Former partner of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs remembers the urgent effort to minimize negative impact when video of Cassie Ventura at a hotel emerged.

When footage of Sean “Diddy” Combs attacking Cassie Ventura in a hotel, he was in bed with his now ex. During his trial, she testified anonymously under the pseudonym “Jane” and recalled the flurry of activity following the footage leak. She alleged that Combs and his team rushed to respond to the video. 

Combs and Jane were together in bed when the now-infamous footage of the 2016 hotel assault began circulating. In the video, Combs chases his former girlfriend, Ventura, in a hotel before kicking and hitting her. 

“I remember we were sleeping and one of the sons knocked on the door and said that something happened, and then I was just by myself,” Jane testified, per ABC News. “I went downstairs and could see everyone speaking amongst each other.”

She described the atmosphere as “very eerie.” Combs, his family, and his team worked to come up with a response to the footage. Combs had previously denied allegations made by Ventura in her 2023 lawsuit against him.

“They were trying to come up with some kind of sincere apology post or something regarding the video,” she said.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ ex didn’t think his statement was particularly strong

Two days after the footage surfaced, Combs issued a now-deleted apology on his Instagram.

“My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video,” he said. “I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”

He said he sought professional help and believed he’d grown since the incident.

“I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab,” he said. “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.”

Ventura’s lawyer slammed the statement as disingenuous, and Jane felt similarly. She said she was “underwhelmed” and “disappointed” by the statement. 

“I felt there was no heart there,” she testified.

Cassie Ventura also testified in the trial

Ventura also took the stand during Combs’ trial. During questioning, she spoke about his notorious freak offs and controlling nature. 

“Sean controlled a lot of my life, whether it was career, the way I dressed, like, everything,” she testified. “I just didn’t feel like I had much say in it at that time being a really super young, naive, total people-pleaser.”

Ventura said she chose to testify because of the shame and guilt she felt over her relationship with Combs.

“I can’t carry this anymore,” she said. “What’s right is right, and what’s wrong is wrong. And I’m here to do the right thing.”

How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.