Another organization has decided to publicly cut ties with Diddy. Yesterday (June 7), Howard University has officially denounced its former student.
By way of The Dig (the school’s campus news hub), the university announced its decision to strip Diddy of his honorary degree while expressing disgust over his physical assault on Cassie (seen in the video footage obtained by CNN).
Although Diddy never formally graduated from the prestigious historically Black institution, in 2014 he was bestowed with the honorary degree for his career’s work and philanthropic efforts at the university, which included a scholarship fund.
Read Howard University’s full statement below.
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. This acceptance revokes all honors and privileges associated with the degree. Accordingly, the Board has directed that his name be removed from all documents listing honorary degree recipients of Howard University.
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 is unwavering in its opposition to all acts of interpersonal violence.
The Board has also directed the University administration to immediately take the following actions: terminate a 2016 gift agreement with Mr. Combs, disband the scholarship program in his name, return his $1 million contribution, and terminate a 2023 pledge agreement with the Sean Combs Foundation.
No payments toward the $1 million pledge have been due or made by the Sean Combs Foundation as of this date, therefore no funds are due to be returned under the 2023 pledge agreement.
Diddy hasn’t issued a statement regarding the board’s decision. But this wasn’t the only commemorative honor up for review.
Last month, the Hollywood Walk Of Fame committee revealed that Diddy’s star would not be removed due to the body’s “lack of control” in the process. On the other hand, New York City’s Eric Adams revealed that officials are considering revoking Diddy’s Key To The City.
Ray J is completely done with Diddy. Speaking with Shannon Sharpe on the Club Shay Shay podcast, Ray J acknowledges that “everybody messes up,” but he and Diddy “can’t be cool after that.”
Expanding on the matter, Ray J said: “It’s unforgiveable, it’s too much. Never being able to be around us and our world ’cause we don’t condone that is definitely a fact.”
Furthermore, Ray J thinks Diddy needs a public “whipping,” suggesting, “100 lashes, 1,000 lashes. That would help.”
You can see the moment below and hear Ray J’s message supporting Cassie below.
It’s been a pretty difficult year for Diddy so far. Numerous lawsuits have been filed against the rap mogul. They’re alleging years of bad behavior with some even roping in fellow celebrities and behind-the-scenes collaborators. It’s put many of the people Diddy has worked aside in his decades-long career in an uncomfortable position. Certain figures like Yung Miami and LeBron James were silent for a surprisingly long time. Both unfollowed the rap mogul earlier this month after facing criticism for their seeming lack of acknowledgment of the accusations against him.
Now John Legend is breaking his silence on the situation. He and Diddy have collaborated musically in the past, but he didn’t do the rap mogul any favors with his candid statement. In particular, Legend discussed the controversy between Diddy and Cassie. It began last year with a lawsuit the singer filed before being escalated a few weeks ago. That came when CNN leaked a video of hotel security footage that seemed to capture one of the alleged assaults. Hear what Legend had to say when CNN asked him about it below.
“I was horrified by the descriptions that I read before the video evidence came out,” Legend began when asked about the situation. “And absolutely it’s something that needs to be brought to light when it happens. My default stance is to believe women when they make these accusations and to make sure that we do whatever we can to support women” he elaborated. In addition to many of the lawsuits filed against him Diddy is also facing a federal investigation. Earlier this week, CNN reported some information involving a male prostitute caught on camera at the rap mogul’s house. They also claim that he plays a role in the federal investigation.
What do you think of John Legend’s candid comments on the Diddy and Cassie situation? Are you surprised to hear him come out in support of Cassie in such strong terms despite working with Diddy in the past? Let us know in the comment section below.
In the past few months, things have gotten worse and worse for Diddy. It started last year when Cassie filed a lawsuit against him alleging she was abused. That became the first in a series of lawsuits that continued up until last week when he was hit with yet another one. Though the Cassie suit was settled quickly it rushed back into the minds of fans earlier this month after CNN leaked a video. The video they shared was hotel security camera footage that shows an alleged example of the abuse Cassie reported facing.
Now even more details about him and Cassie are emerging and this time its from first-hand testimony. The story is being provided by Diddy’s former makeup artist Mylah Morales. During a recent interview with CNN she claimed that she once overheard the rap mogul abusing Cassie. Her story details even event happening all the way back in 2010, a full six years before the hotel security footage. Morales claims that they had a loud argument which concluded with Cassie getting a black eye. Check out the clip of her sharing her story below.
Diddy’s Former Makeup Artist Shares Cassie Abuse Story
Diddy and Cassie’s former makeup artist, Mylah Morales, says she hopes Cassie testifies against Diddy and details a time back in 2010 when she saw Cassie with a busted lip and knots on her head after she was heard screaming in a hotel bedroom with Diddy.
