A week after CNN published a graphic video of Diddy physically assaulting Cassie in 2016, she released a statement calling on the public to listen to survivors of domestic violence.
“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 wrote. “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.” She went on: “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. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in.”
The statement from Cassie — whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura — marks her first time speaking out about domestic violence since she filed a bombshell federal lawsuit accusing her ex-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs of physically and sexually abusing her throughout their relationship. Combs and Ventura settled her suit a day after she filed it, and she notably didn’t name him in her statement on Thursday. Her filing prompted a wave of people to come forward with allegations of threats, grooming, sexual abuse, and physical abuse by the rapper. Most recently, former model Crystal McKinney became the sixth person to file a lawsuit against Combs, accusing him of forcing her to perform oral sex on him in 2003.
Combs previously denied all the allegations, claiming that “sick individuals” were looking for “a quick payday” and trying to tarnish his “reputation” and “legacy.” However, Combs apologized after video evidence of him assaulting Cassie was made public, saying he had “hit rock bottom.” He said that he “was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now. I went and I sought out professional help.” In a statement to CNN, Meredith Firetog, an attorney for Ventura, said Combs “was only compelled to ‘apologize’ once his repeated denials were proven false.”
In her statement, Ventura thanked those who believed her, adding, “The healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me.”
