Howard University withdraws honorary degree from Sean Combs and annuls a $2 million donation arrangement.
The university decided to reclaim Combs' $1 million donation and cancel a $1 million pledge deal from the foundation run by him, according to a statement released on Friday by the school board.
The statement stated that Combs' behavior in a recently surfaced video, where he assaults his ex-girlfriend and singer Cassie Ventura, is completely at odds with Howard University's values and principles, and he is no longer deserving of the institution's highest award.
The video in question was captured in 2016 and shows the assault taking place at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles.
Howard University, which is based in Washington DC and is predominantly Black, plans to shut down their scholarship program named after Combs.
The board expressed their firm stance against all forms of violence in their statement, linking to their website's "Interpersonal Violence Prevention" page.
Due to the controversies surrounding Combs, the legacy of the once-popular music mogul and founder of Bad Boy Records continues to face backlash. Since November, eight lawsuits have been filed against him. One suit involves Ventura accusing him of abusing her throughout their relationship and raping her in 2018. Other litigants have alleged sexual misconduct and other illegal activities. Combs has not addressed all the charges against him but has denied claims mentioned in several of the lawsuits.
The Department of Homeland Security is conducting a federal investigation into Combs and the allegations of sex trafficking. Agents raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami on March 25. No federal criminal charges have been filed against him.
Released by CNN, the video may be used as evidence in the ongoing investigation.
Investigators are reportedly preparing to present Combs' accusers to a federal grand jury in New York.
In addition to the ongoing sex trafficking investigation, there are also federal inquiries into potential cases of money laundering and illegal drugs.
Just recently, Combs sold a majority stake in media company and television network Revolt, which he established in 2013.
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Despite the ongoing investigations and numerous lawsuits against Sean Combs, he continues to face backlash in the entertainment industry. His honorary degree and financial contributions to Howard University have been revoked due to his behavior depicted in a 2016 video, which is in stark contrast to the university's values.
