John Legend said he was “shocked” by the many pending sexual abuse lawsuits against his former associate Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The singer, 45, responded to the seemingly endless abuse allegations against the embattled rapper, 54, and the potential grand jury indictment he could face, calling them all “shameful.”
He also spoke about his reaction to the resurfaced, harrowing video of him beating up his ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, 37, on hotel surveillance footage in 2016 and condemning Combs.
In an interview with CNN On Thursday, the All of Me hitmaker said his “default position is to believe women” and remained steadfast in his belief that abuse “must be exposed” when it occurs.
“I was shocked by the descriptions I read before the video evidence came out,” he said. “And absolutely, it’s something that needs to be brought to light when it happens.”
John Legend said he was ‘shocked’ by the many pending sexual abuse lawsuits against his former associate Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
The singer, 45, responded to the seemingly endless abuse allegations against the embattled rapper, 54, and the potential grand jury indictment he could face, calling them all “shameful”; seen in May 2022
The hotel hallway attack was first mentioned in a November 2023 lawsuit Ventura filed against Combs, whom she previously dated on and off from 2007 to 2018.
“It’s kind of unfortunate,” Legend said. “I really just want accountability and hopefully some healing for all his victims.”
“My default position is to believe women when they make these allegations and ensure we do everything we can to support women. [making them],” he added.
The 12-time Grammy winner also said he hopes “they are heard and that some form of accountability and reparation can be done to help these women get healthy again.”
He also added that he only wants “the best” for Ventura and “for all the other victims who have claimed that [Combs] abused them.’
Legend and Babyface last collaborated with Combs on his 2023 song Kim Porter, which was dedicated to the rapper’s late girlfriend and featured on The Love Album: Off the Grid.
Combs welcomed three of his seven children with the model before she died in 2018 at the age of 47 from lobar pneumonia.
He has not publicly discussed the recent lawsuits, but on May 19 he released an apology video — which Ventura’s attorney labeled “pathetic, desperate and dishonest” as he previously denied the allegations and suggested his accusers were merely were looking for a ‘payday.’
In an interview with CNN on Thursday, the All of Me hitmaker said his “default position is to believe women” and remained steadfast in his belief that abuse “must be exposed” when it occurs.
He also spoke about his reaction to the re-emerged harrowing video of him beating up his ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, 37, in hotel surveillance footage from 2016 and condemning Combs; seen in January 2018
Combs has not publicly addressed the recent lawsuits, but on May 19 he released an apology video — which Ventura’s attorney labeled “pathetic, desperate and dishonest” as he previously denied the allegations and suggested his accusers were merely were looking for a ‘payday’
After the attack video was released, the Me & U singer also broke her silence, urging people to “open your hearts to believe the victims the first time.”
Over the past year, the music mogul was named in eight civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault, including Ventura’s now-settled case.
Ventura settled the lawsuit with Combs just one day after it was filed late last year, but the remaining cases are still pending.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Combs will also face criminal charges as a grand jury has been selected to hear evidence against him in a federal investigation.
The U.S. Department of Justice is preparing to file criminal charges against him as his accusers have been told they can testify in New York City.