Howard University is the latest company or organization to distance itself from Sean “Diddy” Combs as it revokes their honorary degree issued to the rap mogul in 2014. The move arrives after explosive lawsuit after lawsuit and shocking video of Diddy assaulting his ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura.
On Friday (June 7), Howard University’s News & Stories Hub, The Dig, reported that Howard University’s Board of Trustees held their regularly scheduled board meeting, where they unanimously voted to accept the return of Diddy’s honorary degree issued in May 2014. The move arrives after immense pressure mounted for the university to rescind Diddy’s honorary doctorate conferred in May 2014 during the University’s 146th commencement ceremony.
A spokesperson for Howard University released a statement on behalf of the Howard University Board of Trustees regarding honorary degree recipient Sean Combs.
They stated, “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 added, “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 to read, “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.”
Before receiving his honorary degree, Diddy first attended Howard University as Sean Combs back in the late 1980s. He left school early to start his music career but maintained allegiance with the school for decades. He was even a comment speaker some years ago.
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