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 30, 2024
Fans following the story online are anticipating a federal indictment coming soon. CNN additionally shared details earlier this week about security camera footage reportedly showing a male prostitute inside Diddy’s house. They also claim that he could be a potential witness in a federal case against the rap mogul. Fans became aware of the ongoing investigation into him back in March. That came after two of his properties in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by the federal government. Whether or not he will be found guilty of anything is still a hot topic of debate among fans.
What do you think about yet another allegation of Diddy abusing Cassie from all the way back in 2010? Do you think he will ultimately face any consequences for all of the behavior he’s been accused of this year? Let us know in the comment section below.
Most recently, Rolling Stone published a Diddy exposé, and Voletta Wallace, the late The Notorious B.I.G.’s mother, felt compelled to speak to Rolling Stone about it all.
“I’m sick to my stomach,” Wallace told the publication, in reference to learning about Diddy’s alleged years-long depravity. “I’m praying for Cassie. I’m praying for his mother. I don’t want to believe the things that I’ve heard, but I’ve seen [the hotel video]. I pray that he apologizes to her.”
Wallace added, “I hope that I see Sean one day, and the only thing I want to do is slap the daylights out of him. And you can quote me on that. Because I liked him. I didn’t want to believe all the awful things, but I’m so ashamed and embarrassed.”
The Rolling Stone report by Cheyenne Roundtree and Nancy Dillon surfaced even more concerning alleged behavior dating back to the 1980s, including new Biggie-related details, as summarized by Rolling Stone‘s Roundtree and Jason Newman below:
“Rolling Stone‘s investigation into Combs documented a pattern of alleged abuse dating back to Combs’ time at Howard University in the late 1980s. Early Bad Boy staffers, associates and industry sources also recalled how Biggie viewed his label boss as a ‘corny executive’ and was on the verge of leaving Bad Boy before his murder in 1997. Combs capitalized on the shock and sorrow over his star artist’s death, sources say, pushing his team to ensure Biggie’s upcoming album, Life After Death would top the charts and allegedly dismissing discussions to put Biggie on the cover of Rolling Stone.
Bad Boy’s co-founding partner and president Kirk Burrowes told Rolling Stone that he advocated for the late rapper to get the cover. ‘I was telling Sean, ‘Let’s make it Biggie. You still have a chance [for a cover in the future],” Burrowes recalled. ‘He’s like ‘No, he’s dead. I’m putting out [Combs’ debut album, No Way Out] in July. I need to be on the cover of Rolling Stone.’” (Voletta Wallace declined to comment on the anecdote.)”
“We are aware of the video that has been circulating online allegedly depicting Sean Combs assaulting a young woman in Los Angeles,” the Los Angeles Police Department stated on May 20. “We find the images extremely disturbing and difficult to watch. If the conduct depicted occurred in 2016, unfortunately we would be unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted.”
Diddy’s reputation as a dangerous and destructive individual has been well-established over the past eight months. The Bad Boy founder has been publicly disgraced in the form of lawsuits and a video in which he assaults his ex-girlfriend, Cassie. More lawsuits are surfacing on a weekly basis, and 50 Cent recently sold a documentary series about the mogul’s alleged crimes to Netflix. Rolling Stone magazine is the latest outlet to peel back the curtain on the Diddy story.
The outlet published a detailed expose of the business titan on May 28. The expose detailed his rise to fame, his subsequent relationship with Cassie, and the current state of his career. It recapped several of the lawsuits that have already been made public, but it also delved into an alleged assault that had been previously unreported. The alleged assault dates back to the 1990s, when Diddy was a college student at Howard University. Rolling Stone collected testimony from three different witnesses who claim that the future rapper would repeatedly attempt to get a student he was dating to ditch class, and the times she refused, he would become angry and make a scene.
“He screamed and hollered and acted a stone fool until she came downstairs,” one student recalled. Another source claimed that Diddy used a belt to repeatedly strike the woman in question. “She was trying to defend herself a little bit,” another witness stated. “She was crying. And we were telling him, ‘Get off of her.’ We were screaming for her.” The same witness summarized the incident, plainly and sadly: “[Puff] whupped her butt — like really whupped her butt.” The alleged victim declined to speak with Rolling Stone.
The expose posits this instance as the first in what would become a pattern for Diddy. A student who knew both Diddy and the unnamed victim recalled tension whenever the former was around. “She would tense up [when Combs appeared],” they recalled. “He just had a weird control thing. I felt like she was fearful.” The widespread belief that Diddy’s public apology was insincere stems from the sheer number of times he’s been accused of assault. Cassie’s former makeup artist, Mylah Morales, dismissed the apology out of hand. “If was apologetic about it, he would mention [Cassie’s] name, but he didn’t,” she told Extra TV. “That’s what I don’t understand… Just a PR stunt.”
