Amid outrage at footage showing Diddy violently attacking his ex-girlfriend Cassie, the embattled rapper is fearful more damaging videos will emerge, an insider told DailyMail.com
The release of CNN footage showing the rapper, real name Sean Combs, throwing his ex-partner to the ground and furiously kicking her sparked widespread backlash on Friday.
A source revealed that Diddy was ‘stunned’ by the video’s release, and has been huddled with his lawyers for crisis talks as he fears more could follow.
‘His team is bracing itself for the release of more videos and are now aware that some of the people who were paid to dispose of them may have kept copies,’ they said.
Diddy faced outrage on Friday as footage was released showing him attacking his ex-girlfriend Cassie in Los Angeles’ InterContinental Hotel in 2016
Diddy was seen throwing Cassie to the ground and kicking her furiously, and an insider told DailyMail.com that his team are ‘bracing’ for the release of more videos
A close confidant to Cassie claimed she was also taken aback by the release of the viral clip, which was said to be ‘triggering for her’
The video came as artist is facing a number of allegations and lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault, rape and sex trafficking, including a lawsuit filed by Cassie that was settled in November out of court.
Diddy has denied the allegations against him, and his representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by DailyMail.com.
His alleged crisis talks with attorneys unfolded as his team fear more is to come.
‘His people are also concerned about footage that may have been recorded at recording studios,’ the insider continued.
They added that CNN may already be in discussions with others holding damaging videos, and alleged that ‘there are others that people have been holding in the vault.’
A close confidant to Cassie told us she was also taken aback by the release of the viral clip, which was said to be ‘triggering for her.’
‘She is just happy that she escaped him and is planning to write a book which will help other victims of domestic abuse escape from their wicked tormentors,’ they said.
In the footage, taken from Los Angeles’ InterContinental Hotel in 2016, Diddy was seen shirtless with a towel wrapped around his waist, chasing Cassie down the hall.
As she tried to get into an elevator, he grabbed her by the back of the head and slammed her on to the ground.
In the footage, Diddy is seen dragging Cassie back to their hotel room after collecting her bags
An insider told DailyMail.com that Cassie ‘is just happy that she escaped (Diddy)’ and is planning to write a book about her alleged ordeal in their relationship
He then kicked her as she lay on the ground motionless, before grabbing the two designer bags she’d tried to escape with.
Diddy stood over her, kicked her again, and then dragged her back to their room by the hoodie.
Cassie claimed in their since-settled lawsuit that Diddy had paid the same hotel $50,000 for the footage after the attack.
In a statement to DailyMail.com, Cassie’s attorney Douglas Wigdor said: ‘The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs.
‘Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.’
Despite the widespread outrage the hotel footage triggered, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office released a statement maintaining that it doesn’t have the option to prosecute him.
The office cited statute of limitations for assault, and said because the footage was filmed in March 201 the window to file charges has lapsed.
‘If the conduct depicted occurred in 2016, unfortunately we would be unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted,’ the LA DA’s office wrote in a statement.
California’s statute of limitations for simple assault is one year, though aggravated assault is three years. Based on the timeline, neither charge could be levied against Diddy.
The office added that law enforcement hasn’t pursued charges against Diddy, real name Sean Combs, related to the attack.
After Cassie’s lawsuit was settled in November, her attorneys released a statement saying the star ‘decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control.’
‘I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support.’
In his own statement following the settlement, Diddy’s lawyer said his settling of the case was in no way an admission of guilt.
His lawyer added that he denies all of Ventura’s allegations.