Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former assistant, Suzi Siegi, was not surprised when a video surfaced showing the rapper violently assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Siegi worked for Combs when he and Ventura began dating in 2008 and 2009, and she stated that she was not shocked by the disturbing clip from 2016. She described feeling sick and violently angry after watching the video, emphasizing that the footage revealed the truth of the incident.
Despite spending a lot of time with Combs and Ventura as his assistant, Siegi claimed that she never witnessed any abusive behavior towards Ventura. She mentioned riding in limos and attending parties with the couple, but never saw anything that indicated Combs could be in trouble. Siegi also pointed out the power dynamic at play in their relationship, as Combs was significantly older and more established in the industry, while Ventura was just starting her career.
Combs was 37 and Ventura was 19 when they began their on-again, off-again relationship. Ventura was signed to Combs’ label, and their professional ties continued until 2019. Siegi highlighted the control Combs had over Ventura, both in their personal relationship and her career. She explained how Combs’ wealth and status added another layer to the power dynamic that could have contributed to the abusive behavior.
Siegi attributed her intuition and observations of Combs’ interactions with others as reasons why she believed he was capable of violence. She noted that although she never experienced mistreatment from him, she sensed that he lacked empathy towards others. The security footage from the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles showed Combs violently attacking Ventura, corroborating the allegations made in a lawsuit filed by Ventura. The suit was settled one day after being filed, and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office was unable to prosecute Combs due to the statute of limitations.
In addition to the incident with Ventura, Combs has faced multiple other lawsuits since November, including accusations of rape, sexual misconduct, and other crimes. Federal agents raided his California and Florida mansions in April as part of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security team focused on human trafficking. Despite the allegations against him, Combs has not been charged with any crimes and has denied the accusations. The ongoing legal challenges and public scrutiny have raised questions about Combs’ behavior and treatment of women, contributing to a larger conversation about accountability and justice in the entertainment industry.
