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Cassie Ventura has publicly expressed her gratitude for the support she has received following the release of a 2016 surveillance video showing her being physically assaulted by her then-boyfriend, Sean “Diddy” Combs. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Ventura thanked her family, friends, and strangers for their outpouring of love, stating that it has provided her younger self a sense of safety.
“Thank you for all of the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet,” Ventura wrote. “The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning.” Ventura also addressed the broader issue of domestic violence, sharing how it profoundly affected her. “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 called for a shift in societal attitudes toward victims of domestic violence, urging people to believe victims the first time they speak out. “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,” Ventura wrote. “I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear. Reach out to your people, don’t cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone.”
Ventura and Combs were in an on-and-off relationship from 2007 to 2018. In November2023, Ventura filed a complaint alleging that Combs raped her in 2018 and subjected her to years of physical and emotional abuse. The lawsuit was settled within a day, with Combs denying the allegations. “A decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing,” Combs’ attorney Ben Brafman said.
Despite the settlement, Ventura’s attorney Meredith Firetog criticized Combs for his earlier denials and suggested that he dismissed the victims’ claims as attempts for financial gain. The settlement agreement stipulates that Ventura and Combs cannot speak about each
other publicly. However, the controversy surrounding Combs continues to grow, with him being named in seven civil lawsuits in recent months, six of which involve allegations of sexual assault. Combs’ homes were searched in March 2024 as part of a federal investigation into human trafficking and other crimes, though he and his attorneys have denied all allegations.
Cassie Ventura’s brave stance and advocacy serve as a beacon of hope and support for victims of domestic violence, highlighting the ongoing struggle and need for societal change in addressing these critical issues.
