The Board of Howard University says it will strip Sean “Diddy” Combs of his honorary degree following the publication of a video showing the music mogul hitting his ex-girlfriend in a hotel hallway.
In a statement on Friday, the historically black university said his “behaviour 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 honour.”
The rapper apologised after the video was released last month for the attack on singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura.
“I was disgusted when I did it. I’m disgusted now,” Mr Combs said in his statement.
“I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry.”
Mr Cobs was conferred with the degree by the university degree in 2014. It added that it would also end a scholarship in his name and terminate a 2016 “gift agreement” with the rapper. That agreement was a $1million donation that he made through his foundation.
The University went further to say that Mr Combs’ name would be removed from all documents listing honourary degree recipients.
“The University is unwavering in its opposition to all acts of interpersonal violence,” the statement said.
Several women, including his former long-time partner Ms Ventura, have filed lawsuits against the musician, accusing him of sexual and physical abuse.
Combs has denied all sexual assault allegations.
“Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged,” he said in a statement in November.
In March, federal agents raided two properties that belonged to the music producer in what authorities said “was part of an ongoing investigation” into sex trafficking.
