Treasure Aaron
June 2024
On September 15, 2023 New York City Mayor Eric Adams awarded the New York key to the city to entrepreneur and music mogul Sean Puffy Combs. The terminology and gesture is an award offered as a symbol of welcoming to guests to New York as a formal invitation to go and come as they wish. The Key to the City was first awarded in 1702 by New York City Mayor Phillip French. Mayor French awarded the first “Freedom of the City” to Viscount Edward Cornbury according to the official website of New York City.
Sean “Diddy” Combs, a native New Yorker from Harlem is best known for his record label created in New Yok, Bad Boy Records now under the umbrella of Combs Global. Bad Boy was the helm of local hip hop artists and R&B artists such as Biggie Smalls, Faith Evans, Mase, 112, Total, Shyne, the Lox and most importantly Cassie Ventura.
Cassie Ventura met Combs in 2005 and signed to the label at the age of 19 one year before the debut of her self-titled album was released on the Bad Boy label according to Page Six . The two soon started a personal relationship that last until 2018 and made appearances as a couple on red carpets from the Met Gala to the fashion events to award shows.
Shortly after Combs receiving the Key to the City from New York’s Mayor Adams Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit on November 16, 2023 citing sexual assault and physical abuse from incidents that took place throughout their decade long relationship.
Documents can be found on CourthouseNews.com of the official court documents where Cassie described beatings, rape and forceful drug abuse and sex trafficking amongst other violent acts. In an article on USA Today on November 17th, 2023 less than 24hours after filing her lawsuit the case was listed as settled for an undisclosed amount.
Six months later CNN released a video from 2016 of a hotel incident between the two where Combs can be seen chasing Ventura through a hotel hallway and dragging her by her hair, before kicking and abusing her.
The release of this video raised eyebrows amongst New Yorkers and the award’s decision-making committee immediately opened discussions on rescinding the key that was awarded to the rap mogul. In an interview on local NYC news WPIX11 Morning News broadcast Mayor Adams was questions by anchor Hazel Sanchez about revoking the award.
The Mayor confirmed that discussion were taking place regarding the honor that was given to Sean Combs after being “Deeply disturbed by watching that chilling video of the young lady being assaulted by him.”
According to NY City Hall the “Key to the City” that was given to Combs was returned to New York at a request by the mayor who has made a stance to support Cassie Ventura and all survivors of domestic violence. Since the initial law suit filed by Cassie five other individuals have filed civil suits against Diddy accusing him of deviant behavior and sexual misconduct
Mayor Adams Awards key to the city of New York to cultural icon and music mogul Sean Combs. The official website of the City of New York. (2023, September 15). https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/665-23/mayor-adams-awards-key-the-city-new-york-cultural-icon-music-mogul-sean-combs
The key to the city of New York. (n.d.-a). https://www.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/the-key-to-the-city-of-new-york.page
The key to the city of New York. (n.d.-a). https://www.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/the-key-to-the-city-of-new-york.page
Tang, H. (2024, May 19). Surveillance video shows Sean “diddy” combs physically assaulting former girlfriend in 2016. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/17/entertainment/video/sean-diddy-combs-cassie-venture-surveillance-digvid
Rosenbloom, A., & Pazmino, G. (2024, June 16). Sean ’Diddy’ combs returns key to New York City at request of mayor. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/16/entertainment/sean-diddy-combs-returns-key-to-city/index.html
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