Rap mogul Diddy’s world came crashing in November 2023 after his ex-girlfriend and singer Cassie filed a federal lawsuit against him. In her lawsuit against Diddy, Cassie claimed the rapper physically and sexually abused her throughout their relationship’s duration. Cassie alleged that Diddy beat her, forced her to have sex with other men, and raped her. Diddy settled Cassie’s lawsuit immediately after it was filed. However, his lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, denied Cassie’s allegations against him, claiming they were lies aimed at tarnishing Diddy’s image.
Benjamin’s words were called into question on May 17, 2024, after CNN released security footage showing Diddy assaulting Cassie in a hotel elevator. After the video’s release, Diddy apologized via an Instagram video. The “Last Night” rapper received severe backlash after the video’s release and even after his apology, which some found insensitive. The recent occurrence marked another sad twist to Diddy’s struggles.
In March 2024, the Feds raided the rapper’s properties in Miami and Los Angeles. Additionally, more people have filed lawsuits against Diddy, with his reputation increasingly declining. A major part of Diddy’s controversies is the lawsuits against him. These lawsuits have been so much that it is easy to lose count. Here is a guide to all the lawsuits against Diddy and everything you should know about them.
On May 23, 2024, April Lampros filed a 22-page lawsuit against Diddy. In the lawsuit, April accused Diddy of sexual assault, battery, and negligent infliction of emotional stress. She also accused him of committing a crime of violence motivated by gender. April filed the lawsuit at the New York County Supreme Court.
In the lawsuit, April claimed she met Diddy in early 1994. Then, she was a college student at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She said Diddy promised to be her mentor and gave her gifts and flowers. However, she claimed she suffered four terrifying sexual encounters that lasted until the 2000s. April claimed one of the sexual encounters occurred with Diddy’s late ex-partner, the late Kim Porter, in 1996. April said Diddy allegedly forced her and Kim to take ecstasy and have sex with each other. Afterward, he purportedly masturbated and proceeded to rape her.
April further claimed that another of her sexual encounters with Diddy occurred at the end of 2000 when he was in a relationship with Jennifer Lopez. According to her, the rapper arrived at her apartment with his security detail and tried to force her to have sex with him. However, turned him down and asked him to leave. She also claimed that she met a man at an event in 2003 who told her he saw a tape of her having sex with Diddy. April claimed the tape was filmed without her consent.
Crystal McKinney Files Lawsuit Against Diddy
Crystal McKinney filed her lawsuit against Diddy at a federal court in Manhattan on May 21, 2024. She claimed she met the Bad Boys Records founder when she was 22. Then, Crystal was a model and had flown into New York for a Fashion Week event at Cipriani. She said a designer flew her into New York and handpicked the clothes she would wear for the event. The outfit included a black leather coat and a translucent chiffon beige V-cut shirt. Crystal further claimed she kept the outfit unwashed in plastic wrap after the scarring events that occurred.
Crystal said Diddy allegedly told her he was highly influential in the industry and would help her excel in her career. She revealed they met at a studio later that night, and he allegedly gave her a laced joint and plied her with alcohol. She claimed the rapper followed her to the bathroom and forced her to perform oral sex on him. Crystal said Diddy didn’t keep to his promise of advancing her modeling career after the alleged assault. Instead, he allegedly “blackballed” her, causing her to suffer depression and attempt suicide.
Grace O’Marcaigh Lists Diddy As A Defendant In Lawsuit Against His Son Christian Combs
Diddy is not the only one in his family to have a lawsuit filed against him. On April 4, 2024, a woman named Grace O’Marcaigh filed a lawsuit against his 26-year-old son, Christian Combs. In the 31-page lawsuit, Grace sued Christian for sexual assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and battery. The aggrieved woman claimed she worked as a yacht deckhand for the Combs family during the Christmas break in the Caribbean in 2022 and was sexually assaulted while carrying out her duties. Grace listed Diddy as a defendant in the lawsuit, stating that he should be held liable for his son’s actions since he charted the yacht and was responsible for his guests throughout the duration of the Caribbean trip.
