Jury to view assault video in federal trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs
A New York federal judge has ruled that jurors in the high-profile criminal sex trafficking trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs will be shown video footage of him violently assaulting his former girlfriend, singer and model Cassie Ventura. The decision comes as the trial is set to begin on May 5, marking a pivotal moment in one of the most closely watched celebrity criminal cases in recent memory.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian rejected a motion from Combs’ legal team to exclude the video, saying they had failed to present a compelling reason to keep it out of the courtroom. “We can eliminate at least many of the defense’s concerns through technology,” the judge said during a pre-trial hearing in Manhattan.
The video, taken in 2016 in the hallway of the now-closed InterContinental Hotel, reportedly shows Combs punching and kicking Ventura. It was first made public in May 2024 by CNN, prompting a wave of public outcry and further legal scrutiny.
Combs admitted to assault, issued public apology
Shortly after the footage surfaced, Combs posted a statement on Instagram in which he accepted full responsibility. “My behaviour on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video,” he wrote. “I’m not asking for forgiveness. I am truly sorry.” He also claimed to have sought therapy and rehabilitation following the incident.
According to federal prosecutors, Combs allegedly attempted to bribe a hotel security staffer to keep the video from becoming public—a detail that further underscores the lengths to which the artist and entrepreneur allegedly went to conceal his conduct.
A sweeping case of abuse, coercion, and control
The upcoming trial, however, involves far more than a single act of violence. Federal prosecutors have accused the 55-year-old Bad Boy Records founder of operating a years-long criminal enterprise involving sex trafficking, coercion, and abuse. According to court documents, Combs allegedly recorded sex acts and manipulated victims using threats of violence, financial inducements, and the promise of professional advancement.
Combs has denied all charges and has insisted that all of his sexual relationships were consensual. His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, told the court that Combs is “a swinger, not a sexual predator.”
The charges against him include criminal sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, physical abuse, and racketeering conspiracy. He was arrested on September 16, 2024, in Manhattan and has remained in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn ever since.
Legal and cultural ramifications
The case has reignited conversations around abuse in the entertainment industry, the influence of celebrity power, and the accountability of high-profile figures. As the trial date nears, legal experts note that the admissibility of the hotel video could serve as a powerful piece of evidence that sways the jury’s perception.
For Ventura and others who have accused Combs of misconduct, the decision marks a significant development in their long battle for justice. For Combs, it raises the stakes in a trial that could define the legacy of one of hip-hop’s most influential figures.