Netflix is standing by its new documentary on Sean “Diddy” Combs, insisting it is not a “hit piece” despite sharp criticism from the hip-hop mogul and his team.
The four-part series, Sean Combs: The Reckoning, produced by rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, has drawn fire from Combs’ representatives, who called it a “shameful hit piece” relying on “stolen footage.”
Netflix says the material was obtained legally and that Jackson, while an executive producer, does not have creative control over the project. A company spokesperson added: “The project has no ties to any past conversations between Sean Combs and Netflix. This is not a hit piece or an act of retribution.”
Combs’ spokesman criticised the decision to involve Jackson, describing him as “a longtime adversary with a personal vendetta.” The statement said Netflix sought to “sensationalise every minute of Mr Combs’s life” for profit, ignoring fairness and the context of private recordings.
The documentary includes footage filmed days before Combs’ arrest in September 2024, showing him speaking to his lawyer Marc Agnifilo. In one clip, Combs urges a more aggressive media approach to assert his innocence. In another, he is seen speaking to his son Justin, expressing frustration at the unfolding legal drama.
“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,” his spokesman said.
The series also revisits long-standing controversies. It features allegations linking Combs to the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a former gang member, claims Combs offered him $1 million in connection with Shakur’s death. Davis is scheduled for trial in 2026. Kirk Burrowes, co-founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, is also shown suggesting Combs had involvement in Shakur’s death, which Combs has always denied.
Beyond these historical claims, the documentary revisits allegations of violence and threats, some dating back to legal disputes with former partners. Combs has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In July, he was convicted on two charges of transporting someone for prostitution but acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking. He is currently serving a 50-month prison sentence and has indicated he will appeal.
Netflix director Alexandria Stapleton defended the project, saying the footage was legally obtained and emphasised efforts to protect contributors’ identities. Jackson, speaking to ABC’s Good Morning America, noted that the documentary aims to hold figures in hip-hop accountable.
The series, which premiered on Tuesday, presents itself as a comprehensive look at Combs’ rise and influence in the music industry, while leaving viewers to judge the disputes, both personal and legal, that continue to surround him.
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