For Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who sued ex-boyfriend and embattled audio mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs for alleged assault and abuse, “it can take a great deal of heart to inform the fact out of a scenario that you have been powerless in.”
The 37-12 months-outdated singer on Thursday opened up about her encounter with domestic violence and the guidance she has obtained since online video of Combs assaulting Ventura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 “outpouring of appreciate has made a position for my youthful self to settle and truly feel secure, but this is only the starting.”
She included: “Domestic Violence is THE concern. It broke me down to somebody I never imagined I would turn into.”
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 “became incredibly intoxicated and punched” her in the facial area, “giving her a black eye” 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 “further verified the disturbing and predatory conduct of Mr. Combs,” Douglas H. Wigdor, Ventura’s 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, “I just take comprehensive obligation for my steps in that movie.” He faced additional backlash as critics, together with Ventura’s legal team and Combs’ ex-bodyguard, questioned his sincerity.
Ventura explained that inspite of the “hard work” she has performed to transfer forward from the 2016 incident, “I will always be recovering from my past.” She also urged her followers and supporters to “open your coronary heart to believing victims the to start with time.”
Roger Bonds, who served on Combs’ 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 “around 4 or 5 times” during his tenure. Ventura’s lawsuit names Bonds as someone who “tried to stop” 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 “those that are continue to dwelling in worry.” She encouraged victims to “reach out to your folks, don’t lower them off.”
“No 1 should carry this excess weight on your own,” she added, just before noting that “this therapeutic journey is under no circumstances ending.”
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 Combs’ Holmby Hills and Miami mansions in March as element of a federal inquiry into sexual intercourse trafficking allegations involving Combs.
Aaron Dyer, one of Combs’ attorneys, referred to as the raids a “witch hunt” in a March statement.
Situations staff members writers Nardine Saad and Richard Winton contributed to this report.
