Mayor Adams may revoke Diddy’ key to NYC after ‘chilling’ domestic abuse video
Mayor Eric Adams says his administration is considering taking back Sean “Diddy” Combs’ key to the city after horrifying footage surfaced of the rapper brutally assaulting ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
“I think all of us were deeply disturbed by watching that chilling video of the young lady being assaulted by him,” Adams told PIX 11 News on Monday. “The committee and the team have never rescinded a key before, but we are now sitting down to see what the next steps forward are going to be.”
Adams said his administration will be “taking everything under analysis” before it comes up with a final determination.
Diddy, 54, who is reportedly under federal investigation in a sex-trafficking case, apologized for his violence against Ventura in an Instagram video Monday, saying his behavior in the 2016 footage was “inexcusable.”
The Harlem native had previously vehemently denied Ventura’s allegations of abuse for eight years — until the shocking video released Friday showed the rap superstar chasing down and hitting Ventura inside a Los Angeles hotel.
“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Diddy said in his mea culpa video on Instagram, in which he did not name Ventura or refer to the singer directly. “I was f–ked up. I hit rock bottom — but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable.
“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video, I’m disgusted,” he said.
“I was disgusted then when I did it, and I’m disgusted now. I went and I sought out professional help, started going to therapy and rehab, had to ask God for his mercy and grace,” the rapper said.
The mayor had awarded Diddy a key to the city last year to honor all he had done for the Big Apple in donating millions of dollars to support black entrepreneurs.
At the time, Adams dubbed him the “embodiment of the New York City attitude.
Here’s what we know about the allegations against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
- CNN released an exclusive video of Sean “Diddy” Combs abusing his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, on March 5, 2016.
- The Bad Boy Entertainment founder can be seen in the clip kicking, dragging, stomping and throwing items at the “Me and U” singer.
- Despite the viral clip, the LA District Attorney’s Office says it can’t prosecute Combs over the video because the incident took place too long ago and the statute of limitations has expired.
Diddy released an apology video for his actions on Instagram, citing his “inexcusable behavior” for beating Ventura and saying, “I was f–ked up.”- Ventura’s lawyer Meredith Firetog lashed out at Diddy’s “pathetic” apology, saying “Combs’ most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt.”
- Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs in November 2023 based on several allegations, including rape and physical abuse for over a decade.
- Combs and Ventura settled the lawsuit one day after she filed it.
- Model Crystal McKinney then filed a separate lawsuit accusing the rapper of drugging her and forcing her to perform oral sex on him during a 2003 visit to his NYC studio when she was 22.
- NYC Mayor Eric Adams says his administration is considering taking back Combs’ key to the city after the horrifying footage surfaced.
“A son of Harlem, Combs worked his way to the top, becoming a successful musical talent both in front of and behind the mic,” Adams said at the time.
“Despite all of his successes, Sean has never forgotten where he came from,” Hizzoner added.
Diddy’s key to the city is a “symbol of the city’s wish that a guest feel free to come and go at will,” the Mayor’s Office said at the time.
Adams said to reporters at his weekly press briefing Tuesday that his administration is still weighing what to do — but city Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez told The Post it’s a no-brainer.
“Take that key back,” the pol said. “These are ceremoniously given out to folks who have made contributions, and while I understand Diddy is getting help, which is good, and acknowledged his actions, he doesn’t need the key to work through his accountability.
“Having the mayor revoke the key also sends a message to survivors that no matter how popular you are, abuse towards women is a non-starter,” Gutiérrez said. “Simple as that. And maybe more victims will come forward feeling seen and heard.”
Council Majority Leader Amanda Farìas added, “The symbolism of receiving a key to the city is to confer trust and honor and to be seen as a trusted friend of city residents.
“The trust of women is broken, and so is the trust of New York City,” she said of Diddy’s actions.
“Mayor Adams needs to revoke the key to the city, as Diddy’s violent actions against women do not coincide with the values and principles of New York City.”
The rapper has denied any wrongdoing in the federal sex-trafficking case. He has not been charged with any crime.
No details have emerged in the allegations against him, but they prompted a raid by the feds in March of his properties in Miami and Los Angeles.
-Additional reporting by Aneeta Bhole
