Rap mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs, right, has returned a ceremonial key to New York City after recently revealed video footage showed him assaulting singer Cassie Ventura, his former girlfriend. Photo courtesy of Mayor Eric Adams/Twitter
June 16 (UPI) -- Rap mogul Sean Combs, known by his current stage name "Diddy," has returned a ceremonial key to New York City after recently revealed video footage showed him assaulting singer Cassie Ventura, his former girlfriend.
The key was returned at the request of Mayor Eric Adams, who had sent two copies of a June 4 letter to Combs' offices in New York and Los Angeles, obtained by TMZ and other news outlets. It was returned on June 10, a day after Howard University in Washington, D.C., cut ties with him.
The Bad Boy Entertainment founder was awarded the key to the city in September 2023, with Adams posting smiling photos with the cultural icon on social media.
"He might be the 'bad boy' of entertainment, but Sean Combs will forever be a New York City kid who made good," Adams posted at the time. "He's given so much back to his roots, and every move he makes is proof that hustle pays off. Enjoy your key to the city, Diddy!"
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But just months later, Combs had settled a lawsuit with Cassie, who had accused him of rape and physical abuse. The terms of the quick settlement were not announced, but with it, the musicians avoided going through the process of evidence discovery and a trial.
Despite that, CNN surfaced a 2016 surveillance video that shows the rapper wearing only a white towel violently grab, shove, drag and kick Cassie at the InterContinental Hotel in the Century City area of Los Angeles. Cassie thanked fans for their support after it surfaced.
The Los Angeles District Attorney's office has previously said it was aware of the video but that it had not been presented with a case, and if a case was presented, the statute of limitations has already been surpassed and no legal action could be taken.
"The Key to the City of New York is presented to individuals whose service to the public and the common good rises to the highest level of achievement, and who act as a model for fellow and future New Yorkers," Adams wrote in his letter to Diddy.
"After internal deliberations, the Key to the City of New York committee recommended nullifying and rescinding Mr. Combs' key. I have accepted their recommendation."
Combs was born in a public housing project in Harlem and raised in Mount Vernon.
Among his contributions that led to him receiving the award was his cofounding of the Capital Preparatory Harlem Charter School, which has received poor reviews from parents.
- Topics
- Law and Crime
- Sean Combs
- P. Diddy
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FAQs
“The Key to the City of New York is presented to individuals whose service to the public and the common good rises to the highest level of achievement, and who act as a model for fellow and future New Yorkers,” Adams wrote in a June 4 letter to Combs' offices.
How can I get in contact with P. Diddy? ›
Email Sean “Diddy” Combs on his Official Site, pr@combsglobal.com (Combs Global Public Relations), or care/of his agent, manager, or publicist.
Did Diddy sell Sean John? ›
Diddy's lawsuit was against Global Brands Group (GBG), to which he sold his 90% stake in Sean John for $70 million in 2016.
What business does Sean Combs have? ›
As the Chairman and CEO of Combs Enterprises, he has a diverse portfolio of businesses and investments covering the music, fashion, fragrance, beverage, marketing, film, television, and media industries with companies such as Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group, Sean John, Combs Wine & Spirits, Aquahydrate, The Blue ...
What does it mean when they give you keys to the City? ›
This medieval tradition is meant to confer trust and honor; it grows from the medieval walled city whose gates were guarded during the day and locked at night. The key symbolizes the freedom of the recipient to enter and leave the city at will, as a trusted friend of city residents.
When did Diddy get the key to NYC? ›
Combs was given the key in a Times Square ceremony in September 2023, coinciding with the release of the artist's album "The Love Album: Off The Grid." "The bad boy of entertainment is getting the Key to the City from the bad boy of politics," Adams said at the time.
What is the P. Diddy number? ›
Why did Sean 'Diddy' Combs (917) 746-1444 & Ashton Kutchar +1 (319) 519-0576 tell everyone their mobile number? Because, mobile numbers are now the most valuable commodity in data collection and texting is proving to be the most effective method to mass-communicate & market to.
How many followers has Diddy lost? ›
In the last 30 days, he has lost 27,698 Instagram followers and at the time of writing, his follower count sat at 20,207,215.
Who is P. Diddy's manager? ›
Sean “Diddy” Combs has hired manager Wassim "Sal" Slaiby, the SALXCO Founder and CEO best known for managing The Weeknd, along with manager Amir "Cash" Esmailian.
Is Sean Combs a billionaire? ›
Combs has brought in over $1 billion in wealth in the last two decades, largely through strategic business ventures. His most successful partnership was with liquor giant Diageo, where he played a key role in popularising Ciroc vodka and DeLeon tequila.
He had a record label titled Bad Boy Entertainment which allowed him to not only make money from his own success, but also from those on his label. He produced tracks for a myriad of artists, from Usher to TLC, and won acclaim for his contributions to the genre.
How much money is Sean Diddy Combs worth? ›
He has several business ventures and properties that add up to an estimated $1 billion net worth, as Forbes reported in 2022. Of course, Diddy stands to lose a chunk of change if any of the lawsuits proceed. Diddy has long been considered one of the wealthiest rappers of all time.
How many companies have left Diddy? ›
At least eighteen companies have distanced themselves from Diddy's recently launched e-commerce website Empower Global, a marketplace for Black-owned businesses, Rolling Stone confirmed on December 10, 2023.
What brands does P. Diddy own? ›
Take a look at all of the businesses that Diddy currently owns:
- Bad Boy Records. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) ...
- Capital Prep Harlem. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) ...
- Sean John. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) ...
- REVOLT TV & Media/ REVOLT Films. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
The presentation of a Key to the City can be traced back to medieval times, when cities were enclosed by walls and locked gates. By the middle of the 1800's, it became customary to give a Key to the City as a direct symbol of the City's wish that a guest feel free to come and go at will.”
Who gives the key to the city? ›
The Key to the City is an honor bestowed by a city upon esteemed residents and visitors. Key to the City, or Keys to the City, may also refer to: Key to the City (film), a 1950 film starring Clark Gable and Loretta Young.
What rapper has a key to the city? ›
The “TGIF” artist also shared a close-up photo of her plaque, which features her metallic key, Shelby County's seal and a signature from the mayor, Paul Young. “THE KEY TO THE CITY OF MEMPHIS,” it reads. “Presented to Gloria 'GloRilla' Woods.”
Does Drake have a key to the city? ›
When Drake was given Toronto's key to the city in 2016, he described the honor presented to him by his home city as "one of the greatest moments" of his life.
