Howard University said Friday that it would be cutting ties with artist Sean “Diddy” Combs over his “behavior” as he faces multiple sexual assault allegations.
The Howard University Board of Trustees voted unanimously to remove Combs, an honorary degree recipient, from official university documents.
“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,” the university’s spokesperson said. “This acceptance revokes all honors and privileges associated with the degree.
According to the university, honorary degree recipients are “distinguished individuals who merit special recognition” for their achievements in the field. It’s the university’s highest honor.
“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 statement said.
The university also terminated a 2016 gift agreement of $1 million Combs arranged and disbanded his foundation and scholarship program.
The chart-topping artist faces multiple claims that he sexually harassed colleagues and other women in the music industry. He settled a claim last year that he physically abused his ex-partner Cassie, known formally as Casandra Ventura. His attorneys said settling was not an admission of wrongdoing.
Video from 2016 showing Combs violently beating Cassie in a hotel was released last month. He has since apologized and said it was one of the darkest times of his life and he wad disgusted with himself.
Speculation has risen that Combs may also face a criminal indictment since federal investigators raided his homes earlier this year.
Earlier this week Combs sold his majority stake in Revolt, the media company he founded. The company will now be owned by its employees. Combs stepped down from the company’s board in November when the sexual assault allegations became public.
