The rap mogul, best known for his lavish lifestyle and string of girlfriends, told the crowd at the BET Honor Awards that he admired garbage disposal men as a child.
He claimed to like watching their “synchronized art and work ethic”.
The BET Honor Awards honours five black Americans for achievement in areas ranging from entrepreneurship to public service and education.
P. Diddy – real name Sean Combs – picked up the award for entrepreneurship while singer-and-actress Queen Latifah won the prize for media.
Also at the ceremony – which will be broadcast in the US on February 1 – Jennifer Hudson was given a standing ovation by Whitney Houston after performing one of the diva’s best known hits ‘I Will Always Love You’.
Whitney was then given the BET Honour for Entertainment by ‘So Sick’ hitmaker Ne-Yo.
Debra L Lee, BET Networks chairman, highlighted the plight of earthquake-struck Haiti during the event.
She said: “Before this disaster, BET Networks, in celebration of its 30th anniversary, was set to donate thirty thousand dollars every month for a year to an organization that has dedicated itself to working towards a brighter future for the African American community.
“In light of the devastation in Haiti, BET plans to donate the first grant to immediate emergency relief in Haiti."
Accomplished educator Dr. Ruth Simmons and neurosurgeon Dr. Keith Black were also honoured - for education and public service respectively - at the ceremony, which took place at the Warner Theater in Washington.
