The board of trustees of Howard University, a historically black university in Washington DC, has moved to strip Sean “Diddy” Combs of his honorary degree
This announcement came after CNN released CCTV video recording the hip-hop producer beating his ex-girlfriend in a hotel hallway.
In a statement Friday, the university said “his behavior captured in a recently released video was so fundamentally inconsistent with the core values and beliefs of Howard University that He was deemed no longer worthy to hold the organization’s highest honor.”
The rapper apologized after video was released last month about his attack on singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura.
“I feel disgusted to do that,” Mr. Combs said in his statement. Now I feel disgusting.”
“I went and sought professional help. I started going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for mercy and grace. I’m so sorry.”
Howard University awarded Mr. Combs a degree in 2014. In its statement, the school said it would also end the scholarship in his name and end the 2016 “gift agreement” with the rapper.
That deal was for a $1m (£785,000) donation he made through his foundation.
The Sean Combs Foundation did not respond to a request for comment.
Combs’ name will be removed from all documents listing honorary degree recipients, the university statement said.
“The university firmly opposes all acts of interpersonal violence,” the statement said.
Four women, including his longtime partner, Ms. Ventura, filed a lawsuit against the musician, accusing him of sexual and physical abuse.
Ms. Ventura’s lawsuit was settled in November and Mr. Combs denied all allegations of sexual assault.
In a statement released last December, Mr Combs defended himself against what he described as “disgusting allegations” by “individuals looking for a quick payday”.
“Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the terrible things alleged,” he said, adding he will fight to clear his name.
In March, federal agents raided two homes owned by the star “as part of an ongoing investigation” into sex trafficking.
His lawyer called the action an “unprecedented ambush” and “excessive abuse of military-grade force,” and maintained his client’s innocence.
