As disturbing surveillance video footage of an individual believed to be Sean "P Diddy" Combs appearing to physically assault Cassie Ventura emerges, we're taking a closer look at the rapper.
This week the footage from 2016 was obtained by CNN which appears to capture P. Diddy shoving, kicking, and throwing objects at his ex-girlfriend Cassie. This comes as Ventura previously filed a lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend Diddy in November of 2023. According to court documents obtained by The Mirror, she alleged that "he raped her and perpetually abused her for years." The case settled the following day, with Diddy's lawyer issuing a statement shared with The Mirror: "Just so we're clear, a decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing," and added: "Mr. Combs‘ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims."
And as the footage has been released, we're diving deeper into P Diddy's troubled past. In recent months, P Diddy was hit with a series of allegations including five in New York ahead of the expiration of the Adult Survivors Act. He has denied all of the allegations. These lawsuits included allegations of Diddy's reported alleged "freak-off parties," alleged illegal drug activity, alleged hidden cameras, and alleged sex worker scandals.
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READ MORE: Cassie seen with bruises after she was 'physically assaulted' by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in 2016 video
Diddy's ex's abuse allegations
The first allegations of abuse to surface against Diddy came from his ex-girlfriend Gina Huynh in 2019. Although largely unreported at the time, the model took part in a YouTube interview where she claimed the rapper had been physically abusive and offered her money to get an abortion.
Gina - who dated Diddy on and off for five years - went into detail about the alleged abuse, claiming the rapper had once “stomped on my stomach really hard - like, took the wind out of my breath”. Diddy never responded directly to the accusations.'
Cassie came forward with allegations against her ex-boyfriend Diddy in November of 2023 and pressed charges of physical and sexual abuse. According to court documents obtained by The Mirror, she alleged that "he raped her and perpetually abused her for years." Ben Brafman, Diddy's lawyer, has addressed Cassie's allegations previously, saying in a statement that "Mr. Combs vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations." Cassie's lawsuit was settled.
A second lawsuit, filed by Joi Dickerson-Neal, claimed that he drugged and sexually assaulted her when she was a college student in 1991. She also alleged the rapper recorded the attack and distributed the footage without her consent. Diddy has denied the claims but the lawsuit is still ongoing.
At the time, a representative for Diddy adressed Joi's lawsuit, telling The Mirror: "This last-minute lawsuit is an example of how a well-intentioned law can be turned on its head. Ms Dickerson's 32-year-old story is made up and not credible. Mr. Combs never assaulted her, and she implicates companies that did not exist. This is purely a money grab and nothing more."
Days after the second lawsuit, another alleged victim came forward. In a lawsuit filed by a third woman, Liza Gadner, Diddy is accused of rape and choking his alleged victim so hard she passed out. The lawsuit is still ongoing.
A fourth woman came forward in December. The unnamed woman claimed she was "sex trafficked" and "gang raped" by Diddy when she was 17 years old. Diddy has denied the claims but the lawsuit is still ongoing.
Inside Diddy's 'freak-off' parties
According to Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones lawsuit, Diddy - whose legal name is Sean Combs - would place hidden cameras around his homes in Los Angeles and on Star Island during his "freak-off parties."
Lil Rod's lawsuit stated: "While living and traveling with Mr. Combs, Mr. Jones discovered that Mr. Combs had hidden cameras in every room of his home," and continued: "[Combs] has recordings of several celebrities, artists, music label executives, and athletes engaging in illegal activity...these individuals were recorded without their knowledge and consent." The lawsuit is ongoing.
It has also been claimed by Lil Rod that the alleged "sex-trafficking parties" that were often attended by celebrities such as famous athletes, political figures, artists, musicians, and international dignitaries. In a separate incident one of the singer's alleged "drug mules" 25-year-old Brendan Paul was arrested at the Miami airport while reportedly attempting to smuggle drugs.
According to reports by TMZ, Brendan was arrested and charged with two separate drug charges including one count for possession of suspected cocaine and another for suspected marijuana possession. After his arrest, Brendan was held in custody but was later released after paying bail. Following his arrest, People confirmed that he wouldn't be facing jail time. "Brendan accepted the prosecutor’s offer to permit his entry into the diversion program which, after completion, the case against him will be dismissed in its entirety," said Brian Bieber, Paul's attorney, in a statement obtained by People.
In addition to allegations of hidden cameras and drug smuggling, P Diddy was also accused by Lil Rod of regularly partying with sex workers and "underage girls." In Lil Rod's lawsuit, he claimed that the rapper would force guests of the parties to sign nondisclosure agreements and accused him of "threatening minors" into "commercial sex acts." The record producer also alleged that Diddy forced him to illegally hire prostitutes for the rapper's Miami parties. The lawsuit is ongoing.
Diddy's ex-girlfriend Cassie also claimed in her lawsuit that at these "freak off parties" her ex-boyfriend Diddy coerced her to "engage in a fantasy of his called ‘voyeurism.’" During this, Cassie claimed she was instructed to have sex with multiple male prostitutes while he watched, took pictures and video, and masturbat*d to the act.
One of Cassie's good friends Tiffany Red has given an account corroborating the alleged abuse Cassie endured while dating Diddy in a published Rolling Stone letter. In the article, Tiffany claimed that Cassie was forced to leave her birthday party in August of 2015 to have sex with a male prostitute and was aggressively confronted by the rapper. In the letter, Tiffany wrote: "I was terrified for Cassie and completely traumatized... Your abuse of power has inflicted ongoing harm on countless individuals, including myself, my friends, and my peers… It has to stop."
After the letter was published, Diddy's representative denied the wrongdoing in a statement. Similarly, after settling the lawsuit that Cassie filed against him Ben Brafman, Diddy's lawyer, said in a statement shared with The Mirror: "Just so we're clear, a decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing," and added: "Mr. 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 Ms. Ventura the best."
To contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline, call 1-800-799-7233, text "START" to 88788, or visit their website.Anyone affected by abuse and in need of support can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233). Advocates are available 24/7 and can also be reached via live chat on thehotline.org or by texting "START" to 88788 or "LOVEIS" to 22522.
If you have been affected by issues of domestic violence or coercive control you can call Refuge's 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free. The number is 0808 2000 247
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