Howard University is cutting ties to Sean 鈥淒iddy鈥� Combs, rescinding an honorary degree that was awarded to him and disbanding a scholarship program in his name, that appeared to show him attacking the R&B singer Cassie.
鈥淢r. Combs鈥� behavior as captured in a recently released video is so fundamentally incompatible with Howard University鈥檚 core values and beliefs that he is deemed no longer worthy to hold the institution鈥檚 highest honor,鈥� a statement from the university's Board of Trustees said.
The statement said the board voted unanimously Friday to accept the return of the honorary degree Combs received in 2014. 鈥淭his acceptance revokes all honors and privileges associated with the degree. Accordingly, the Board has directed that his name be removed from all documents listing honorary degree recipients of Howard University,鈥� it said.
The board also directed university administrators to cut financial ties to Combs, including returning a $1 million contribution, ending the scholarship program and dissolving a 2023 pledge agreement with the Sean Combs Foundation.
An email seeking comment was sent to a Combs spokesperson by The Associated Press on Saturday.
that he beat his ex-girlfriend Cassie in a hotel hallway in 2016 after CNN released video of the attack. In a video statement posted on social media, he said he was 鈥渢ruly sorry鈥� and his actions were 鈥渋nexcusable.鈥�
鈥淚 take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I鈥檓 disgusted now,鈥� Combs said.
A lawsuit filed last year by Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, set off a wave of against Combs. That lawsuit was settled.
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This story was first published on June 9, 2024. It was updated on Sept. 18, 2024, to correct the spelling of the first name of Casandra Ventura.
The Associated Press
