Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs returned the Key to New York City following a request from Mayor Eric Adams. The decision comes after surveillance footage from a 2016 incident surfaced, showing Combs physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, in a Los Angeles hotel hallway. The footage prompted Adams to demand the return of the key, which had been awarded to Combs in September 2023.
The video, which was obtained by CNN, shows Combs grabbing Cassie, throwing her to the ground, kicking her twice, and dragging her by her sweatshirt. This disturbing footage aligns with allegations Cassie made in a federal lawsuit filed in November, where she accused Combs of rape and physical abuse throughout their relationship. The lawsuit was settled the day after it was filed, with Combs vehemently denying the allegations through his lawyer.
In a letter addressed to Combs’ representatives, Mayor Adams expressed his deep disturbance over the footage and condemned the actions depicted. “I strongly condemn these actions and stand in solidarity with all survivors of domestic and gender-based violence,” Adams wrote. He emphasized that the Key to the City is awarded 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.”
Combs, facing a wave of civil lawsuits and a federal investigation, complied with the mayor’s request and returned the key six days after the letter was sent.
The lawsuits against Combs include accusations of sexual assault, sexual trafficking, and other criminal activities. Despite these allegations, Combs has denied all claims, describing them as sickening.
In response to the video of the 2016 hotel incident, Combs released an apology video, acknowledging that his behavior was inexcusable. This apology came as Howard University also rescinded an honorary degree awarded to Combs in 2014 and severed financial ties with him.
Mayor Adams initially awarded Combs the key during a ceremony in Times Square, coinciding with the release of Combs’ album “The Love Album: Off The Grid.” At the time, Adams praised Combs as “the bad boy of entertainment,” receiving the key from “the bad boy of politics.”
This incident underscores the importance of holding public figures accountable for their actions, particularly when those actions contradict the values and standards they are expected to uphold. The return of the key symbolizes a step toward maintaining the integrity of the honors bestowed by the city.
