Should Diddy’s son accept a scholarship to play football at UCLA?

Opinion

by Jay Anderson |

A few years back when Master P’s son Romeo Miller was awarded a basketball scholarship to the University of Southern California, critics blasted the family for taking a scholarship from a more needy student athlete. Now, another rapper’s child is headed to play college ball in the City of Angels, triggering a similar debate. Should Sean “Diddy” Combs’ son Justin accept a scholarship to play football at UCLA, or should a man who has made a living dousing women in Ciroc foot the bill for his own child’s education?

Initially, I thought Justin Combs’ scholarship was hard earned, and something he should both accept and take pride in. While his dad could pay for it, there’s something to be said for being rewarded for your own accomplishments.

Combs is, after all, a child who grew up in the lap of luxury and has probably been given everything he’s asked for to date. So taking this away from him just because his dad can afford college sends an already likely entitled child into adulthood with a very conflicted message. This isn’t like Romeo Miller being rewarded a full ride to USC because the school wanted to land his buddy, McDonald’s All American Demar DeRozan. Combs worked hard, and was rewarded accordingly.

That said, come the freak on, this is Diddy’s kid we’re talkin’ about! Justin had an internationally televised sweet sixteen party that allegedly cost seven figures. He has restaurants named after him. He has been getting free lapdances since he reached puberty. And oh yeah, his dad is indeed loaded. Diddy probably drops that $54,000 annual tuition on a typical party weekend. Or, heck, maybe a party night.

Is there a strange double standard here? Yes, rich kids receive academic scholarships all the time, but bigtime college athletics is a bit different. By taking a scholarship that he earned, but could likely afford on his own, Combs is taking a spot away from a player who might elect to go elsewhere, rather than foot his own bill as a walk-on, which in theory would hurt the team as a whole. There’s an “i” in “Justin”, but there’s no “i” in team.

Just cut the check already, Diddy.

We want your take on the burning issue of celebrity entitlement. Do you agree or disagree?

Follow Jay Anderson on Twitter at @AverageBro.