Sean “Diddy” Combs has blasted the Netflix docuseries Sean Combs, The Reckoning, calling it a “shameful hit piece.”

The music mogul accused the streaming giant of using “stolen footage” that was never authorized for release and alleged that executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson had a personal vendetta against him.

 

The four-episode series, which premiered globally on December 2, delves into Combs’s rise to fame, his influential musical legacy, and his recent legal troubles. Despite the documentary’s critical look at Combs’s career and life, it has sparked controversy, with Combs claiming the project misrepresents him for sensationalist purposes.

 

In a statement to Variety on Monday, Combs’s spokesperson said, “Netflix’s so-called ‘documentary’ is a shameful hit piece. The teaser released today confirms that Netflix relied on stolen footage never authorized for release. As both Netflix and CEO Ted Sarandos know, Mr. Combs has been collecting footage since he was 19 to tell his own story, in his own way. It’s unfair and illegal for Netflix to misappropriate that work.”

 

Combs further accused Netflix of exploiting his life for profit, stating, “Netflix is desperate to sensationalize every minute of Mr. Combs’s life, without regard for truth, to capitalize on a never-ending media frenzy. If Netflix cared about truth or Mr. Combs’s legal rights, they wouldn’t 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.”

 

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However, Tudum by Netflix reported on Tuesday that the footage used in the docuseries was legally obtained. Director Alexandria Stapleton, who shot the footage just six days before Combs’s arrest, defended the project, stating, “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.”

 

Stapleton added that Netflix reached out multiple times to Combs’s legal team for an interview or comment but received no response. “We obtained the footage legally and have the necessary rights to use it,” she said.

A major point of contention in the documentary is the involvement of Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, who served as executive producer. Combs described Jackson’s participation as a “personal breach of trust” and accused the rapper of holding a long-standing grudge against him. “For Netflix to hand my life story to someone who has publicly attacked me for decades feels like a deeply personal affront,” Combs added, noting that he expected fairness from those he respected.

 

In contrast, 50 Cent defended his role in the project, emphasizing the intimate access the series provides into Combs’s life. “I don’t think you can get closer. He was documenting himself on his way to jail,” Jackson said, highlighting the unprecedented look into Combs’s personal and professional challenges.

 

The documentary follows Combs during a tense period in 2024, as he faces legal pressures ahead of his trial. One scene captures a conversation between Combs and his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, as they discuss the mounting legal challenges. “I want to fight for my life,” Combs says in the footage. “I want to fight for justice… but I don’t think it’s working. We’re losing.”

 

Just days later, Combs was indicted on charges including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for purposes of prostitution in the Southern District of New York.

Despite the controversies, Sean Combs: The Reckoning offers a deep dive into Combs’s career, exploring his impact on the music industry and his ongoing legal struggles under public scrutiny.

 

SOURCE: PUNCH