Last year, a disturbing Cassie video went viral. Now we know the real story.

Content warning: This story involves domestic violence.

Last year, horrifying surveillance video emerged of rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs violently assaulting his then-girlfriend Casandra Ventura in the hallway of a hotel. Ventura, who is known publicly as Cassie, rose to fame in the early 2000s as a popular R&B singer.

In the video, Combs is seen running through the hallway after Ventura as she attempts to leave the hotel. He is holding a towel around his waist.

He then throws Ventura to the ground, and kicks her, before picking up the two bags she dropped as she hit the floor. He kicks her again, then drags her along the ground.

When Combs walks away, Ventura stands and heads to the hotel phone. But he returns, shoving his partner, before grabbing what appears to be a vase and throwing it towards her.

It's harrowing viewing, and should be done with caution, particularly for anyone who has experienced violence, abuse or related trauma. You can view the video here.

The video's release came a year after Ventura accused Combs of coercion, physical abuse and rape. Around the same time, several other civil lawsuits characterised him as a violent sexual predator who used alcohol and drugs to subdue his victims, with his homes being raided this year by federal agents.

Now, Ventura has taken the stand as the prosecution's star witness in Combs' trial. She's shared the truth behind that horrific video and why she didn't fight back.

Her explanation was simple yet devastating: fighting back "just made him more violent, made him stronger."

In the early stages of their relationship, she tried to stand up for herself.

"He was surprised I was actually fighting back— it made him have more anger, more frustration," she said of one time she defended herself, per People.

But she says she quickly learned the price of those actions, saying she only made it worse for herself.

In her testimony, Ventura shared several harrowing allegations of abuse at the hands of Combs.

On numerous occasions, she said, he threatened to release explicit footage of Combs' "freak-offs", encounters in which Ventura said she was forced to have sex with male escorts and was humiliated and degraded in sex acts while Combs watched.

It was enough to keep her silent for years.

Cassie Ventura pictured in 2018. Image: Getty.

When the video was released, we couldn't help but wonder: Would the world be watching this video if the perpetrator wasn't a world-famous rap mogul? Probably not.

It's an extraordinarily difficult video to watch. Because what we're watching is a woman, attempting to flee to safety, before the man she's running from chases and catches her.

We see Comb's rage, his determination to reach Ventura as he runs with visible purpose, not even bothering to dress.

We can see the violence. In the throw. In the kicks. In Ventura being dragged along the floor.

We can see the pain.

We want to look away. But we must not look away from the truth. Because this video reminds us that domestic violence is more than just a political problem or a women's issue.

This video reminds us that 'violence against women' and 'coercive control' and 'wife beater' and 'family violence' are more than just words. In a country where one woman is being murdered every four days — where male violence and domestic abuse are discussed daily, but both continue to take place at alarming rates — we risk becoming desensitised.

We risk becoming desensitised to what life is like for hundreds of thousands of women around the world, around the country, and in our neighbourhoods.

"Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light," Ventura's lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, said in a statement at the time.

"The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour of Mr Combs."

Ventura released a personal statement a week after the footage came to light.

"Thank you for all the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet," she wrote on Instagram.

"The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning.

"Domestic violence is THE issue," she wrote. "It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become."

While she has come a long way from those dark days, Ventura said her "healing journey" is "never ending."

"With a lot of hard work, I am better today but I will always be recovering from my past."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Casandra Fine (@cassie)

Ventura used the moment to speak up for other victims of domestic violence, urging everyone to "open your heart to believing victims the first time."

"It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in. I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear. Reach out to your people, don’t cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone."

According to CNN, the incident happened in 2016, per Ventura's complaint.

Ventura claimed she left the hotel room when Combs passed out following heavy drinking. The rapper had punched her in the face, leaving her with a black eye.

Via the complaint, Ventura said she took a taxi to her apartment, but returned shortly after, fearing further enraging Combs. She said she intended to apologise to him.

"When she returned, hotel security staff urged her to get back into a cab and go to her apartment, suggesting that they had seen the security footage showing Mr Combs beating Ms Ventura and throwing glass at her in the hotel hallway," the complaint says.

Combs addressed the harrowing footage, saying, "I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.

"It's so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that," Combs said in a video shared on his Instagram. "I was f**ked up. I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behaviour on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video."

He continued: "I was disgusted then when I did it. I'm disgusted now. I went and I sought out professional help. Had to go into therapy, go into rehab. 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. I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'm truly sorry."

Combs did not mention Ventura by name.

Ventura's husband, Alex Fine, shared a "letter to women and children" on his Instagram, referencing the pain his wife went through.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Poonie Fine (@alexfine44)

"[I} wrote this a while back but the words ring true not just today but every day. I want my kids and every kid to live in a world that's safe for women and girls, protects them and treats them as equals. To the women and children, you're not alone, and you are heard," he captioned the post.

Ventura was just 19 when she met Combs, who was 37.

The lawsuit, which included other allegations including sexual assault, was settled out of court, though Comb's lawyer, Ben Brafman said that decision was "in no way an admission of wrongdoing".

Since November, Combs has faced five other civil lawsuits accusing him of a range of sexual misconduct and other illegal activity. He has denied the allegations, and the cases remain active.

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.

Mamamia is a charity partner of RizeUp Australia, a national organisation that helps women, children and families move on after the devastation of domestic and family violence. Their mission is to deliver life-changing and practical support to these families when they need it most. If you would like to support their mission you can donate here.

This story was originally published on May 18, 2024, and has since been updated with new information.

Feature Image: Getty