Recently, the Howard University Board of Trustees made a unanimous decision to rescind the honorary degree previously granted to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in 2014. This choice was prompted by the surfacing of a 2016 surveillance video from CNN depicting Combs engaging in physical assault towards his former girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles.
In response, the historically Black college in Washington DC has opted to dissolve the scholarship program established in Combs’ name. The Board emphasized that all honors and privileges tied to the honorary degree have been revoked, and Combs’ name will be removed from any documentation listing recipients of honorary degrees from Howard University.
The institution highlighted the incongruity between Combs’ actions captured in the video and the values of Howard University, leading to the decision that he is no longer suitable to hold their highest honor. The University firmly stands against interpersonal violence and has underlined its stance by referencing its “Interpersonal Violence Prevention” webpage.
Furthermore, the Board instructed the University administration to terminate a previous gift agreement made with Combs in 2016, shut down the scholarship program bearing his name, and return the $1 million contribution made by him. Additionally, the University will end a 2023 pledge agreement with the Sean Combs Foundation, which committed to a $1 million donation. However, no funds had been received or were due from the Sean Combs Foundation up to the present date.
This action by Howard University coincides with the ongoing controversy surrounding the once-admired music mogul, Diddy, who has faced multiple legal challenges. Following Ventura’s allegations of abuse and rape against Combs in 2018, the university’s decision reflects a clear stance against such behavior.
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