Cassie has broken her silence on the shocking footage of Diddy assaulting her in a hotel in 2016.
The R&B singer issued a statement on Instagram on Thursday (May 23) addressing both the vicious attack and the outpouring of support that she has received since the video surfaced last week.
“Thank you for all of the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet. The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning,” she began.
“Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past.”
Cassie, who sued ex-boyfriend Diddy for rape, domestic violence and sex trafficking last November, also urged doubters and critics to be more inclined to believe victims of abuse when they come forward.
“Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to take this matter seriously. My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time,” she continued. “It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in.
“I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear. Reach out to your people, don’t cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone. This healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me. Thank you. Love Always, Cassie.”
The video in question was obtained by CNN last Friday (May 17) and shows Diddy brutally assaulting Cassie in a hallway of the since-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in March 2016.
The Bad Boy boss can be seen running out of his hotel room wearing nothing but a towel and throwing the singer to the floor as she waits for an elevator.
He then kicks and stomps her as she lies on the floor before dragging her back to his hotel room. The CCTV footage also shows him pushing her up against a wall as she tries to use a hotel phone and throwing a vase in her direction.
The video appears to corroborate Cassie’s account of such an incident in her aforementioned sexual assault lawsuit, which was quickly settled for an undisclosed sum the day after it was filed.
Following a string of other lawsuits that were filed against him in the subsequent weeks, Diddy vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing them as attempts to “assassinate” his character and earn a “quick payday.”
After the footage of his attack on Cassie was made public, however, the 54-year-old mogul acknowledged the incident and apologized for his behavior.
“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that. I was fucked up — I mean, I hit rock bottom — but I make no excuses,” he said in a solemn clip posted on Instagram.
“My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”
He added: “I’m so sorry. But I’m committed to be a better man each and every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”
The apology has been widely criticized, with Cassie’s lawyer Meredith Firetog calling it “disingenuous.”
“Combs’ most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt,” Firetog said in a statement. “When Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday.
“That he was only compelled to ‘apologize’ once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words.”
Nah.
Bitches lie.
I believe PROOF, EVIDENCE…FOH!
lol may is black people stay in the vicious cycle then. Embarrassing, but not surprising. Men lie the most. Trash fans.
Nah.
Bitches lie.
I believe PROOF, EVIDENCE…FOH!
No we will NOT believe bitches the first time lol.. it’s female nature to lie and get the super hand on me. No proof it didn’t happen.. period!
Your statement shows what a misogynistic pos you are so it’ s easy to believe a woman if she says you assaulted her. No we should not blindly believe someone without proof but i’ll say it again: it is obvious you hate women and that you are an idiot.
No we will NOT believe bitches the first time lol.. it’s female nature to lie and get the uper hand on men No proof it didn’t happen.. period!
We can’t believe literally anyone without proof. Let’s not act like Diddy negates the fact that a lot of men have been locked up and lynched for things they didn’t do
💯
The problem isn’t that no one believed you. It’s neither of you did enough to stop it from happening in your relationship for several years.
Cassie doesn’t realize that believing lying-ass chicks who aren’t victims hurts her own cause!
It’s only big D and there’s video proof
Show empathy, sure. But mindlessly believing anyone just because they claim to be a victim is what gets actually innocent people in trouble. Especially in 2024 when being a victim is seen as a status to aspire to.
“Beleive victims”… she didn’t say anything and continued to date him for 3 more years. She was willing to cover it up, either out of fear, or because she liked living the high life. So she was either a coward, or a good digger. Fear is a strong way to control all of us. Once you no longer have fear, you can do anything you set your mind to.
I can imagine a vulnerable woman without money and connections can be abused for years, but a self proclaimed star can be not. Cassie wanted something so much – money, fame, goods – she stayed with him. Maybe she also signed some bad contracts, too. But don’t tell me you have to stay with an abuser if you are famous, if you have money, if you don’t want to rob him, if you don’t want attach yourself to him. If you Diddy could blackmail her, I ask how. Cassie has 1 (I mean one) album and nobody cares about her so-called career. Maybe she is stupid, maybe she is emotionally weak, but one thing is sure: she’s a f’n b!tch.
Tunnel vision is real people.
Too many people got there tongue so far up celebrities backsides they don’t want to even consider that person could do any harm to anyone. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
Remember all them whoppers going on about ‘Just tryna pull a successful black man down’ blah blah blah. Delusion at it’s highest! But please, feel free to carry on as I’m sure you will.
The problem is you can’t believe everyone. Some women will lie through their teeth. Until I see some evidence, I give people the benefit of the doubt.
With all due respect. Cassie, I believe evidence. So, if women, or anyone are to be believed, they should come with receipts. Preferably as it happens, not decades later.