In the lawsuit, Grace claimed a “heavily intoxicated” Christian physically assaulted her on Dec. 28, 2022. She alleged that he blocked her from leaving, removed her clothes, and tried to force her to have oral sex with him. Grace also sued Diddy for promoting an “environment of debauchery,” filled with suspected sex workers, alcohol allegedly laced with drugs, violence, and disrespect for the crew. However, Diddy and Christian’s attorney, Aaron Dyer, responded to Grace’s lawsuit by calling it “lewd and meritless.” He also vowed to file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
Rodney Jones’s Lawsuit Against Diddy
Chicago native and record producer Rodney Jones filed a 105-page lawsuit against Diddy on Feb. 2, 2024. In his lawsuit, he accused the music mogul and those working with him of being part of an illegal racketeering syndicate. He further claimed he had concrete evidence to prove that Diddy and his cohorts acquired, used, and distributed ecstasy, cocaine, GHB, ketamine, marijuana, and mushrooms. Rodney also claimed to have evidence that Diddy and his workers displayed and distributed unregistered illegal firearms and solicited minors and sex workers.
Rodney alleged that Combs reached out to him in 2022 to help him with song production. However, he claimed what Diddy wanted him to do was way more than producing music. Rodney claimed Diddy tasked him with buying drugs and soliciting sex workers to perform sex acts to please him. He further claimed that Diddy asked him to record those sexual acts. According to Rodney, Diddy hit him when he failed to comply with his demands. Rodney also accused Diddy of lacing women’s drinks with ecstasy.
Later in the lawsuit, Rodney said Diddy allegedly grabbed him without his consent and forced him to work while Diddy walked around naked. He claimed that Diddy once left him alone in a makeshift studio on a yacht with Cuba Gooding Jr. Rodney claimed the actor touched, groped, and fondled his upper thighs near his groin and didn’t stop until he forcefully pushed him away. Meanwhile, Diddy’s attorney, Shawn Holley, claimed Rodney’s allegations were false and accused the latter of being a con man. Shawn added that there was proof that Rodney fabricated his claims and expressed resolve to take appropriate court action.
An unidentified woman alleged that Diddy and former Bad Boys Records president Harve Pierre gang-raped and sex-trafficked her when she was 17 and in the 11th grade. In a lawsuit filed on Dec. 2, 2023, Jane Doe claimed Diddy convinced her to follow Harve and an unnamed man on a private jet to his New York City studio. After getting to Diddy’s studio, he and his associates, including Harve, plied her with drugs and alcohol and gang-raped her. She also claimed that Diddy watched as the unnamed man raped her while she begged him to stop. Afterward, Harve also allegedly raped her and violently demanded oral sex as she choked and struggled for breath.
Diddy and Harve denied Jane’s allegations, with the former’s attorneys asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit. Diddy also shared a statement via social media on Dec. 6, 2023, in which he called the allegations against him sickening and declared that he was innocent of the awful things he was accused of. Diddy also vowed to fight for his name, his family, and the truth. Similarly, Harve released a statement denying Jane’s allegations, describing it as a “tale of fiction.”
Liza Gardner’s Lawsuit Against Diddy
In Liza Gardner’s lawsuit filed on Nov. 23, 2023, she accused Diddy and singer and songwriter Aaron Hall of forcefully having sex with her against her will when she was 16. She claimed she met Diddy and Aaron during an event for Jodeci’s album release in New York. According to Liza, Diddy invited her and her friend to Aaron’s apartment for an after-party. There, Diddy allegedly coerced her into having sexual intercourse with him. When he was done with her, and she was getting dressed, Aaron allegedly entered the room, pinned her down, and forcefully had sex with her. Liza claimed she suffered from intense vaginal pain after the experience. She said she ran away from the apartment and later found out that her friend allegedly suffered the same fate at the hands of Diddy and Aaron.
Liza further claimed that Diddy came to her home a day after the assault. She accused him of assaulting and choking her so much that she passed out. Liza said she suffered from depression, PTSD, and a strained relationship with men after her experience with Diddy and Aaron. Hence, she requested for a jury trial. Again, Diddy’s attorney claimed the allegations were false and fabricated.
Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a 22-page lawsuit against Diddy on Nov. 23, 2023, accusing him of sexually assaulting her. She claimed she met the rapper after appearing in a music video with him. Then, she was a student at Syracuse University. Later, Joi agreed to go on a date with Diddy but claimed he intentionally drugged her during their outing. Joi stated that Diddy sexually assaulted her and video-recorded the whole thing. She also claimed her male friend told her he viewed the taped recording of her and Diddy. He also told her everyone had seen the sex tape.
Joi claimed the situation with Diddy caused her life to decline as she was admitted to the hospital for severe depression and suicidal ideation. The complainant also claimed to have suffered a lifetime of injuries from Diddy’s actions toward her. She sued the musician for assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, human trafficking, and revenge porn. However, Diddy, through a spokesperson, denied the allegations, claiming it was a “money grab.”
