Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Lawyers Claim CNN Altered Video of Cassie Ventura Assault and Destroyed Original Footage

Mar. 15, 2025

an “Diddy” Combs attends the 2022 Billboard Music Awards; Cassie Ventura at The Standard in Los Angeles.Photo:Bryan Steffy/WireImage; Madison McGaw/BFA.com/Shutterstock

Bryan Steffy/WireImage; Madison McGaw/BFA.com/Shutterstock

Sean “Diddy” Combs’lawyers in his federal case are claiming that the bombshell CNN video that showed the rap mogul allegedly abusing his ex-girlfriend and singer,Cassie Ventura, on March 5, 2016, was altered and the original footage was destroyed.

As Ventura lay motionless, Combs kicked her again and briefly dragged her toward the direction of the room before letting go and walking away. Seconds later, he sat down at a chair, grabbed an object off a table and forcefully threw it toward her.

Combs is then seen walking away and turning toward Ventura again when an elevator door opens and someone appears to exit. The video shows Combs grabbing, shoving and kicking Ventura during an altercation that matched allegations she made in a now-settledlawsuit filed in November 2023.

Last year, Combs released an apology video addressing the incident. “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video,“he said on May 19, 2024. “Disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it, I’m disgusted now. I went and I sought out professional help, going to therapy, going to rehab. 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,” Combs continued. He had previously denied Ventura’s allegations of assault.

In the New York City filing on Thursday, March 13, Combs' legal team claims CNN purchased the only known copy of the surveillance footage, uploaded it to a free editing software and edited the original video.

“All CNN video footage was substantially altered in significant respects,” the letter to Judge Arun Subramanian reads. “This includes covering the time stamp and then changing the video sequence. It also includes speeding up the video to make it falsely appear that the actions in the video are taking place faster than they are. As a result, the CNN videos do not fairly and accurately depict the events in question.”

The letter further claims CNN destroyed the original footage “even though it knew about and repeatedly reported about the federal investigation.”

“It’s is not surprising that Combs would make a disingenuous argument to exclude the disturbing video from being shown to the jury in the upcoming trial,” Ventura’s attorney Wigdor said in a statement to PEOPLE. “I am confident that the video fairly and accurately represents what happened, will be admitted into evidence, and that Combs will be held accountable for his depravity.”

Combs' legal team had no further comment.

The filing notes that the video will be addressed in an upcoming motion. “We will be disclosing the subpoenaed materials to the government so it will be prepared to respond to the defense motion on this subject,” the letter states.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org.All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com