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Justin Dior Combs

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The son of rap impresario Sean "Diddy" Combs is embroiled in a firestorm for accepting a football scholarship from UCLA that critics say should go to a more needy student, but the 18-year-old cornerback says he earned the award.

Justin Dior Combs, whose father topped a Forbes list of hip hop's wealthiest this year with a net worth estimated at $550 million, comes to the California school from the private, Catholic Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, New York.

The younger Combs' scholarship to attend the University of California, Los Angeles, and play on the football team will provide $54,000 a year toward his education, with that money coming from what the athletic program generates, not from taxpayers, the school said.

That has not stopped some critics from questioning whether the money might not be better spent.

The younger Combs, in response to a CNN story about his scholarship, took to Twitter to say that he earned the scholarship.

"Regardless what the circumstances are, I put that work in!!!! PERIOD," he wrote.

"Regardless of what you do in life every1 is gonna have their own opinion," Combs, who played in nationwide high school all-star game in Arizona in January, said in a follow-up post.

UCLA said in a statement that unlike need-based scholarships for academics, the school's sports scholarships are awarded strictly on the basis of athletic ability.

"Athletic scholarships, such as those awarded to football or basketball players, do not rely on state funds," UCLA said. "Instead, these scholarships are entirely funded through UCLA Athletics ticket sales, corporate partnerships, media contracts and private donations from supporters."

UCLA hands out about 285 full athletic scholarships each year.

At the NBC News opinion website TheGrio.com, blogger Jay Anderson asked whether paying for his son's education should be the obligation of the elder Combs.

"By taking a scholarship that he earned, but could likely afford on his own, (Justin) Combs is taking a spot away from a player who might elect to go elsewhere ... which in theory would hurt the team as a whole," Anderson wrote.

In 2010, Combs gave Justin a Maybach car worth about $360,000, according to media reports. The rap star defended the purchase in an interview on ABC program "Nightline" saying, "I think it's appropriate to give my kids whatever I want to give my kids".

Sean Combs' business ventures include high returns from his investment in Ciroc vodka as well as clothing lines Sean John and Enyce, his record label Bad Boy, the marketing company Blue Flame and numerous tech start-ups. As a rapper, his top recordings include "I'll Be Missing You" and "Coming Home".

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Wed May 22 06:40:13 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 1, 2012

SKIZOBANTWANA

His Dad is filthy rich, that scholarship should go to someone else..
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Jun 1, 2012

Curry

I support you boy go kick some butt!!!!! There are alot of rich kids out there that sit on their behinds and hide behind their daddy's money and you are only trying to make a name for yourself...All distractors can go s.u.c.k on a door knob
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Jun 1, 2012

Tabza325is

That's just plain mad and pityness, this boy earned this scholar ship with or without his rich father he worked hard to archive this, it's not easy making it into UCLA and out of all 285 he made it that's success right there, why should he decline what he worked hard for, does this mean just because his father is rich he has no right to archive anything in life on his own, people cry faul saing sich kids have it easy and thier daddy will get them anything they want, but when rich kids work hard and earn thier place in this world people still cry faul saying they don't deserve any success they worked hard for, people are just plain petifull and mad.
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Jun 1, 2012

SKIZOBANTWANA

@Curry
Don't act too kinky on me you b loody hypocr!t !!!
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Jun 1, 2012

RVP

He worked hard for the scholarship and deserves it...Rich dad or no rich dad !!!!
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Jun 1, 2012

Tasto

Selfishness !!
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Jun 1, 2012

1moment

the kid worked hard for it and this is his reward he should be given the chanse to enjoy it with out him having to depend on his fathers name
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Jun 1, 2012

Publc2

I don't know what the fuss is here.Was this a charity or what?If it was charity then the boy is greedy.But if it is a scholarship,that of course is credited to someone who worked very hard for it,then I don't see a problem.

The should be a difference between:
Charity - (relates to someone with a poor background)
Scholarship - (someone gets this one on merit,hardwork etc)
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Jun 1, 2012

Tasto

His academic achievement qualifies him to enter UCLA its no problem fine but financial assistance that is an insult, its like expecting Patrice Motsepe or Irvin Khoza's or Bill Gates children to quee at busary office with less fortunate children from poor background.
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Jun 1, 2012

mthosam

do not take the pride of the boy away he has eraned that regardless of the dam rich father. thus a good example, father rich but I curve my future attittude. this is what is happening in Mzanzi, you give good support to wrong people, rich man's son lazy and wait for father' favour on political lines.
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