Justin Combs, Diddy's Rich Son, Defends Taking UCLA Scholarship

By Dennis Romero Thu., May 31 2012 at 1:36 PM

Justin Combs / Twitter

Updated at the bottom with Russell Simmons weighing in.

Following our viral coverage of Justin Combs' full-ride scholarship to UCLA (despite his father Diddy's wealth, his own $300,000-plus car, and dire state education cuts and rising tuition costs), Justin Combs took to Twitter yesterday to defend his rich self.

He said:

Regardless what the circumstances are, I put that work in!!!!

The 18-year-old, who's getting a football scholarship that UCLA told us will not be covered by taxpayer funds, also tweeted:

Regardless of what you do in life every1 is gonna have their own opinion. Stay focused, keep that tunnel vision & never 4get why u started.
— Justin Dior Combs (@JDior_) May 31, 2012

Folks attacked us on Twitter for pointing out, as has the Daily Mail, CNN and the Los Angeles Times, that Combs' father is reportedly worth nearly a half-billion dollars.

Tuition and fees at UCLA have nearly tripled in the last 10 years, leaving the promise of a world-class education that working class Californians could afford in the dust.

princejdc

Combs on his Maybach.

Some students have taken to occupying UC Regents board meetings and participating in raucous, sometimes violent protests on state campuses throughout California.

UCLA, however, defended the scholarship in a statement first made to the Weekly:

... Athletic scholarships are awarded to students strictly on the basis of their athletic and academic ability, and not on a student's financial need. Athletic scholarships - such as those awarded to football or basketball players - do not rely on state funds. Instead, these scholarships are entirely funded by Athletic Department ticket sales, corporate partnerships, media contracts and private donations from supporters.

So there.

[Update at 4:18 p.m.]: Rap industry pioneer Russell Simmons weighed in on the controversy this afternoon via Twitter:

everyone needs to back off Diddy's son... bit.ly/JUAItN
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) May 31, 2012

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

CSU, Diddy, Justin Combs, scholarship, UC, UCLA

We Recommend

Merlo

Average corner, he should be a walk-on and earn an athletic scholarship.

Darth tater

I wonder how often this goes on as a general practice? How b'out getting the scoop on that LA weekly? It would really suck if this is a common occurrence. But then again it wouldn't surprise me one bit.

Lifer

This proves that P. Diddy really is a Scrub who just sits on his broke ass, otherwise he would not need to take a scholarship.

Justinemiddleton

I am not questioning whether or not he has the right to the scholarship. Congratulations. I am sure the many thousands of dollars he was fortunate enough to have invested in his education come into play. But i also understand that being not technically relevant. He should turn down the money. Or his father should triple it. One could also argue that he was accepted because of his fame and wealth, and I think it is a valid one, but I'm not going to go there though oodles of celebrities came from that school. The fact remains that from an ethical standpoint, he should not be given money, because he shits out that tuition for breakfast. There is some other kid somewhere that will never have the chance. Is P Diddy responsible for that kid somewhere? I say yes. He actually is.

Shetrika

When wealthy people win mega millions you don't bend the rules to give the money to the millions who lost and financialy broke. This guy put a strong fight and finished strong. He earned it. It's that Simple.

SZwartz

One again, we as a society are to blame, yet we chastise someone else.

The son played by the rules. How would the naysayers feel if their boss told them, "Oh, you don't get a pay check this week because Joe needs the money?"

The system, however, that's another story. We allow this system where athletes get extra special attention and cancer researchers struggle to survive.

The fault, dear Brutus is not in the stars (or Diddy's son), but in ourselves.

Sam Infusia

Dang, don't go blamin' Brutus,

He's got enough shit without you adding to it...

Brevity is... wit.

Mmiller

He earned it. At least, I certainly hope his athletic prowess earned it for him and it's not a play for celeb alumni money by UCLA.

Would have been classy for him to donate the funds back to the program or to a program for disadvantaged kid's tuition and write a check for his tuition (or for his dad to do so) but, hey, you can't mandate charity and he gets to do what he wants with his money.

Douche

1. He earned it2. He's famous and will bring attention to the school3. He'll someday be a rich alumni

Sam Infusia

And it will be fun watching the little pipsqueak get squashed on the field.

All the more reason to root for USC!

Justin

If you're a UCLA fan, you should be mad that this is best QB recruit you can find. This little Richie Rich looks like he'll cry when he takes a hit.

FrankELf86

U CLOWNS LOST AGAIN.........

bep

HATER!

G Whitey

Huge discussion on this topic here... LA Weekly might want to hire some of these people as journalists: http://forums.nicoclub.com/ric...

anonymous

The kid earned it. It is remarkable that he chose to work hard in a different field than his father and deserves a scholarship that is given automatically to all good athletes. Would you rather have someone like the Hilton girl or other useless rich kids who do nothing productive with their lives other than to live off their parents.

I'm sure Combs will give enough money to UCLA to help other kids less advantaged than his his son.

A.E.

One wonders if your opinion about minority scholarships is as generous.

Why are so many people are willing to overlook a young man from a very wealthy family being given a "free ride" at a school where poor kids struggle to pay?Americans sure do worship wealthy people. So much they will give freely to rich people the things they cannot afford for themselves.

Such a self-defeating position can only derive from an amazing combination of self-loathing and adulation for wealth & power.

bep

if there are poor kids working as hard athletically as this young man, then i'm sure their efforts are rewarded. this america. we love our sports and sports stars. don't hate.

Sam Infusia

this america. well stated.