Controversy Erupts as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Criticizes New Netflix Doc

By Zoe Papadakis, Newsmax.com – Wednesday, 03 December 2025 12:12 PM EST

Sean “Diddy” Combs has launched a sharp critique against Netflix’s new documentary series following its recent premiere. The four-part series, titled “Sean Combs: The Reckoning,” directed by Alexandria Stapleton and executive-produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, began airing Tuesday.

Combs is currently serving a four-year federal sentence related to prostitution charges. His legal team asserts that Netflix obtained unauthorized footage for the project and claims it was created as retaliation against him. They believe Combs’ involvement in the series occurred only after Netflix failed to secure his participation properly.

In response, Netflix rejected these accusations through an official statement released Tuesday evening via Deadline news service. The company insisted: “The claims being made about ‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning’ are false.” Furthermore, they stated, “the project has no ties to any past conversations between Sean Combs and Netflix.”

“We did reach out to Sean Combs’ legal team for an interview and comment multiple times,” Stapleton noted in a statement on Netflix’s Tudum website. While not explicitly confirming prior contact, she reiterated the series was independent of their work with Combs.

“We also reached out to Sean Combs himself… but did not hear back.” This suggests Combs may have been unaware or unwilling to participate before the documentary production allegedly continued without his consent.

Adding fuel to the fire, Netflix representatives clarified that: “No one paid to participate” in creating the series. They emphasized the legality of obtaining footage showing Combs leading up to his indictment and arrest, which occurred prior to the series release despite ongoing legal proceedings involving him.

The timing is particularly sensitive given a cease-and-desist letter was sent by Combs’ attorneys hours before the scheduled debut demanding the documentary be halted. Yet, Netflix proceeded with its planned premiere on Tuesday evening anyway.

Stapleton defended her team’s methods for gathering material, including efforts to keep “the filmmaker’s identity confidential” during filming of the disputed September 2024 footage. This approach reportedly aimed to avoid exposing those individuals involved in obtaining information about Combs before his arrest.

Combs’ own representative confirmed the segment used by Netflix was indeed filmed six days before Combs’ arrest, further fueling concerns about consent and timing regarding the series’ content and release.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.