For Casandra âCassieâ Ventura, who sued ex-boyfriend and embattled audio mogul Sean âDiddyâ Combs for alleged assault and abuse, âit can take a great deal of heart to inform the fact out of a scenario that you have been powerless in.â
The 37-12 months-outdated singer on Thursday opened up about her encounter with domestic violence and the guidance she has obtained since online video of Combs assaulting Ventura surfaced past 7 days. She wrote in an Instagram assertion that the âoutpouring of appreciate has made a position for my youthful self to settle and truly feel secure, but this is only the starting.â
She included: âDomestic Violence is THE concern. It broke me down to somebody I never imagined I would turn into.â
Previous week, CNN printed security footage from 2016 of Combs kicking, grabbing, dragging and throwing a glass vase at Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel. Months before the damning footage came to light-weight, Ventura in depth the assault in a lawsuit submitted in November 2023. In her complaint, filed in U.S. District Courtroom, Ventura alleged that Combs âbecame incredibly intoxicated and punchedâ her in the facial area, âgiving her a black eyeâ in the course of an attack in March 2016. Combs denied her allegations and the lawsuit was settled a working day immediately after it was submitted.
The movie âfurther verified the disturbing and predatory conduct of Mr. Combs,â Douglas H. Wigdor, Venturaâs lawyer, informed The Times in a assertion very last 7 days.
Despite his preliminary denials, Combs issued an apology Sunday, stating in an Instagram article, âI just take comprehensive obligation for my steps in that movie.â He faced additional backlash as critics, together with Venturaâs legal team and Combsâ ex-bodyguard, questioned his sincerity.
Ventura explained that inspite of the âhard workâ she has performed to transfer forward from the 2016 incident, âI will always be recovering from my past.â She also urged her followers and supporters to âopen your coronary heart to believing victims the to start with time.â
Roger Bonds, who served on Combsâ protection personnel from 2003 to 2012, said in a new job interview that he witnessed the Grammy-winning hip-hop star get violent with gals âaround 4 or 5 timesâ during his tenure. Venturaâs lawsuit names Bonds as someone who âtried to stopâ Combs from beating his then-girlfriend in a 2009 incident.
Bonds, talking to Piers Morgan previously this week, also explained Cassie was not the only girl to experience bodily violence from Combs. He alleged that Combs was also physically violent to the late model and actor Kim Porter, with whom Combs shares a few kids.
In her Instagram write-up, Ventura did not name her previous on-yet again, off-all over again companion of 11 several years, but she extended a hand to âthose that are continue to dwelling in worry.â She encouraged victims to âreach out to your folks, donât lower them off.â
âNo 1 should carry this excess weight on your own,â she added, just before noting that âthis therapeutic journey is under no circumstances ending.â
Ventura is a person of 6 people who have sued Combs for sexual assault, amongst other allegations, in modern months. On Tuesday, design Crystal McKinney sued Combs, alleging he forced her to perform oral intercourse at his audio studio in 2003.
Amid all the lawsuits, the U.S. Section of Homeland Security agents done lookups of Combsâ Holmby Hills and Miami mansions in March as element of a federal inquiry into sexual intercourse trafficking allegations involving Combs.
Aaron Dyer, one of Combsâ attorneys, referred to as the raids a âwitch huntâ in a March statement.
Situations staff members writers Nardine Saad and Richard Winton contributed to this report.