Misa Hylton, the mother of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ oldest son, Justin, has revealed that she suffered her own “trauma,” which she said was “triggered” by seeing the disturbing video footage that shows her ex physically abuse singer Cassie Ventura.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Hylton, a stylist and fashion designer who dated the rapper and music mogul in the early 1990s, also wrote that she was heartbroken for Ventura.
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 03: Justin Dior Combs (L) and Misa Hylton attend Pop-In@Nordstrom MCM at Chateau Marmont on October 3, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Nordstrom)
“I am heartbroken that Cassie must relive the horror of her abuse, and my heart goes out to her. I know exactly how she feels, and through my empathy, it has triggered my own trauma,” Hylton wrote on Instagram.
Hylton didn’t specify her own “trauma” or say that it involved Combs, who was just coming up in the music industry when they dated. But she said she hoped the mogul would get help. “I am praying that he truly does the personal work and receives it,” she said.
Hylton shared her message with two photos that show all seven of Combs’ children — including her 30-year-old son with Combs. She suggested that these children were somehow protected against whatever negativity that has long surrounded Combs, saying, “These young people were raised by women that want the best for them—we put God and education first and have always been united in our mutual effort to support their dreams.”
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 03: Justin Dior Combs (L) and Misa Hylton attend Pop-In@Nordstrom MCM at Chateau Marmont on October 3, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Nordstrom)
Hylton wrote that the four mothers of Combs’ children have all supported one another as parents. Hylton also referred to two of the younger daughters in one of the photos, Combs’ 18-year-old twins with model Kim Porter, who died of pneumonia in 2018. “Two of the youngest do not have their mother here, and it has been our duty to support them,” she wrote.
Hylton’s message comes four days after CNN shared video surveillance footage that shows an irate Combs, wrapped in just a towel, assaulting Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. The video shows Combs chasing, kicking, dragging and hurling a glass vase at Ventura. The video corroborates parts of a civil lawsuit Ventura filed against Combs last year, which was settled in a single day, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The video also is sure to add urgency to a federal sex-trafficking investigation into Combs, the Los Angeles Times said. While the video is not related to the federal probe, it is drawing more attention to the ongoing investigation. The L.A. Times has reported that Combs is the subject of a sweeping inquiry into sex-trafficking allegations that resulted in a federal raid in March at his estates in Los Angeles and Miami. Combs has not been charged with any crime and has denied any wrongdoing.
While Hylton didn’t refer to Combs by name, her Instagram message could be seen as a rebuke of him, even though they seemed to be on mostly good terms in recent years. People magazine reported that they remained close as they raised Justin, and Hylton attended Diddy’s 50th birthday party in 2019.
However, in 2023, she seemed to air some grievances against her ex after Justin was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for a DUI, People magazine said. On her Instagram Story, Hylton wrote “this (is) where the buck stops” for her after “sit(ting) around for years and act(ing) like there isn’t anything wrong with you.”
Hylton seemed to refer to Combs’ lawsuit against the alcohol company, Diageo, which he sued for racial discrimination, alleging they failed to promote the Ciroc and DeLeon brands. Diddy signed with Diageo to become the face of Ciroc in 2007, though their marketing agreement has since been terminated. They teamed up again in 2013 to launch the tequila brand DeLeon.
“How (do) you go from one of the greatest to ever do it to making all your money off alcohol and suing the damn alcohol company,” Hylton wrote. “Sell something healthy that builds people up. I’m sick of it!!!!! NOT MINES.”
But the pair seemed to mend fences shortly after Hylton commented on an Instagram post of Diddy’s. He replied to her comment, “I love you queen. Stay in the light.”
