Pastor At Christian HBCU Preaches “No Diddy” While Encouraging Abstinence

A pastor speaking to college students at a Christian institution borrowed the phrase “No Diddy” while delivering a message to the co-eds. While preaching at an Oakwood Live service at Oakwood University, a private, historically Black (HBCU) Seventh-day Adventist university in Huntsville, Ala., Pastor Robert Edwards intended to encourage listeners to wait until marriage for physical contact with their romantic partners.

The clip, shared across social media by The Art Of Dialogue, comes from a longer service live-streamed by OU earlier this month. Pastor Edwards’ commentary comes toward the end of the over 90-minute broadcast.

His special message to the students begins near the end of service around the 1:22-minute mark of the video. Last month, Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested and faces charges of racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution with accusations of rape and violent behavior.

According to XXL, the phrase “No Diddy” has been used recently in replace of dated terminology such as “No Homo” or “Pause.” The outlet also reported in March that several people rushed to trademark the quote.

“Speaking to the OU Live students now, I know you’re trying to make a decision. Even while you are here, you may have to say ‘No Diddy’ to an Oakwood student,” relayed Pastor Edwards from the pulpit. According to the Oakwood website, he works for the university as the Vice President for Enrollment Services and Retention.

“I’m just being real. You’ll have to make an individual decision about your life and what you are going to do. At age 19, I said to the Lord… that I would never have sex with a woman until I am married. Now when you utter those words, the Lord is not the only one that hears it. So the test came,” he reflected.

“Joined this church [and] girls who were running out of time, because they got this clock, ‘I gotta be married by a certain time,’ and I had to say ‘No Diddy.’ The first time I had sex was the night I got married.”

He continued to describe a time when he almost lost his girlfriend to another person on campus. However, he held steadfast to his ideology and didn’t use “my lips nor my hips” to be a satisfactory partner.

“When I met my wife, I vowed, and did not kiss her one time. I didn’t even kiss my wife until I made it to the alter, and without pre-kissing, I been married 40 years,” he exclaimed before repeating “I say no diddy, no Diddy,” as the organ played. His message was met with excited applause from the congregation.

Oakwood University was founded by the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) in 1896 to educate the recently freed African Americans of the South. According to the official website, in 2023, Oakwood Live attracted 950 registrants, which included 700 high school students, setting an all-time record attendance.

OU has a strong musical legacy that includes music legend Little Richard, 10-time Grammy award winner Take 6, and the world-renowned Aeolians. Additional notable attendees and alumni include Davido, Mick Jenkins, Brian McKnight, and Clifton Davis.