Netflix responds to accusations of stolen footage in Diddy documentary

Netflix has firmly rejected claims by Sean "Diddy" Combs suggesting that material used in a new docuseries was acquired unlawfully. The streaming platform, which premiered the Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson-produced series "Sean Combs: The Reckoning" on Tuesday, stated that all footage was obtained with proper legal authorization and that Combs was invited to participate in an interview, which he declined.

The four-part series explores Combs' rise in the music industry and his subsequent challenges, featuring a combination of interviews and previously unseen recordings from the days preceding his federal sex-trafficking indictment. Combs' representatives have criticized the series as a biased production that utilized unauthorized footage.

Director Alexandria Stapleton defended the project, emphasizing the legitimacy of the content. We secured all the necessary rights to the footage and protected the filmmakers identities, she said. Sean Combs has long recorded himself, and we reached out to his legal team multiple times for comments, but received no response.

A Netflix spokesperson reiterated this position, stating that the claims were unfounded. The series has no connection to prior discussions with Sean Combs. All footage leading up to his arrest was legally acquired. Curtis Jackson is an executive producer without creative control, and participants were not compensated.

The controversy arises amid concerns from Combs camp that 50 Cent's involvement might compromise the docuseries objectivity, given alleged past tensions between the rapper and Combs. Combs spokesperson described the project as a one-sided narrative and asserted that many accounts in the series were either legally disputed, false, or presented without context.

Sean Combs family has publicly supported him throughout his extensive legal battles, including his 2025 criminal trial. While he was acquitted on major charges, he was convicted on two counts of transportation for prostitution and is serving a federal sentence in New Jersey. Combs has seven children and maintains his innocence in ongoing civil lawsuits related to alleged past misconduct.

Author: Aiden Foster