Casandra "Cassie" Ventura's lawyer has responded to Sean "Diddy" Combs' apology following the release of a 2016 video that shows him shoving and kicking the singer. Combs, 54, shared a statement via Instagram on May 19, saying he is truly sorry after a surveillance video published by CNN on May 17 showed an altercation between himself and his ex-girlfriend, 37, that matched allegations she made in a now-settled lawsuit from last November.
Ventura's lawyer, Meredith Firetog, Partner at Wigdor LLP, responded to the apology in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. Firetog stated that Combs' most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt. He suggested that his victims were looking for a payday and that he was only compelled to 'apologize' once his repeated denials were proven false.
Combs has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women in numerous lawsuits filed since November 2023. In his Instagram apology video, Combs said, "It's so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life. Sometimes you gotta do that. I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable." He added, "I take full responsibility for my actions in that video." Ventura's now-settled suit referenced a similar incident that took place in 2016 at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Calif., writing that "Mr. Combs became extremely intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye."
Combs' lawyer had previously denied any wrongdoing on his part, both when Ventura filed and when she and the rapper later settled. After the video of the altercation was released, Ventura's lawyer Douglas H. Wigdor praised his client's "courage." "The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs," Wigdor said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
Ventura's lawyer, Meredith Firetog, Partner at Wigdor LLP, responded to the apology in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. Firetog stated that Combs' most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt. He suggested that his victims were looking for a payday and that he was only compelled to 'apologize' once his repeated denials were proven false.
Combs has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women in numerous lawsuits filed since November 2023. In his Instagram apology video, Combs said, "It's so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life. Sometimes you gotta do that. I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable." He added, "I take full responsibility for my actions in that video." Ventura's now-settled suit referenced a similar incident that took place in 2016 at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Calif., writing that "Mr. Combs became extremely intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye."
Combs' lawyer had previously denied any wrongdoing on his part, both when Ventura filed and when she and the rapper later settled. After the video of the altercation was released, Ventura's lawyer Douglas H. Wigdor praised his client's "courage." "The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs," Wigdor said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
