NEW YORK — Sean “ Diddy Combs has returned his key to New York City following a request from Mayor Eric Adams following the release of a video featuring the music mogul attacking R&B-singer Cassieofficials said Saturday.
The mayor’s office said Combs returned the key after Adams sent letters to the embattled musicians’ offices in New York and California on June 4, revoking the key and asking that it be returned to City Hall. The city received the key on June 10.
In his letter, Adams wrote that he was “deeply disturbed” by the attack, adding: “I strongly condemn these actions and stand in solidarity with all survivors of domestic and gender-based violence.”
Combs’ career has been derailed by numerous allegations of sexual abuseas well as a federal criminal investigation into sex trafficking that led to raids on Combs’ mansions in Los Angeles and Miami.
In May, CNN aired surveillance video of Combs attacking Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. Combs has said he is “truly sorry” for the attack on Cassie and called his actions “inexcusable.” Cassie, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, sued Combs last year, sparking a wave of increased scrutiny of Combs. That case was settled a day after it was filed.
Adams awarded Combs the prize key during a ceremony Last year this coincided with the release of a new album.
Howard University this month an honorary doctorate revoked awarded to Combs and ended a scholarship program in his name after the release of the Cassie video.
Combs, founder of Bad Boy Records, is one of the most influential hip-hop producers and managers of the past thirty years and has turned musical success into a business empire.
An email sent to an online representative for Combs was not immediately returned.