Diddy Calls Netflix Series ‘Shameful Hit Piece’

Embattled music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has issued a blistering condemnation of the new Netflix docuseries, Sean Combs: The Reckoning. He branded the project a “shameful hit piece” and accused the streaming giant of utilizing stolen footage.

The four-part series premiered globally on Tuesday, December 2. It chronicles Combs’ rise to power, his musical legacy, and his dramatic fall from grace.

However, the mogul is currently facing a federal prison sentence. He contends that the production is built on unauthorized materials. Furthermore, he claims the project is driven by the personal animus of executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

Allegations of Stolen Footage

In a statement released on Monday, a spokesperson for Combs criticized Netflix. They argued that the platform relied on private archival material never authorized for public release.

The camp asserts that Combs had amassed this footage since he was 19 years old. His intention was to eventually tell his own story.

“It is fundamentally unfair, and illegal, for Netflix to misappropriate that work,” the spokesperson stated.

Combs accused the platform of desperation. He claims they want to sensationalize his life to capitalize on the ongoing media frenzy. The statement further claimed that Netflix ripped private moments out of context, including privileged conversations with his lawyers.

“No rights in that material were ever transferred to Netflix or any third party,” the statement added.

The “50 Cent” Factor

Combs reserved his harshest criticism for the involvement of rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

He described the decision to hand creative control to Jackson as a “personal breach of trust.” Combs characterized the rapper as a “longtime adversary with a personal vendetta.”

“For Netflix to give his life story to someone who has publicly attacked him for decades feels like an unnecessary and deeply personal affront,” Combs remarked.

Filmmakers Defend the Project

Despite these accusations, the production team maintains that they acquired the footage legitimately.

Director Alexandria Stapleton stated that they obtained the material legally. She also confirmed they possess all necessary rights. She noted that Combs has had a decades-long obsession with filming himself.

Additionally, the filmmakers clarified their efforts to communicate. They reportedly made multiple attempts to contact Combs’s legal team for an interview or comment but received no response.

Executive producer 50 Cent defended the project’s authenticity. He highlighted the unprecedented access the series provides. “I don’t think you can get closer. He was documenting himself on his way to jail,” Jackson noted.

Inside the Hotel Room

The documentary features intimate footage filmed just six days before Combs’s arrest. It follows the mogul in a New York City hotel room in September 2024. There, he navigates mounting legal pressures.

In one scene, Combs speaks to his attorney, Marc Agnifilo. He expresses fear about his future.

“I want to fight for my life. I want to fight for justice… I want to have a life, to be able to live,” he says. He admits, “I don’t think it’s working. We’re losing.”

Six days after that conversation was filmed, authorities indicted Combs in the Southern District of New York. He faces charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for purposes of prostitution.

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