Disgraced Hip-Hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs continued enjoying the benefits of his superstar status for years even though his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, and others before her, said he was a monster.
It wasn’t until the recently surfaced 2016 hotel surveillance video of Diddy beating the hell out of Cassie that many people finally opened their eyes and said “enough is enough.”
Six days after CNN released the video, Cassie broke her silence with a thank-you note on Thursday via Instagram to her supporters. “Domestic violence is THE issue,” she 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.”
She urged people to “open your heart to believing victims the first time,” as she reached out “to those that are still living in fear.”
An estimated 41.2 percent of Black women have experienced domestic violence, and 53.8 percent of our sisters have been victims of psychological aggression by their partners, according to data from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
The organization blames systemic racism, racist policies and racist societal structures for the disproportionately high rate of domestic abuse of Black women and Black men in our communities.
“By intentionally denying Black people access to economic opportunities, the ability to build intergenerational wealth, healthcare, education, and a sense of safety from governmental systems, racist policies increase the prevalence of risk factors for domestic violence,” the organization states, noting that the criminal justice system sides with white survivors far more often than with Black survivors.
Judge Greg Mathis had this to say about the Diddy assault video: “Had a hard time watching the Cassie video. SADLY, SHE IS NOT THE ONLY VICTIM. SISTAS, KEEP YA HEAD UP.”
The video shows Diddy — wearing nothing but a towel —following Cassie into the hallway outside their hotel room. He chases Cassie as she heads toward the elevators and grabs her by the back of the neck before throwing her to the floor. While on the ground, Diddy kicks Cassie multiple times as she lies motionless.
In November 2023, Cassie filed a lawsuit accusing Diddy of rape and physical abuse during their decade-long relationship. Before the video surfaced, the prolific producer denied the domestic abuse allegations against him, prompting many in our community looked the other way.
It was only after facing overwhelming public condemnation that Diddy finally admitted to the abuse and issued an apology — that many have deemed insincere.