Sean “Diddy” Combs has fired back at Netflix over its newly released docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning, condemning the four-part project as a “shameful hit piece” built on “stolen footage” and driven by a “personal vendetta” from executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
The documentary, which premiered worldwide on Tuesday, December 2, traces Combs’s meteoric rise, cultural influence, and dramatic fall as he now faces a looming federal prison sentence. But the music mogul insists the series is an unethical exploitation of his life.
In a statement shared with Variety on Monday, Combs’s spokesperson accused Netflix of knowingly misusing private, unauthorized material:
“Netflix’s so-called ‘documentary’ is a shameful hit piece. Today’s GMA teaser confirms that Netflix relied on stolen footage that was never authorised for release. Mr Combs has been amassing footage since he was 19 to tell his own story… It is fundamentally unfair, and illegal, for Netflix to misappropriate that work.”
Combs further claimed the streaming giant is “desperate to sensationalise every minute” of his life to cash in on a “never-ending media frenzy,” adding that the platform ripped confidential scenes out of context—including conversations with his attorneys.
However, Netflix has defended the documentary’s authenticity. The platform’s editorial site, Tudum, reported that the series features rare footage filmed by director Alexandria Stapleton just six days before Combs’s arrest in 2024. According to Netflix, Combs’s team did not respond to multiple requests for comment or participation.
Stapleton insisted the production followed proper procedures:
“It came to us, we obtained the footage legally and have the necessary rights. One thing about Sean Combs is that he’s always filming himself… We also reached out to Sean Combs’ legal team multiple times, but did not hear back.”
The music mogul also took aim at 50 Cent’s involvement, calling the rapper a “longtime adversary” whose role amounts to a “deeply personal affront.”
“For Netflix to give his life story to someone who has publicly attacked him for decades feels unnecessary and deeply personal,” Combs said, adding that he expected “fairness from people he respected.”
Jackson, meanwhile, embraced the documentary’s unprecedented access, telling Tudum:
“I don’t think you can get closer. He was documenting himself on his way to jail.”
The series tracks Combs during a tense period in September 2024, capturing intimate moments in a New York City hotel room as he grapples with mounting legal pressure. In one scene, he tells his lawyer:
“I want to fight for my life… I want to have a life, to be able to live. It’s really going to be hard for me to take more hits than I’ve taken.”
His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, attempts to reassure him: “You didn’t do anything wrong. You’ve handled this with complete honour.” Combs responds bleakly: “I don’t think it’s working. We’re losing.”
Just six days later, Combs was indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for purposes of prostitution.
Sean Combs: The Reckoning offers a sweeping, controversial look at the mogul’s career, influence, and legal battles—one Netflix says is grounded in verified material, and one Combs argues is built on betrayal and illegality.
The fallout, much like the documentary itself, shows no signs of slowing down.
