Howard University has stripped Sean “Diddy” Combs of his honorary degree following the release of a damning CCTV video. The footage, which surfaced via CNN, shows the hip-hop mogul physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, in a hotel hallway.
The university issued a statement on Friday explaining their decision: “The behavior captured in the recently released video is so fundamentally incompatible with Howard University’s core values and beliefs that he is deemed no longer worthy to hold the institution’s highest honor.”
Diddy, 54, known for his music and business ventures, received the honorary degree in 2014. In light of recent events, Howard University is also terminating a $1 million donation agreement made through his foundation and ending a scholarship named after him.
“I was disgusted when I did it. I’m disgusted now,” Combs admitted in a statement following the video’s release. “I went and I sought out professional help. I got into therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry.”
In addition to the loss of his honorary degree, the university has vowed to remove Diddy’s name from all records of honorary degree recipients. “The University is unwavering in its opposition to all acts of interpersonal violence,” the statement emphasized.
The scandal is part of a larger series of allegations against Combs. Four women, including Ventura, have filed lawsuits accusing him of sexual and physical abuse. Although Ventura’s lawsuit was settled in November, Combs has denied all allegations of sexual assault. In a statement last December, he defended himself against what he called “sickening allegations” from “individuals looking for a quick payday.”
In March, the controversy deepened as federal agents raided two of Combs’ properties as part of an investigation into sex trafficking. Combs’ lawyer condemned the raids as an “unprecedented ambush” and a “gross overuse of military-level force,” maintaining his client’s innocence.
This marks a significant fall from grace for the hip-hop icon, whose legacy is now marred by scandal. As the university and the public grapple with these revelations, Diddy’s once-celebrated contributions to music and philanthropy face unprecedented scrutiny.
