Cassie breaks her silence about Sean “Diddy” Combs for the first time.
The “Me & U” singer expressed gratitude for the support she has received since a video surfaced last week showing her being punched, dragged and kicked at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.
“Thank you for all the love and support from family, friends, strangers, and those I have yet to meet,” Kathy, whose real name is Cassandra Ventura Fine, wrote on the social media platform. “The outpouring of love has given my younger self a place to feel calm and safe. But this is just the beginning. Domestic violence is an issue. I have become a person I never expected.”
“Thanks to a lot of hard work, I'm better today, but I'm always recovering from my past,” she added.
“I just want everyone to believe the victim first and open up. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth from a powerless situation,” Kathy said. She said she “reached out to those who are still living in fear. Reach out to your allies and don't cut them off,” adding, “No one should carry this weight alone.” Ta.
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After splitting with Diddy, Cassie fell in love with personal trainer Alex Fine and the couple have two daughters, Frankie, 4, and Sunny, 3, who they welcomed into their family in 2021.
Sean Diddy CombsHe admitted to the violent act against Cathy that was caught on video. Should he do that?
Celebrities support 'Me and You' singer: 'I really love you', says Cassie's husband Alex Fine
Fine addressed the controversy in a lengthy Instagram post last week, and wrote in support of Cathy in the comments section of her post.
“I love you so much, you are the perfect role model for our girls ❤️,” the personal trainer commented on the post.
In addition to her husband, Tinashe, Ginny Mai, Kelly Rowland, Taraji P. Henson, La La Anthony, Devon Franklin, Justin Anderson, Black Coffee, Chloe Bailey, TLC's Chili, and LeToya Luckett Many celebrities commented on this post. And Chase Stokes.
“Sending so much love to you my love! We love you,” Tinashe wrote.
“We love you and we're so sorry you had to go through such a terrible time. No one should have to go through that. Queen, your strength Thank you,” Da Brat said.
“Your courage, strength, grace, and fortitude are immeasurable, to say the least. We will forever be with you and continue to walk in the power of your beautiful and inspiring soul. Please. You are loved. I love you always,” Nazanin Mandy wrote.
Sean Diddy Combs shows off his batting skillsEx Kaci Ventura caught on surveillance video in 2016
What happened in Cassie and Diddy's hotel surveillance video?
The hotel surveillance video obtained by CNN and published Friday is dated March 5, 2016 and is edited from multiple camera angles. The video is consistent with the allegations in a lawsuit Kathy filed last November, and the two settled the following day.
In the video, Ventura, wearing a black sweater with the hood pulled up and holding a duffel bag, is seen hailing an elevator at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, reported by CNN. In another camera angle, Diddy can be seen running down the hotel's hallway wrapped in a bath towel.
He caught up with Ventura before the elevator arrived, grabbed Ventura by the hair and punched him, pulling him and throwing him to the ground. He then kicked Ventura twice as she lay on the ground, picked up her bag and dragged her back toward the hotel room.
He then appeared to say something to her as he let her go and returned to the hotel room with her bag.
Diddy apologized for Cassie's video last week. “I'm tired of it.”
Last week, Diddy apologized on Instagram after a video surfaced of him assaulting Cassie.
The 54-year-old rapper spoke directly to the camera in a video he shared on his Instagram page last Sunday, commenting on his actions in surveillance footage obtained by CNN and published last Friday. I'm not trying to make excuses.”
“My actions in that video are inexcusable,” Diddy said. “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I'm disgusted. I was disgusted then, and I'm disgusted now.”
Cassie's lawyers slammed Diddy's apology in a statement released to USA Today and other media outlets last week.
“This heartbreaking video provides further evidence of Mr. Combs' disturbing and predatory behavior,” Ventura's attorney, Doug Wigdor, said in a statement. “Words cannot express the courage and fortitude Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this matter to light.”
Contributors: Taijuan Moorman, Brendan Morrow
If you are a victim of domestic violence: National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org) Trained advocates are available to speak confidentially online or over the phone, which is recommended for anyone who believes their online activity is being monitored by an abuser (800-799-7233). They can help victims develop a plan to keep themselves and their children safe.
