Howard Yanks Diddy’s Honorary Degree, Cancels His Scholarship Program, Returns His Donation

Howard University announced late last week that it is revoking the honorary degree that it gave to Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2014 following his admission last month that he beat up one of his former girlfriends.

Combs has faced sexual misconduct allegations from at least six women and one man over the last half a year. Federal law enforcement officials raided two of his homes in early April in connection with a criminal investigation “in relation to allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms,” NBC News reported, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

The controversy involving Combs reached new levels last month after CNN obtained video of him beating his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura on March 5, 2016, at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles’ Century City neighborhood.

“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Combs said. “I was f***ed up. I mean, I hit rock bottom. And I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.”

A spokesperson for Howard said in a statement that the Howard University Board of Trustees “voted unanimously today to accept the return by Mr. Sean Combs of the honorary degree conferred upon him in 2014.”

Combs attended the school from 1987 to 1989 but left before earning a degree.

“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 honorary degree recipients of Howard University,” the statement said. “Mr. 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 is unwavering in its opposition to all acts of interpersonal violence,” the statement continued. “The Board has also directed the University administration to immediately take the following actions: terminate a 2016 gift agreement with Mr. Combs, disband the scholarship program in his name, return his $1 million contribution, and terminate a 2023 pledge agreement with the Sean Combs Foundation.”