Body language expert says Diddy 'portrays himself as a victim' in apology over Cassie Ventura assault video

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Sean "Diddy" Combs apologized for his "inexcusable" behavior with Cassie Ventura as seen in the newly surfaced footage, but a body language expert claims his social media apology seemed like he was portraying "himself as a victim."

On Friday, May 17, CNN released a March 2016 footage of the music mogul apparently abusing his then-girlfriend at the lobby of the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

On Sunday, the Bad Boy Records producer broke his silence on the matter and posted an apology video on Instagram. Though he did not name Ventura, the rapper said her was "truly sorry" for his behavior. 

Body language expert claims Sean 'Diddy' Combs' apology sounds like an attempt to vie for sympathy

After analyzing Diddy's apology video, body language expert Judi James shared with The Mirror, "Sitting with his shoulders hunched, speaking in a dramatically low tone and wearing what must presumably have been chosen as a suitably humble, baggy-neck T-shirt for this video, Diddy speaks with a slack jaw and heavily lidded-eyes."

She expanded, "His choice of wording during this soliloquy sounds telling. Swerving the use of the personal 'I' of ownership and confession he generalizes with a 'you' which makes his lines about ‘the darkest times in your life’ and ‘sometimes you got to do that’ imply that his behavior was the kind of thing we’ve all been guilty of at some point in our lives."

James went on to say, "He then seems to portray himself as a victim, looking to the right and shaking his head as he tells us ‘I was at rock bottom’, switching to the use of the personal in what sounds like an attempt to vie for sympathy."

She added, "'I had to go to therapy’ also makes him sound like the one suffering. Describing his behavior in that video as 'inexcusable' his right cheek winces in a micro-gesture."

"This speech only mentions Diddy and God and he looks up heavenward when he asks the latter for his 'mercy,'" pointed out the body language expert, who also called out the Bad Boy Records founder for not failing to mention his ex-girlfriend, Ventura, while apologizing.

James expressed, "There are two uses of the word 'sorry' in 'I’m so sorry' and ‘I’m truly sorry’ but it’s difficult to guess who he is apologizing to and for what. Is it his fans? Because there is no mention of his ex-girlfriend here."

Cassie Ventura's legal team calls Sean 'Diddy' Combs apology 'disingenuous'

In his apology video, Diddy said, "It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that. I was f—ed up. I hit rock bottom — but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable."

The rapper added, "I take full responsibility for my actions in that video, I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it and I’m disgusted now. I went and I sought out professional help, started going to therapy and rehab, had to ask god for his mercy and grace."

In November 2023, Ventura filed a lawsuit against Diddy, accusing him of rape and physical violence. However, the duo, who were in an on-again-off-again relationship for a decade after starting to date in 2007, reached a settlement on November 17, 2023, a day after the lawsuit was filed.

Diddy denied all accusations until Sunday when he apologized for the assault incident.

Ventura’s attorney, Meredith Firetog, called out the apology, saying his apology was more about himself than his victims, per the New York Post.

She shared, "Combs’ most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt. When Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday."

Firetog added, "That he was only compelled to ‘apologize’ once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words."