeles County Attorney’s Office has acknowledged the existence of a video showing rapper and hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulting his former girlfriend in a hotel room in 2016, labelling the footage as “extremely disturbing.” However, the office stated that they are unable to press charges against Combs due to the statute of limitations for assault in California. The incident in question, which was captured on surveillance video, showed Combs grabbing his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and throwing her to the ground before kicking her. Ventura’s attorney described the video as “gut-wrenching.”
Combs, a three-time Grammy winner, is facing multiple lawsuits from women alleging sexual abuse, sex trafficking across state lines, and rape. Ventura filed a lawsuit last November accusing Combs of raping and assaulting her, as well as other violent acts. The incident at the InterContinental Hotel in March 2016 reportedly left Ventura with a black eye, and she claims that Combs threw glass vases at her as she tried to escape. Ventura’s lawsuit was filed just before the expiration of New York’s Adult Survivors Act, allowing victims of sexual abuse to file suits against their abusers regardless of statute of limitations restrictions.
In addition to Ventura’s lawsuit, Combs has been accused of raping and sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in a separate lawsuit filed in December. The plaintiff in that case also named Combs’ music company Bad Boy Entertainment and its former president as defendants, alleging that they “gang raped” her after flying her from Detroit to New York City. Another plaintiff accused Combs of drugging her, sexually assaulting her, and recording the assault during a 1991 incident. These allegations add to the mounting legal troubles facing Combs in relation to sexual abuse and assault.
The situation escalated further in March when Federal Homeland Security Investigations agents raided Combs’ luxury homes in South Florida and Los Angeles as part of an “ongoing investigation” into sex trafficking allegations. While Combs has not been formally charged in connection with the raids, his attorney criticized the actions as an “unprecedented ambush” and an “excessive show of force and hostility.” Despite the ongoing investigations and lawsuits, Combs has denied the allegations and continues to maintain his innocence.
The revelations surrounding Combs’ alleged assaults and involvement in sex trafficking have sparked outrage and concern within the music industry and among his fan base. The disturbing nature of the accusations against the influential rapper has led to calls for accountability and justice, with many demanding a thorough investigation into the claims against him. As the legal battles and investigations continue, the future of Combs’ career and reputation remain uncertain, with the potential for further consequences depending on the outcomes of the various cases against him.
