This development comes in the wake of a disturbing video that surfaced last month, showing Combs in a violent altercation with his former partner. The footage, which has shocked many, led to the Harlem-born celebrity's prestigious accolade being called into question.
According to American Military News, Combs, who received the key in September of last year, surrendered it to City Hall approximately a week after Mayor Adams dispatched formal letters to his offices in both New York and Los Angeles. The Mayor expressed his deep disturbance at the surveillance footage and affirmed his support for survivors of domestic violence.
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In his letters, Mayor Adams stated, "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." He revealed in a conversation with 94.7’s “Jonesy in the Morning” that he and his team had been contemplating their course of action following the release of the video, marking the first time they had ever considered revoking a person's Key to the City.
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After internal discussions, the decision was made that Combs was no longer deserving of the honor. The Mayor requested that Combs "immediately return his Key to the City." The letters were dated June 4, and Combs reportedly complied with the request on the following Monday.
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CNN was the first to air the 2016 surveillance footage last month, which depicted the founder of Bad Boy Records assaulting R&B singer Cassie Ventura in a hotel corridor. Combs subsequently acknowledged his actions, stating he takes "full responsibility for my actions in that video" and expressing his disgust at his own behavior.
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Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs in November, alleging years of sexual and physical abuse during their relationship. The incident detailed in the lawsuit aligns closely with the events captured in the hotel footage. Although Combs and Ventura settled the lawsuit the next day, several others have since lodged their own legal complaints against Combs, accusing him of similar misconduct.
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The video's emergence coincided with a Homeland Security raid on Combs' properties in Miami and Los Angeles in March, confirmed to be part of a federal sex trafficking investigation. The probe into Combs continues, with reports suggesting that his accusers are being prepared to potentially testify before a grand jury in New York City.