4 OctOber 3-9, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | news | letters | coNteNts | MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | ▼ MIAMI BEACH SOMEBODY CALL A LOCKSMITH! DIDDY STILL HAS A KEY TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH! BY ALEX DELUCA B ack in 2015, during the Revolt Music Conference at the Fon- tainebleau, then-Miami Beach Mayor Phillip Levine presented Sean “Diddy” Combs with an honorary key to the city. Photos snapped dur- ing the event show the cheesing music mogul proudly hoisting the ceremonial honor, which the city has awarded to other celebri- ties, including Jennifer Lopez and Celia Cruz. But while some cities, such as New York, have since rescinded the symbolic keys they gave Combs in light of mounting sexual-as- sault allegations against him, Miami Beach has yet to do the same. Although the city rescinded its “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Day” proclamation over the summer, city spokesperson Melissa Berthier tells New Times the municipality has “no re- cord” of repossessing Combs’ key. Berthier did not immediately respond to a follow-up question about whether the city has plans to reclaim it. Combs was arrested at a New York City ho- tel on September 16 amid a sprawling federal sex-trafficking investigation. An unsealed fed- eral grand jury indictment filed against the musician revealed that agents found copious amounts of narcotics, baby oil, and lube at his Miami and Los Angeles properties. He alleg- edly used the supplies for “Freak Offs,” during which women engaged in sexual acts with male commercial sex workers. “For decades, Sean Combs abused, threat- ened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his rep- utation, and conceal his conduct,” the in- dictment alleges. Combs’ arrest fol- lows a series of fed- eral lawsuits, one of which was brought in late 2023 by his ex-girlfriend Cas- sandra “Cassie” Ven- tura and described years of alleged rape and physical abuse at Combs’ hands. While Combs denied wrongdoing, and the suit was settled in one day, CCTV footage sur- faced in May showing him violently assault- ing Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016. After the disturbing video was released, New York City Mayor Eric Adams reportedly demanded that Combs return his key to the Big Apple. “After internal deliberations, the Key of the City of New York committee recom- mended nullifying and rescinding Mr. Combs’ key,” Adams wrote to Combs about the honor, which was awarded to him in Sep- tember 2023. “I have accepted their recom- mendation.” Combs also received an honorary key from the City of Chicago; it’s unclear whether the Windy City has asked that he give it back. | RIPTIDE | GET MORE NEWS & COMMENTARY AT MIAMINEWTIMES.COM/NEWS Former Miami Beach Mayor Phillip Levine presented Sean “Diddy” Combs the key to the city on October 15, 2015, during the 2015 Revolt Music Conference at Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Photo by Aaron Davidson/Getty Images for Revolt Music Conference ▼ MIAMI TO TUA OR NOT TO TUA? SHOULD THE NFL FORCE TUA TAGOVAILOA TO RETIRE? BY RYAN YOUSEFI I t happened again. The Miami Dolphins once again found themselves on CNN for reasons no team wants. And while the team’s 24-3 loss to the Se- attle Seahawks on September 22 was embar- rassing, that’s not what made national headlines. This time, the discussion centered on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s health and a question Michael Smerconish raised on Game Day Eve on his eponymous weekly show: Should the NFL force Tua to retire in light of his concussion history? Yes, you read that right: Should the NFL force Tua to retire? has entered the chat. Smerconish put the topic to his audience as a poll, asking, “In light of Tua Tagovailoa’s recur- ring concussions, should the NFL make a prece- dent-setting decision to end his career on the grounds of health safety?” The results reflect growing public concern. The poll closed that Sunday with 58 percent of the 25,000 respondents saying Tua should be forced to retire for his own safety. The question of whether Tua should continue playing football has sparked debate worldwide and crossed over the general news discussions. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have placed him on in- jured reserve (IR), which means he must sit out a minimum of four games; the earliest he could re- turn would be October 27, when the team faces the Arizona Cardinals at Hard Rock Stadium. His long-term health will remain a pressing concern, though, leading some to question whether the NFL should grant him his helmet back. Smerconish viewers said no. But could the league actually step in and force Tua to retire? The reality is far from simple. The NFL is not your average workplace, and the stakes go well beyond an employee’s fitness to perform. Tua is not just any player — he’s the face of the Dolphins’ franchise, a quarterback to whom they recently committed $200 million over the next four seasons. If the NFL were ever to take such an unprecedented step, it’s not absurd to think the Dolphins would require significant compensation in the form of draft picks or sal- ary-cap concessions. After all, how could any team be expected to recover from the league taking away its franchise quarterback? It’s not as though he has been ac- cused of a crime. His predicament is a direct con- sequence of playing the sport in the environment the NFL created. While this scenario remains hypothetical (and improbable), it raises important questions about player safety, the extent of the NFL’s responsibility — not to mention culpability — and the financial complexities involved. In a league where money drives nearly every decision, is it even possible to prioritize health over profit? The NFL would likely say yes. But in reality, it’s the 32 owners who will decide, not Roger Goodell. The Dolphins, of course, face a delicate situa- tion. They’ve stood by their quarterback through thick and thin, and Tua Tagovailoa has shown tre- mendous resilience, returning to play after each setback. But as the conversation about concus- sions grows louder, especially in such a high-pro- file instance, the pressure is mounting to ensure Tua the person is protected from Tua the athlete. His brain is literally at stake. But if Tua’s doc- tors say it’s OK for him to continue, and he says that’s what he wants to do, then who should be able to say he can’t? One thing is sure: The Miami Dolphins have once again found themselves at the center of a debate that’s as much about the future of foot- ball as it is about Tua Tagovailoa. And with Tua possibly set to return before November, the conversation is far from over. [email protected] THE MUNICIPALITY HAS “NO RECORD” OF REPOSSESSING COMBS’ KEY. Tua Tagovailoa at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo on October 31, 2021 Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images
