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With graduation season in full swing, there has been an increase celebrities being asked to give commencement speeches. Many of them inspire us not only with their star power but also with lives that have been an example to dream big and work hard to reach those goals.
But does that mean they are entitled to a PhD?
Here’s a look at 12 celebrities who received honorary doctorates. You might be surprised by some on the list and not so much for others. Are you a part of the group who believe it’s OK to honor them? Or do you think it’s unfair that they’re rewarded without cracking the books?
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Sean “Diddy” Combs
Just call him Dr. Diddy. Or is it Dr. Puff Daddy? Dr. Combs?
He might be a questionable rapper but Sean Combs has proven to be an entrepreneur that remains relevant. Giving the commencement speech at his alma mater Howard University, the hip hop mogul also received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities. Some are not too happy about the university’s decision given Combs dropped out of college to pursue his endeavors. Like him or not, he has made some serious moves over the years landing the number one position on FORBES Future Billionaires list for hip-hop artists. He is a producer, Grammy award winner, TV network owner and runs a fashion label among other ventures.
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Oprah Winfrey
As one of the only black billionaires in the United States, Oprah Winfrey has set the stage for greatness, inspiring the masses to be led by their vision. She currently holds two honorary doctorates, one from Harvard and the other from Duke University. There’s simply no denying her influence. Not bad for a Mississippi gal from very humble beginnings.
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Kermit the Frog
You don’t have to be human to get a degree! Muppet Kermit the Frog earned himself an honorary degree from New York’s Southampton College. Awarded back in 1996 he was given a Doctorate of Amphibious Letters along with the honor of addressing graduates with a commencement speech.
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Aretha Franklin
She told y’all it was abouf R-E-S-P-E-C-T! The Queen of Soul is the recipient of not one but four honorary doctorate degrees. The University of Pennsylvania, Berklee College, Case Western Reserve University and, oh yeah, Yale all bestowed Franklin with the highest educational honor.
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Kerry Washington
Olivia Pope is a doctor!
Scandal actress Kerry Washington received an honorary doctorate of fine arts last year from her alma mater, George Washington University. She graduated back in 1998 with a double major in sociology and anthropology.
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Alexander Skarsgård
All of you True Blood fans out there best recognize that hottie vamp Alexander Skarsgård is a doctor. Well, he did attend Leeds Metropolitan University but never graduated. It would seem efforts were not lost as the actor took home an honorary degree back in 2011.
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President Obama
This just goes to show you can graduate from top institutions, become President of the United States and still earn honorary degrees on top of that. President Obama received an honorary Doctors of Laws degree from the University of Michigan and Notre Dame, Howard University, and Morehouse College to name a few. One college that refused to give Obama an honorary degree was Arizona State University claiming he was “inexperienced.”
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Maya Angelou
You know you are pretty awesome when you have over 30 honorary degrees. As one of the most influential authors and poets of our time, Dr. Angelou’s work continues to inspire so many people not only feeding our intellect but also our souls.
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Alec Baldwin
He might be a hot-head and supposedly quit acting, but at least Alec can say he has a PhD. Kinda. Back in 2010 the former 30 Rock star earned an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from New York University.
Michelle Obama
Not to be outdone by her husband, FLOTUS Michelle Obama is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law and has also received honorary doctorates from Bowie State University, Oregon State University, North Carolina A&T and other institutions.
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J.K. Rowling
I guess you can say that writing the Harry Potter series will earn you a ton of honorary degrees. Author J.K. Rowling has enough doctorates to give to each child from the Brady bunch. Her latest came back in 2008 from Harvard with others from the University of Edinburgh, Napier University, University of Aberdeen and St. Andrews University.
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Mike Tyson
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is an honorary doctor. Central State University in Ohio celebrated the Broadway star and New York Times bestselling author with a Doctorate in Humane Letters.
