R. Kelly Survivor Reacts to Diddy Assaulting Cassie Video

R. Kelly survivor Lizzette Martinez expressed her deep distress over a recently revealed video showing Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulting his former partner, Cassie Ventura, in 2016. In an October 9 interview on ABC’s “Secret Life of Diddy,” Martinez shared her emotional reaction to the footage, which surfaced earlier this year. The clip features Diddy physically assaulting Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel, where he is seen grabbing her by the neck, shoving, dragging, and repeatedly kicking her.

Martinez, who has publicly shared her own experiences of abuse by R. Kelly, conveyed her empathy, stating, “I knew what she was feeling, just wanting to get out of there, and it just broke my heart.” She emphasized her inability to forget the horrifying video, affirming, “I can’t unsee that Cassie video. You can tell me whatever you want to tell me about him. I cannot unsee the video.”

The troubling allegations against Diddy have reignited discussions about past abuse. Cassie, now 38 and married to Alex Fine, had a tumultuous relationship with Diddy before they parted ways in 2018. The New York Times highlighted that Martinez was among several abuse victims who testified during R. Kelly’s 2022 sentencing, where he received a 30-year prison term for racketeering and sex trafficking.

Diddy, 54, is currently facing serious charges connected to racketeering and sex trafficking, as he awaits trial at a detention center in Brooklyn. He was arrested in September after a grand jury indictment that detailed years of alleged abuse, threats, and coercion aimed at women to satisfy his sexual desires while attempting to protect his public image.

In response to the video, Diddy claimed that the Department of Homeland Security leaked it to tarnish his chances for a fair trial. He has denied the allegations against him and entered a not guilty plea.

The video of the assault has been cited as a crucial piece of evidence in the ongoing case, raising significant concerns about his past behavior. On September 26, CNN journalist Elizabeth Wagmeister noted that the footage “will be a key piece of evidence that is likely shown to the jury.”

Following the video’s release, Diddy issued an Instagram statement acknowledging his past mistakes without directly referencing Cassie, saying, “It’s difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, sometimes you gotta do that. I was f—ed up. I mean, I hit rock bottom but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted.”

The fallout from this incident continues to unfold, with Cassie’s courage encouraging other survivors to share their stories, highlighting the broader impacts of domestic violence.