Diddy has made the decision to return the Key to the City of New York following a request from Mayor Eric Adams. The request came after a video was released showing Diddy assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, back in 2016.
As we previously reported, the disturbing video, which was released by CNN on May 17, showed Diddy shoving, dragging, and kicking the singer. Mayor Adams expressed his deep concern about the video in a letter to Diddy, stating that he was “deeply disturbed” by it.
Although Mayor Adams had mentioned on May 20 in an interview that he was considering the next steps, the key had not been taken back at that point. However, it was reported that the committee recommended rescinding Diddy’s key, and the mayor provided an address where the key could be returned. According to @tmz_tv, two letters were sent to Diddy’s offices in New York and Los Angeles on June 4, and Diddy responded by returning the key on June 10, the news outlet reports.
This recent development comes after Howard University revoked Diddy’s honorary degree, which he received in 2014. The university also returned his $1 million donation. In a statement, Howard University explained that the video was fundamentally incompatible with their core values and beliefs, leading to the decision to revoke Diddy’s honorary degree.
“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. 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 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. 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,” the statement read.
These actions by both the city and the university highlight the serious nature of the assault video and the impact it has had on Diddy’s standing and reputation.
Diddy has released an apology for the assault on Cassie. He admitted to being in a very “dark place” at the time. Cassie who settled a lawsuit against her ex one day after filing it in movement, also released a statement to thank her fans for all the love and support that had been sent her way.
Diddy is currently facing a mountain of other lawsuits — most of which include allegations of sexual assault.