Casandra “Cassie” Ventura spoke publicly for the first time in a video released in 2016 that showed her being influenced by ex Sean “Deedee” Combs Sean “Diddy” Combs’ physical abuse.
Ventura, 37, released a statement on Instagram on Thursday, May 23, expressing her gratitude for the “love and support from family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet.”
She went on to explain, “The outpouring of love created a place for my younger self to settle down and feel safe.”
“But this is just the beginning,” she said. “Domestic violence was the problem. It made me into a person I never thought I would be. After a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will never recover from my past.”
“This healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me,” she also said. “Thanks.”
Ventura first made accusations against Combs in a now-settled lawsuit filed in November, claiming the music mogul raped and sex-trafficked her during a decade-long abuse.
“After years of silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story and speak out on behalf of myself and other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships,” she said in a statement. “With With New York’s Adult Survivors Act expiring, it became clear that this was an opportunity to speak out about the trauma that I had experienced and that I would spend the rest of my life recovering from.”
Combs, 54, has denied the accusations, which his lawyer called “repugnant and outrageous.”
On December 6, the rapper spoke out about Cassie’s claims. “Enough is enough. Over the past few weeks, I have sat quietly and watched as people attempted to assassinate my character and destroy my reputation and my legacy,” he wrote in a statement obtained by People. “Disgusting accusations have been made against me by those seeking a quick payday.”
But he changed his tune after CNN released surveillance video on May 17 that showed Diddy allegedly kicking, dragging and throwing things at Ventura as he tried to leave the hotel room while he slept.
“It’s very hard to reflect on the darkest moments in your life,” Combs said in a statement in an Instagram video. “Sometimes you have to do that. I’m angry. I mean I hit rock bottom, but I don’t have any Excuses. My behavior in that video was inexcusable.”
“I take full responsibility for my actions in this video,” he said in the post’s caption. “I’m really sorry.”
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has since said they were “unable” to charge Combs over the video of the attack because it was filmed “beyond the time in which assault charges could be prosecuted.”
Ventura acknowledged in Thursday’s post that she received backlash after filing the lawsuit.
“My only request is that everyone open up to a believing victim the first time. It takes a lot of courage to tell the truth when there is nothing you can do,” Ventura wrote.
She then gave a speech to other victims of domestic violence. “I reach out to those who are still living in fear,” she said. “Reach out to your people and don’t cut them off. No one should bear this burden alone.”
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
