American rapper Sean "Diddy” Combs commonly known as P Diddy has spoken out for the first time after a video of him physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura in a hotel in 2016 was leaked.
ALSO READ: P Diddy's homes raided by federal agents following sex trafficking investigation
In a video, captioned "I’m truly sorry”, that he posted on his Instagram page, the rapper said he was, and still is, disgusted by what he did. However, he explained, he was in a bad place mentally.
"My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video,” P Diddy said in the video.
"I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now,” he added. "I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for His mercy and grace. 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.”
Footage obtained by CNN appears to show Combs Diddy wearing only a white towel as he punches and kicks Cassandra in a Los Angeles hotel hallway on March 5, 2016.
The R&B singer, commonly known as Cassie, was his protege and girlfriend at the time.
The footage also shows Combs shoving and dragging her across the floor, as well as throwing a vase in her direction.
According to NBC News, Sky News' US partner, if Cassie were to make a complaint the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) could investigate, but charges would likely be declined by the district attorney because California law has a one-year statute of limitations for assault and the alleged incident happened nearly eight years ago.
The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office has since confirmed it would be unable to bring charges "as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted".
In November 2023, Cassie sued Combs in federal court in Manhattan, accusing him of subjecting her to serial physical abuse, sexual slavery and rape.
She alleged Combs regularly beat her over the course of a 10-year professional and romantic relationship, controlled her through intimidation and gave her drugs and alcohol.
This comes after the music mogul was hit with a federal lawsuit last year from a former girlfriend who accused him of sex trafficking. In March, Federal agents searched homes of the hip-hop star in Los Angeles and Miami, different reports indicate.
Combs was in February also accused of sexual assault and harassment in another civil lawsuit filed by a former male employee. Combs, through his lawyer, totally denied all the allegations.