Johnny Depp's lawyer sparks uproar as he says Diddy's apology might affect ongoing legal battles

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Johnny Depp's attorney Ben Chew, who represented the actor in his domestic violence case, believes Sean 'Diddy" Combs would come to regret his admission of guilt over assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.

Reportedly "horrified" by the unearthed surveillance footage from 2016, released by CNN on Friday, May 17, the actor's formidable lawyer asserted that the rap mogul erred in his decision to apologize following the release of the assault footage.

On Sunday, the rapper issued a public apology, saying he was "disgusted" by his own actions over the 2016 incident. Diddy also admitted to taking "full responsibility" for his past actions but didn't mention his ex-girlfriend Ventura by name. 

In the past, the rapper and his legal team have vehemently denied the accusations leveled against him, labeling them "outrageous lies," as per Daily Mail.

Johnny Depp's lawyer Ben Chew says Sean 'Diddy' Combs' apology video struck him as disingenuous

According to Chew, watching the specifics of Ventura's now-settled lawsuit with the music mogul play out on camera was even more upsetting than reading about it in the complaint, which was filed in November 2023.

The attorney, who helped Depp in his successful $10 million lawsuit against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, after she accused him of domestic violence, expressed skepticism regarding Diddy's legal team's involvement in the apology statement.

"I would not have had my client give a statement on the heels of the release of that video," told Chew to Jesse Weber of Law&Crime, as reported by Radar Online.

He added, "And I certainly wouldn't have had him release that statement because I think it will be fodder for future examinations and deposition testimony, none of which is going to be good for Mr Combs."

Chew concurred that Diddy was not required to react to the hotel footage, assuming that he talked of his own free will "or that of his PR team."

"He's just thrown out the window any potential objection to the authenticity of the video. Also, I think what he said was really not helpful at all. Being intoxicated is only a defense to certain specific intent crimes like first-degree murder so saying he was drunk doesn't help him legally," further offered the attorney. 

"It undercuts the sincerity or apparent sincerity of any apology, but what really struck me as disingenuous was he said he was disgusted at the time in 2016."

Ben Chew says Sean 'Diddy' Combs issued a public apology video as he thought he was 'caught red-handed'

Diddy reportedly intended to bring up Ventura in his apology video, but their settlement, which included a stringent non-disclosure agreement (NDA), prohibited both parties from disclosing anything about one another, as per TMZ.

Despite the rapper probably trying to contain the damage, Chew projected that the apology video only serves to "give more credence" to claims brought against him.

The attorney also addressed Ventura's claim that Diddy paid $50,000 to the now-closed InterContinental Hotel, where the assault incident took place in 2016, in exchange for the security footage.

Furthermore, Chew conjectured that Diddy believed he was "caught red-handed, and thought it was in his best interests to give a statement, but I think it was another misjudgment on his part."

Internet abuzz as Johnny Depp's attorney Ben Chew reacts to Sean 'Diddy' Combs' apology

Netizens weren't happy with Chew's takeaway from Diddy's apology video. One exclaimed, "Ben Chew giving advice on how to get away with abuse . He knows very well being he helped Johnny Depp do that Vile people everywhere!!"

Another remarked, "Depp’s lawyer (Ben Chew) ran to the press to say Diddy shouldn’t have released an ‘apology’ bc now his lawyers can’t argue the hotel footage was inauthentic or staged. And he knows this bc it’s how he helped Johnny Depp get away w this"

A person expressed, "Johnny Depp's lawyer is angry because Diddy posted a video admitting his guilt. He couldn't do DARVO to him anymore like he did to his former client Johnny waw."

"THATS his issue with Diddy not the rampant abuse and violation of rights or anything? Yeah checks out," chimed in an individual.

Someone else said, "In layman terms Chew is saying that like Depp, Diddy made himself an easy target for all the recent women he abused coming forward & using his own video apology against him. Like Johnny Depp made himself vulnerable signing that settlement for just $1M & no NDA. Amber is free."

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