Cassie breaks silence after video showed Diddy attacking her in hotel
Cassie has broken her silence after video emerged of her ex-boyfriend Sean "Diddy" Combs attacking her in a hotel hallway.
The model and singer said she would "always be recovering from my past" and urged her followers on Instagram to "open your heart to believing victims the first time".
It comes after shocking footage obtained by CNN earlier this week showed her being punched and kicked in a hotel hallway in Los Angeles by rapper and record executive Combs.
The CCTV footage from 5 March 2016 shows Combs wearing only a white towel as he beats up his then girlfriend and protege.
The R&B singer, whose real name is Cassandra Ventura and who was with Combs between 2007 to 2018, said on Thursday: "Thank you for all of the love and support from my family, friends, strangers, and those I have yet to meet.
"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. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past.
"Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to take this matter seriously. My only ask is that EVERYONE 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."
She added: "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.
"This healing journey is never-ending, but this support means everything to me. Thank you. Love always, Cassie."
Earlier this week, Combs - also known as P Diddy and Puff Daddy - said the leaked CCTV footage from 2016 was "inexcusable" and that he was "disgusted".
The footage also shows Combs shoving and dragging the singer and throwing a vase in her direction.
It followed raids on the 54-year-old's homes in Los Angeles and Miami by Homeland Security Investigations agents on 25 March, as he faced a series of public allegations of physical and sexual violence.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Raids on the rapper's properties were part of an ongoing sex-trafficking investigation by federal authorities in New York.
According to Sky's US partner network NBC News, three women and a man were interviewed by federal officials in Manhattan in relation to the probe.
The investigation includes further allegations of sexual assault, solicitation, and distribution of illegal drugs and firearms.
Combs has also recently faced several lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct and other wrongdoing.
In February, a music producer alleged Combs coerced him to solicit prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them.
Combs's lawyer responded by saying: "We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies."
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.