Howard University said Friday it is cutting ties with music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs following a video showing his 2016 attack on ex-girlfriend Cassie.
The Howard University Board of Trustees decided to eliminate a scholarship in Combs’ name, terminate a 2016 “gift agreement” in which Combs pledged $1 million through his foundation and accept the return of his honorary doctorate awarded in 2014, according to a school statement.
The vote to accept the return was unanimous, the institution said.
“This acceptance revokes all honors and privileges associated with the degree,” Howard said. “Accordingly, the board has ordered that his name be removed from all documents listing Howard University’s honorary degree recipients.”
The move comes as sexual assault allegations and legal challenges mount against Combs, 54, who is the subject of a federal investigation and numerous civil lawsuits.
He has denied all allegations of sexual abuse and vowed to clear his name.
The 37-year-old singer Cassie, whose name is Casandra Ventura, alleged in a now-settled federal lawsuit in November that Combs raped and physically abused her during their relationship.
His lawyers said at the time that the settlement was “in no way an admission of wrongdoing.”
In May, a video was released showing him hitting Cassie in 2016, matching the description of an incident she detailed in her lawsuit.
Combs apologized for the video, saying the “behavior in that video is inexcusable” and that the episode from one of his “darkest times” disgusted him with himself.
Howard University cited the video as part of its decision to cut ties with Combs.
“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,” the school said.
“The university stands steadfast in its opposition to all forms of interpersonal violence,” the statement said.
Since November, six women have detailed assault allegations against Combs in lawsuits, allegations that Combs has denied in previous statements.
Cassie’s lawsuit has been settled, but the others are still pending.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
