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Kristin Chenoweth<\/a> has opened up about her own experience being “deeply injured physically and spiritually” after viewing the security camera video that shows \u00a0<\/span>Sean “Diddy” Combs<\/a>\u00a0physically assaulting his then-girlfriend, R&B singer\u00a0<\/span>Cassie Ventura<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n In a social media post that initially drew criticism from followers, Chenoweth wrote, “I’ve just seen the Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs . There is no excuse no matter what his defense is. Heartbreaking I used to love him.”<\/span><\/p>\n “Honestly I have my reasons for the Sean Combs video bothering me so much,” she continued. “The main thing I need to do is pray for him. For real.”<\/span><\/p>\n After replying to several fans who called out her seeming sympathy for Diddy, Chenoweth wrote that she had her own story of abuse.<\/span><\/p>\n “Never wanted to come out with it, but here we go. Several years ago I was severely abused,” she posted. “It took me therapy and prayer to understand I deserved better. I was deeply injured physically and spiritually. The only thing I knew to do when i got out was pray. Pray for myself.”<\/span><\/p>\n “It was the lowest I\u2019ve been in my life,” she shared in a subsequent post, later adding, “I must admit I haven\u2019t forgiven yet. It’s beyond me. God is helping me through that part.”<\/span><\/p>\n The security footage<\/a> shared by CNN on Friday — which was dated March 5, 2016 — shows Combs grabbing, shoving, dragging, and kicking Ventura in clips compiled from multiple camera angles. The footage corresponds to an incident highlighted in Ventura’s explosive\u00a0<\/span>35-page lawsuit<\/a>, filed in November 2023, in which she made graphic and disturbing allegations against Diddy, including a claim that he raped her in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n Cassie\u00a0<\/span>claimed the “Missing You” rapper began\u00a0a pattern of control<\/a>\u00a0and abuse within a few years of signing her to his Bad Boy Records label. She claimed Diddy’s\u00a0control over her included him introducing her “to a lifestyle of excessive alcohol and substance abuse and required her to procure illicit prescriptions to satisfy his own addictions.”<\/span><\/p>\n The singer also claimed Diddy would often punch, beat, kick, and stomp on her, resulting in bruises, burst lips, black eyes and bleeding. Ventura and Combs\u00a0<\/span>settled her lawsuit a day after<\/a>\u00a0she filed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In a statement to ET at the time, Combs said, “We have decided to resolve this matter amicably.” He added, “I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love.”<\/span><\/p>\n “Just so we\u2019re clear, a decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing,” said his attorney, Ben Brafman, in a statement to ET. “Mr. Combs’ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best.”<\/span><\/p>\n Sources close to the situation told ET, “The decision to settle quickly and privately was largely influenced by considerations for Diddy’s family.”<\/span><\/p>\n But it’s far from the end of Combs legal woes. The media mogul currently faces five other civil lawsuits\u00a0<\/span>accusing him of a range of sexual misconduct<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>other illegal activity<\/a>. Diddy\u00a0<\/span>broke his silence<\/a>\u00a0after the fourth lawsuit was filed in less than a month from the first three lawsuits. He took to Instagram and said, “Enough is enough.”<\/span><\/p>\n He added, “For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”<\/span><\/p>\n If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at\u00a0<\/span><\/i>1-800-799-7233<\/a><\/i>, or go to\u00a0<\/span><\/i>thehotline.org<\/a><\/i>. All calls are toll-free and confidential.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n