US Hip-Hop Mogul Faces Controversy After Ex-Girlfriend Assault Video Released
"I Will Take Responsibility for My Actions... Sorry"
Sean Diddy Combs (54), a prominent figure in the American hip-hop scene known by the stage name 'Puff Daddy,' apologized after a video of him assaulting his then-girlfriend, singer Keshy (real name Cassandra Ventura), eight years ago surfaced and sparked controversy.
On the 19th (local time), Combs posted the video on his Instagram and apologized, saying he was "truly sorry." In the video, with a somber expression, Combs said, "I take full responsibility for my actions in the video," adding, "I was disgusted by my behavior then, and I still am now."
Earlier, on the 17th, CNN obtained and released closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage filmed on March 5, 2016, in a hotel corridor in Los Angeles (LA). The video showed a man believed to be Combs, wearing only a towel, coming out into the hotel corridor and mercilessly assaulting Keshy. Combs was seen grabbing Keshy's neck as she waited by the elevator button and forcefully pushing her to the floor. He also dragged her by the back of her hoodie into a room and threw objects at her.
Combs stated, "It is very difficult to look back on the darkest times in life, but sometimes it must be done." He added, "I sought professional help, received treatment, underwent rehabilitation, and asked God for mercy and grace." He continued, "I am truly sorry. I am committed every day to becoming a better person," emphasizing, "This is not about asking for forgiveness. I am sincerely sorry," repeating his apology.
Meanwhile, Keshy, who dated Combs from 2007 to 2018, filed a civil lawsuit against him last November. In the complaint, Keshy stated that on the day of the 2016 assault, "Combs, extremely intoxicated, punched me in the face, causing bruising around my eye." She also revealed that she was raped by Combs in 2018 and suffered physical abuse and other forms of mistreatment for years. However, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said, "If the acts in the video occurred in 2016, unfortunately, the statute of limitations for assault charges has passed, so we cannot prosecute."
Combs is known as the founder of Bad Boy Records, representing East Coast hip-hop, and is reported to have assets exceeding $1 billion (approximately 1.3555 trillion KRW).
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