The announcement came on Friday, June 7, three weeks after a 2016 hotel surveillance video emerged showing Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura.
Combs, who studied business administration at Howard University before leaving in the early 1990s to pursue a career at Uptown Records, has faced several sexual assault lawsuits, with the sixth being filed just last month
The University’s spokesperson explained on the university’s website that the Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to accept the return by Mr. Sean Combs of the honorary degree conferred upon him in 2014. They added that the decision revoked all honors and privileges associated with the degree. Combs’ name will also be removed from all records of honorary degree recipients at the university.
The spokesperson further stated that Combs’ behavior as captured in a 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. The university reiterated its strong opposition to all acts of interpersonal violence.
The video, obtained by CNN on May 20, depicts Combs grabbing Ventura by the neck, pulling her to the ground, and kicking her violently. He is also seen dragging her towards their hotel room and throwing an object at her. After the video’s release, Combs apologized on Instagram, expressing his regret for his actions.
“I was disgusted when I did it. I’m disgusted now,” Diddy said in his statement.
“I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry.”
Ventura also made a statement on social media, highlighting the serious impact of domestic violence and her ongoing recovery. This incident was detailed in Ventura’s lawsuit against Combs, which was settled last November.
Howard University also added that it will be ending a 2016 gift agreement with Combs and dissolving the scholarship program named after him. The university will return the $1 million donation from Combs and cancel the pledge agreement made last year with the Sean Combs Foundation. Howard clarified that No payments toward the $1 million pledge have been due or made by the Sean Combs Foundation as of this date, so no funds need to be returned for the 2023 pledge agreement.
