Sean “Diddy” Combs has returned the Key to the City of New York after a request from Mayor Eric Adams. The return of the key came three weeks after a leaked video from 2016 showed Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Mayor Adams sent a letter to Combs on June 4, requesting the return of the key, which was confirmed to have been returned on June 10 by Fabien Levy, the deputy mayor for communications.
In the letter addressed to Combs, Mayor Adams expressed his deep disturbance after watching the footage of the assault. He strongly condemned Combs’ actions and stood in solidarity with all survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. The Key to the City of New York is presented to individuals who have shown exceptional service to the public and act as a model for fellow New Yorkers. However, after internal deliberations, the committee recommended nullifying and rescinding Combs’ key, which Mayor Adams accepted.
Combs received the key during a ceremony in Times Square on September 15, 2023. The revocation of the key is not the only consequence Combs has faced following the release of the video. Howard University also announced the revocation of the honorary degree conferred upon Combs in 2014 after a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees. The university stated that Combs’ behavior, as shown in the video, was fundamentally incompatible with the institution’s core values.
In addition to revoking the honorary degree, Howard University returned a $1 million donation from Combs, disbanded a scholarship program in his name, and terminated a $1 million pledge agreement with the Sean Combs Foundation. Combs had previously apologized for his behavior in a May Instagram video, acknowledging his actions as inexcusable without directly mentioning Ventura by name.
The return of the Key to the City of New York and the revocation of the honorary degree are significant repercussions for Combs following the disturbing video. These actions highlight the zero-tolerance stance against interpersonal violence taken by both the city and the university. Combs’ case serves as a reminder of the consequences individuals may face for engaging in abusive behavior, regardless of their status or influence in society.
