Howard University Revokes Sean Combs Honorary Degree, Says He’s ‘No Longer Worthy Of It’

Howard Univesity has severed ties with rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs. The HBCU voted to revoke Combs’ honorary degree on Friday in light of the disturbing video showing Combs assaulting ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. The footage, captured in 2016, resurfaced last month and has sparked more outrage against Combs, who already faces numerous sexual assault and abuse allegations.

The Howard University Board of Trustees released a statement about the matter. “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 no longer worthy to hold the institution’s highest honor,” it said in a statement. “The University is unwavering in its opposition to all acts of interpersonal violence.”

Combs received the honorary degree in 2014. Along with revoking the degree, Howard University also cut financial ties with Combs. The institution will no longer accept donations from the rapper, abolish the scholarship in his name and end an agreement with the Sean Combs Foundation. A $1 million donation from Combs will be returned. 

Since the release of the surveillance footage last month, Combs released a public apology on his Instagram. Combs stated he was at “rock bottom” at the time of the assault and had “sought professional help.” In 2018, Ventura sued Combs for alleged abuse and rape during their relationship. The lawsuit was settled in 2023.

Combs is also named as a defendant in a separate lawsuit with his son, Christian Combs, for the alleged assault of a female employee on Combs’ yacht. The employee claimed Christian gave her spiked tequila before groping her.