Howard University revokes Sean 'Diddy' Combs' honorary degree and refunds $1M donation after assault video

WASHINGTON, DC: Howard University revoked Sean 'Diddy' Combs' honorary degree following the release of a video purportedly depicting the rapper assaulting his then-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassandra 'Cassie' Ventura in 2016.

A statement released on Friday, June 7, stated that the historically Black college and university (HBCU) will also refund the $1 million donation made by the music mogul in the wake of growing assault allegations.

Combs was a business administration student at Howard University before dropping out in the early 1990s to pursue a career at Uptown Records, per People.

Howard University revokes Sean 'Diddy' Combs' honorary degree

Howard's Board of Trustees decided unanimously to sever their connection with the rapper and revoke the degree that Combs had received from the historically Black university in Washington, DC in 2014.

The board also decided to dissolve all donation agreements with Combs and the Sean Combs Foundation, return Combs' $1 million donation, and dissolve the scholarship program named in his honor.

An official for the board said in a statement, "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."

"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 read.

His name will also be taken from records and directories of people who the university has awarded honorary degrees.

The board instructed the university administration to "immediately 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," the spokesperson continued.

However, according to the spokeswoman, "no payments toward the $1 million pledge have been due or made by the Sean Combs Foundation as of this date, therefore no funds are due to be returned under the 2023 pledge agreement."

As stated by the spokeswoman, the university's justification is that "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."

A video of Combs, 54, viciously assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel corridor in 2016 was released by CNN in May.

Six other people have sued the music producer for similar claims, all of which he has refuted. However, he hasn't been accused of any crimes, per Page Six.

Howard University revoking Diddy's honorary degree gains Internet support

Internet users immediately flocked to defend Howard University's decision as one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "Howard University to Sean Combs: We want nothing to do with you."

A second user added, "He should have never gotten it in the first place, considering some of his behavior while he was a student."

"Time to make a stand ethically between good bison and bad bison something that never really happens," said another one.

Another wrote, Wow. Well, . . . I do concur. I guess from now on, universities will have to do a thorough vetting of the closets of potential candidates before bestowing them with honorary degrees. Good move," tagging the university.

"Congratulations on making the decision @HowardU on stripping Sean Combs of his honorary degree," said one X user in part of their comment.

Another exclaimed, "Thank you, HU! Correct a wrong by making it right. Go Bison!"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.