Diddy is having a rough year. The hip-hop mogul and guy who blew up Kid Cudi’s car is currently in prison in New York and is facing charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.


To make things even worse for the alleged sex criminal and possible murderer, Diddy also had to return the key to New York City by official request of Mayor Eric Adams (who could soon be joining Diddy behind bars) after having it for less than a year.



This is hardly the first time someone who was given the key to a city has turned out to be a horrible person. Here are a few others who Diddy now stands alongside in this particular Hall of Shame…


Saddam Hussein: Detroit


Yes, this one really happened. Back in 1979, Hussein had just won the presidency in Iraq, and the Rev. Jacob Yasso of Chaldean Sacred Heart Yasso in Detroit congratulated him. As a result, Hussein gave the church $250,000. A year later, the city of Detroit gave Hussein the key to the city.


Obviously, this hasn’t aged well, given that Hussein was a dictator who was still in charge when the U.S. (which includes Detroit) invaded Iraq.


“He was a very kind person, very generous, very cooperative with the West. Lately, what’s happened, I don’t know,” Yasso told the media back in 2003. “Money and power changed the person.”


It isn’t known if Hussein was asked to return the key or not. Perhaps he was buried with it when he was hanged to death in 2006.



Bill Cosby: Kansas City and Arlington, Virginia


The beloved-then-reviled hoagie-loving comedian was awarded the key to the city of Kansas City in 2007, long before dozens of women came forward and publicly revealed that Cosby’s art of seduction involved drugging and raping them.


Cosby also holds the distinct honor of being the only member on the list who holds the keys to multiple cities. In 2014, he was given the key to Arlington, Virginia when he attended the opening to a Ben’s Chili Bowl in the city. Arlington likely regretted the decision when only months later, the sexual assault allegations against Cosby started flooding in.


R. Kelly: Baton Rouge


Diddy’s buddy (and possibly lone defender) R. Kelly also got his key to the city of Baton Rouge rescinded in 2014 when he was officially found guilty of sex trafficking and sentenced to life in prison.


State Rep. C. Denise Marcelle awarded him the key in 2013 when, to be clear, the accusations against Kelly were extremely public. “I’ll make no excuses for why I honored him,” Marcelle said in 2014.


Michael Vick: Dallas


To be fair, unlike everyone else on this list, Vick has shown the semblance of a conscience and, following a prison stint, has gone out of his way to try and make amends for being a real-life Ash Ketchum. He was eventually given a chance to return to the NFL to play for the Philadelphia Eagles, and in 2011, he was awarded the key to the city of… Dallas?



What makes this one really interesting is that there’s controversy over whether or not Vick was officially awarded the key. Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway (basically vice mayor) gave the key to Vick, but after public outcry, Mayor Tom Leppert clarified that it didn’t count because he said so.


“The action taken was not sanctioned by my office and was not an official ceremonial honor on behalf of the City of Dallas,” Leppert explained in a statement. “Official Keys to the City are presented by the Mayor, or an elected official designated by the Mayor, and reserved, on a limited basis, for an elected official of international status. Clearly, this was not the case in this situation and done without my knowledge or approval.”