Howard University Revokes Diddy’s Honorary Degree, Ends Scholarship

Howard University is stripping Sean “Diddy” Combs of an honorary degree and rescinding all of his gifts to the university after a video surfaced in May of the rapper/music producer assaulting his former girlfriend in 2016.

The historically Black university in Washington, D.C., announced that its board of trustees unanimously voted to rescind Combs’ honorary degree given to him in 2014, end the $1 million scholarship in his name, and refuse a $1 million commitment made in October with Combs’ foundation.

An honorary degree, most commonly a doctorate, is considered the highest recognition by a university and is given to someone for achievements and social contributions.

“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 said.

Combs made a surprise visit last year to his alma mater during the university’s Yardfest celebration. There, he performed a small show and presented Howard President Ben Vinson III with a check for $1 million. However, according to the university, it hasn’t received that money and won’t accept it.

A couple of months prior, Combs made a pledge to Jackson State University, a historically Black institution in Mississippi, donating $1 million to its athletics department.

Combs was known for creating internships and hiring Howard alums and was a frequent donor to Howard. He helped establish the $1 million Sean Combs Scholarship Fund in 2014 and contributed to the School of Business in 2016.

According to a 2016 Howard press release, the need-based scholarship was for business school students with at least a 3.0 GPA. Students would also intern at Bad Boy Entertainment or Revolt Media & TV — both founded by Diddy — and be assigned a Combs Enterprises representative as a mentor.

“The university is unwavering in its opposition to all acts of interpersonal violence,” the university said after its decision. “The board and university administration has no further comment on this matter.”

Combs is far from the first honorary degree recipient to have his degree revoked after controversy. Like Howard, many institutions revoke honorary degrees when they say the individuals no longer represent their values.

Actor/comedian Bill Cosby collected almost 60 honorary degrees throughout his life. However, after he faced multiple sexual assault accusations, nearly all of the colleges revoked his honorary degrees.

Political commentator and author Bill O’Reilly and film producer Harvey Weinstein also had their honorary degrees revoked after being accused of sexual misconduct and harassment.

“By inviting celebrities to campus and granting them honorary degrees, colleges make themselves vulnerable to future criticism,” North Central College Professor Zachary Michael Jack wrote in a Los Angeles Times Op-Ed. “A must-see politician could always be one step away from political scandal.”