Amid outrage over footage showing Diddy violently attacking his ex-girlfriend Cassie, the embattled rapper fears more damaging videos will emerge, a source told DailyMail.com.
The launch of cnn Footage showing the rapper, real name Sean Combs, throwing his ex-partner to the ground and angrily kicking her sparked widespread reaction on Friday.
A source revealed that Diddy was “blindsided” by the release of the video and has met with his lawyers for crisis talks because he fears more could follow.
“Their team is preparing for the release of more videos and is now aware that some of the people who were paid to dispose of them may have retained copies,” they said.
Diddy faced outrage on Friday when footage was released showing him attacking his ex-girlfriend Cassie at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016.
Diddy was seen throwing Cassie to the ground and kicking her angrily, and a source told DailyMail.com that his team is “preparing” for more videos to be released.
A confidant close 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 emerged as the artist faces a series of allegations and lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault, rape and sex trafficking, including a lawsuit filed by Cassie that was settled out of court in November.
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 lawyers unfolded as his team fears there is more to come.
“His people are also concerned about footage that may have been recorded in recording studios,” the source continued.
They added that CNN may already be in conversations with others who have harmful videos and alleged that “there are There are others that people have been keeping in the vault.
A confidant close 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 happy to have escaped him and plans to write a book that will help other victims of domestic abuse escape their evil tormentors,” they said.
In the footage, taken from the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016, Diddy is seen shirtless with a towel wrapped around his waist, chasing Cassie down the hallway.
As she tried to get into an elevator, he grabbed her by the back of the neck and threw her to the ground.
In the footage, Diddy is seen dragging Cassie back to her hotel room after collecting her bags.
A source told DailyMail.com that Cassie “is happy to have escaped (Diddy)” and plans to write a book about her alleged relationship ordeal.
He then kicked her as she lay motionless on the ground, before grabbing the two designer bags she had tried to escape with.
Diddy stood over her, kicked her again, and then dragged her back to her room by her hoodie.
Cassie claimed in her 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 lawyer Douglas Wigdor said: “The heartbreaking video has only confirmed Mr. Combs’ disturbing and predatory behavior.
“Words cannot express the courage and strength that Ms. Ventura has shown by coming forward to bring this to light.”
Despite the widespread outrage sparked by the hotel images, the Los Angeles district attorney’s office issued a statement maintaining that it does not have the option of prosecuting him.
The office cited the statute of limitations for assault and said that because the footage was filmed in March 201, the deadline for filing charges had expired.
“If the conduct described occurred in 2016, unfortunately we would not be able to file charges as the conduct would have occurred beyond the time frame in which an assault offense can be prosecuted,” the Los Angeles district attorney’s office wrote in a statement.
The statute of limitations in California for simple assault is one year, although aggravated assault is three years. According to the schedule, no charges could be brought against Diddy.
The office added that authorities have not filed charges against Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs, related to the attack.
After Cassie’s lawsuit was settled in November, her attorneys issued a statement saying the star “decided to resolve this matter amicably on the basis 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 attorney said his agreement in the case was in no way an admission of guilt.
His lawyer added that he denies all of Ventura’s accusations.