UPDATE 03/15/2025 2:45 P.M. PST: About those claims that CNN destroyed the original copy of that footage of Diddy beating Cassie? During a pre-trial hearing for his sex trafficking case, TMZ reported that the Assistant United States Attorneys revealed the feds have the CNN version AND a recording of the original video! Whatever the outlet did or didn’t do to the clips is pretty much irrelevant now! So this is a big L for Diddy!
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[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
Diddy seems determined to get the video of him abusing then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura thrown out of his sex trafficking case!
Back in November, his lawyers accused prosecutors of giving the judge an edited version of the security camera footage of him brutally beating Cassie in the hallway of the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City, California, in 2016. According to the legal team, prosecutors allegedly had the original unedited version but chose to hand over the altered one to showcase their “most powerful evidence of danger and obstruction.” More on the edited clip in a minute! Diddy then argued that the evidence doesn’t reference a “freak off,” which is a big part of the case. Instead, he alleged it only showed a “domestic dispute in which he ran down the hall of the hotel to recover his clothes and cellphone.” Umm, is that seriously how he would describe what we all saw in the video?
Despite previously taking accountability, he also denied doing multiple things seen in the video — like saying he did not “drag” Cassie down the hall and only threw the contents of the vase at her at another point. Such BS. What we saw in the clip was him horrifically abusing Cassie, point-blank, period. There is no denying any part of that.
It’s clear what Diddy ultimately wants… for the video not to be included in the case as evidence! And he’s not giving up on the matter! Now, his attorneys are pulling out all the stops and going after CNN for allegedly altering and destroying the original surveillance footage. The same footage he previously claimed the feds leaked to the outlet.
Related: JAY-Z Releases Audio Of Accuser Admitting She Lied & He Didn’t Assault Her
Page Six obtained on Thursday a joint letter filed by Diddy’s defense team and prosecutors about what evidence should be addressed at the pretrial conference in his sex trafficking case, and the disturbing video was a big issue for the music mogul’s attorneys. They said CNN purchased the footage and published it in May 2025, noting that it was recorded on March 5, 2016. However, the defense claimed that “all CNN video footage was substantially altered in significant respect,” including “covering the time stamp and then changing the video sequence.” His lawyers further accused the outlet of “speeding up the video to make it falsely appear that the actions in the video are taking place faster than they are.” As if that makes a difference. The letter added:
“As a result, the CNN videos do not fairly and accurately depict the events in question.”
Hmm…
Even if this is true, Diddy’s legal team claimed no one can see the original copy of the footage. Why? They claimed it had been “destroyed.” The letter said:
“CNN purchased the only known copy of the Hotel’s surveillance footage, uploaded that footage into a free editing software, altered the video and then destroyed the original footage, even though it knew about and repeatedly reported about the federal investigation.”
CNN has vehemently denied the allegations. A spokesperson told TMZ on Thursday:
“CNN never altered the video and did not destroy the original copy of the footage, which was retained by the source. CNN aired the story about the video several months before Combs was arrested.”
Meanwhile, Cassie’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, said to Page Six:
“It is not surprising that Combs would make a disingenuous argument to exclude the disturbing video from being shown to the jury in the upcoming trial. I am confident that the video fairly and accurately represents what happened, will be admitted into evidence, and that Combs will be held accountable for his depravity.”
Yet Diddy’s legal team sticks by the accusations. They later told TMZ:
“Our written and oral communications with CNN’s counsel were clear – they destroyed the original video file they received from their source.”
Why does this all matter, though? Why keep fighting the video?
As you know, Diddy cannot be prosecuted for the abuse of Cassie since the statute of limitations has expired. However, prosecutors want the video included in the trafficking case to paint a picture of how much this guy is a vile person with violent tendencies. Hence, why his legal team is battling this matter so much! And if it turns out their accusations are true, they could get their way! Courts typically won’t allow video evidence in if it has been edited, so there is a chance the clip will be excluded from the upcoming trial and not shown to the jury. Again, if this is all true.
But here’s the thing, will the exclusion of the video really do much to swing the trial in Diddy’s favor? The prosecution surely has way more evidence than just the video along with witnesses. There are tons of assault, abuse, and trafficking lawsuits. And let’s be real, some of those future jurors likely have already seen or heard about the video by now! It was everywhere and hard to avoid!
We’ll see what happens, though. Thoughts, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Consider calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788, or go to https://www.thehotline.org/.
[Image via MEGA/WENN]
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