Singer and Diddy’s ex-girlfriend began the lawsuit trend against the rapper when she braved the odds to file against him on Nov. 16, 2023. Cassie’s 35-page lawsuit accused Diddy of sexual assault, sex trafficking, and battery. She also accused him of forcing her to engage in sexual acts. Cassie claimed Diddy physically abused her throughout their relationship’s duration and asserted complete control over her personal and professional life. Hence, she found it hard to escape his hold over her. Cassie stated that Diddy’s staff and record label knew about his abuse toward her.
Diddy swiftly settled the lawsuit with Cassie. The former lovers reached a mutual settlement a day after the lawsuit was filed. Diddy’s representative claimed Cassie’s allegations were false, but his words didn’t hold water after CNN released footage of Diddy physically assaulting Cassie. Although Diddy apologized for his actions, the video was too disturbing and damaged his already faltering reputation.
The demise of Diddy is far from over. Following the release of a graphic video in which he is seen violently assaulting his ex-girlfriend and former Bad Boy Records singer Cassie, public support continues to plummet.
Many organizations have already cut ties with Diddy including his own company, Revolt. Now, people are demanding that he be stripped of his professional accolades. Yesterday (May 25), it was revealed that talks about removing his star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame had begun. However, according to TMZ, the governing committee will not take out the physical landmark.
In the outlet’s report, despite public support for its removal, a Hollywood Chamber of Commerce spokesperson claims that “the committee is unable to make the changes.”
The source took a moment to explain the powers of the committee. “[The committee can] nominate star recipients, manufacture and install stars upon city approval and conduct the Walk of Fame installation ceremony,” they said. “[However,] it lacks the authority to remove them.”
This isn’t the only accolade of Diddy to come up in public discourse. During an appearance on PIX11, New York City’s mayor Eric Adams revealed that he is “considering” revoking Diddy’s Key To The City, which was awarded in September 2023.
We previously heard from Cassie’s lawyer about the apology video Diddy shared, following the release of hotel security footage that shows him assaulting Cassie. Now, Cassie herself has offered a statement about the situation at large.
The Instagram post shared today (May 23) reads:
“Thank you for all of the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet. The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning. Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past.
Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to take this matter seriously. My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in.
I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear. Reach out to your people, don’t cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone.
This healing journey is never ending, but this support means everything to me. Thank you.
Love Always,
Cassie.”
Notably, Cassie does not mention Diddy by name. Diddy also didn’t mention Cassie in his apology video, and that’s reportedly because an NDA the two previously signed forbids them from saying each other’s names in public.
Things keep getting worse for Diddy. The mogul was caught assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, in a video that was obtained by CNN, and now he’s facing sexual assault charges. This is only the latest suit to be filed against Diddy on grounds of drugging and assault. His latest accuser, however, claims to have proof in the form of sealed clothing. According to reporter Meghann Cuniff, Diddy’s accuser says she saved the clothes she wore the night she attended his afterparty.
Context is crucial here. Crystal McKinney filed a suit claiming that she was drugged and forced to perform oral sex on Diddy at a 2003 social event. She recalled waking up in a taxi cab the morning after Diddy allegedly forced himself on her, and is seeking undisclosed damages as a result. McKinney claims that she struggled to find work as a model after the incident, and was driven to attempt suicide just one year later.
The Accuser Preserved Her Clothing From Diddy’s Alleged Assault
Here’s the new federal lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, filed in the Southern District of New York.
“Due to the traumatic events to occur later, Plaintiff saved the unwashed clothing from that night in her closet where they remain in a plastic wrap.”https://t.co/GEC3wZM2LM
What makes McKinney different from Diddy’s previous accusers, however, is the evidence she reportedly possesses. The lawsuit claims that has preserved her outfit over two decades, so it can be submitted as evidence. “Due to the traumatic events to occur later,” the suit explained. “Plaintiff saved the unwashed clothes from that night in her closet, where they remain in a plastic bag.” The clothing included “a black leather coat with fur hood, translucent chiffon beige v-cut shirt, fur-lined handbag, and jewel-encrusted jeans.”
If true, this piece of evidence could spell legal trouble for Diddy. The Bad Boy founder has managed to avoid official charges thus far, despite being sued by several women dating back to November 2023. He even issued an apology via Instagram. The apology was in direct response to the Cassie video.
Diddy is so vague in his wording, however, that it can’t help but be read more broadly. “I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now,” he said. “I went and I sought out professional help. Got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry.” McKinney isn’t swayed by the apology. The former model intends to be compensated for what she went through. Diddy has not yet responded to the suit.
