Howard University has revoked hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ honorary doctorate and severed ties with him, weeks after a The recently released video from 2016 appeared to attack him R&B singer and ex-girlfriend Cassie.
The university’s Board of Trustees said it also ordered administrators to sever financial ties with Combs, including returning a $1 million contribution, ending the scholarship program and rescinding a 2023 pledge agreement with the Sean Combs Foundation.
“Mr. Combs’ conduct, as captured in a recently released video, is so fundamentally inconsistent with the core values and beliefs of Howard University that he is no longer considered worthy to hold the institution’s highest honor,” a statement said.
The statement said the board voted unanimously on Friday to return the honorary degree Combs received in 2014.
“This acceptance revokes all honors and privileges associated with the degree. Accordingly, the board has directed that his name be removed from all documents listing Howard University’s honorary degree recipients,” the college said.
An email seeking comment was sent to a Combs spokesman on Saturday by The Associated Press.
Last month, CNN released video of the 2016 attack in a Los Angeles hotel hallway. In a video statement on social media, Combs admitted to hitting Cassie and said he was “truly sorry” for his “unforgivable” actions.
“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video,” Combs said. “I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted by it now. I went and sought professional help. I went to therapy, went to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy. I’m I’m so sorry. But I’m determined to be a better man every day. I’m truly sorry.”
The video was the latest in a months-long series of public accusations and revelations of physical and sexual violence against Combs.
a lawsuit filed by Cassie last year, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, described an incident at an InterContinental Hotel in the Century City neighborhood of Los Angeles. In it, she also alleged years of sexual abuse and other violence from Combs. That lawsuit was settled.
