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Sean “Diddy” Combs has strongly criticised Netflix’s new four-part docuseries, Sean Combs: The Reckoning, labelling it a “shameful hit piece” and accusing the streaming platform of using “stolen footage that was never authorised for release.” He also targeted executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, claiming the rapper has a personal vendetta against him.
The series, which premiered globally on Tuesday, December 2, explores Combs’s rise to fame, his influence on the music industry, and his current legal challenges, including his pending federal prison sentence.
In a statement shared with Variety, Combs’s spokesperson said: “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. As Netflix and CEO Ted Sarandos know, Mr Combs has been amassing footage since he was 19 to tell his own story, in his own way. It is fundamentally unfair, and illegal, for Netflix to misappropriate that work.”
Combs further accused Netflix of sensationalising his life for profit: “Netflix is plainly desperate to sensationalise every minute of Mr Combs’s life, without regard for truth, to capitalise on a never-ending media frenzy. If Netflix cared about truth or about Mr Combs’s legal rights, it would not be ripping private footage out of context – including conversations with his lawyers that were never intended for public viewing. No rights in that material were ever transferred to Netflix or any third party.”
Despite these claims, Netflix’s Tudum reported that the series features rare and intimate footage filmed by director Alexandria Stapleton just six days before Combs’s arrest. Stapleton emphasised that the footage was obtained legally: “It came to us, we obtained the footage legally and have the necessary rights. We moved heaven and earth to keep the filmmaker’s identity confidential. One thing about Sean Combs is that he’s always filming himself—it’s been an obsession for decades. We also reached out to Sean Combs’ legal team for an interview and comment multiple times, but did not hear back.”
Combs also criticised the decision to entrust creative control to 50 Cent, calling it “a personal breach of trust” and describing Jackson as “a longtime adversary with a personal vendetta who has spent too much time slandering Mr Combs.” He added, “For Netflix to give his life story to someone who has publicly attacked him for decades feels like an unnecessary and deeply personal affront. At minimum, he expected fairness from people he respected.”
In response, 50 Cent highlighted the series’ unprecedented access: “I don’t think you can get closer. He was documenting himself on his way to jail,” pointing to the intimate insight the documentary provides into Combs’s personal and professional life.
The docuseries follows Combs in September 2024 in a New York City hotel room as he navigates intense legal pressures. In one scene, he speaks on the phone with his attorney: “Things are happening, and it’s like — I want to fight for my life. I want to fight for justice… 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, and — god forbid — get in front of a jury and have a chance.” His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, reassures him: “You didn’t do anything wrong. You’ve handled this with complete honour.” Combs replies, “I don’t think it’s working. We’re losing.”
Six days later, Combs was indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for purposes of prostitution.
Sean Combs: The Reckoning presents a detailed examination of Combs’s career, his impact on the music industry, and the intense scrutiny he has faced in both public and legal arenas.
#Diddy
#Netflix
#50Cent
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