Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has returned the ceremonial "Key to the City of New York" following a request by Mayor Eric Adams. The decision comes amidst a series of sexual assault allegations against Combs and the recent leaked surveillance video showing him assaulting Cassie, his former partner.

The Key to the City of New York was awarded to Combs in September 2023 during a Times Square ceremony, with Mayor Adams humorously referring to him as "the bad boy of entertainment" receiving the key from "the bad boy of politics." However, just two months later, Cassie filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of rape and physical abuse over a decade-long period. The lawsuit was swiftly settled but marked the first of several legal actions against the Bad Boy executive, who is also reportedly under investigation for federal sex trafficking.

Amid the mounting lawsuits and allegations, Combs was asked to return the Key to the City earlier this month, following the release of the disturbing surveillance footage showing him assaulting Cassie in a hotel. In a letter to Combs' offices on June 4, Mayor Adams wrote, "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. After internal deliberations, the Key to the City of New York committee recommended nullifying and rescinding Mr. Combs' key. I have accepted their recommendation."

According to CBS New York, Combs returned the ceremonial key on June 10, less than a week after the request was made by the mayor's office. This symbolic act highlights the city's stance on holding individuals accountable for their actions, even those who have achieved great success.

Furthermore, Howard University has also taken action against Combs in light of the recent controversy. The university announced the revocation of the honorary doctorate awarded to Combs in 2014, along with the return of his $1 million donation. This decision was unanimously made by the university's board of trustees, following the release of the Cassie surveillance video. A spokesperson for Howard University stated, "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 move by Howard University coincides with Rolling Stone's recent investigative report, which revealed new allegations of Combs physically assaulting a woman outside her Howard dormitory in the late Eighties. These allegations have further tarnished the mogul's reputation and led to questioning his eligibility for the honorary doctorate.

As the legal battles and investigations continue, the return of the Key to the City of New York and the revocation of the honorary doctorate from Howard University mark significant consequences for Sean "Diddy" Combs. These actions underline the importance of accountability and maintaining the integrity of prestigious honors bestowed upon individuals in the public eye.