Netflix hits back at Diddy's criticism of 'shameful' documentary

Reuters

Netflix has insisted its new documentary about Sean "Diddy" Combs, produced by rapper 50 Cent, is "not a hit piece or an act of retribution", following criticism from the jailed former hip-hop mogul.

A spokesman for Combs called the four-part documentary, titled Sean Combs: The Reckoning, "a shameful hit piece" that "relied on stolen footage".

It includes what Netflix described as "explosive" footage filmed in the days before his arrest, including a phone conversation with his lawyer. Combs was convicted of prostitution-related charges in July.

His spokesman said it was "fundamentally unfair, and illegal" to use his private recordings, but Netflix said the material was obtained legally.

Combs' spokesman also said it was "staggering" that Netflix had given creative control to Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, who he described as "a longtime adversary with a personal vendetta".

"Netflix is plainly desperate to sensationalise every minute of Mr Combs's life, without regard for truth, in order to capitalise on a never-ending media frenzy," the statement said.

"If Netflix cared about truth or about Mr Combs's legal rights, it would not 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."

The statement added: "For Netflix to give his life story to someone who has publicly attacked him for decades feels like an unnecessary and deeply personal affront. At minimum, he expected fairness from people he respected."

The documentary opens with footage of Combs in a hotel room six days before arrest in September 2024, talking on the phone to attorney Marc Agnifilo and telling him he wants to "fight for my life".

Pushing Agnifilo to have a more upfront media strategy to protest his innocence, Combs told him: "We have to find somebody that'll work with us. It has to be somebody that has dealt in the dirtiest of dirtiest of dirty business of [the] media and propaganda."

At another point, viewers see Combs talking to his son Justin on the phone five days before his arrest. "God told me to do nothing... [but] other people need to do something 'cause this is ridiculous," he said in the clip.

Combs' spokesman said the documentary contained footage that was "never authorised for release".

"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."

In response, Netflix said: "The claims being made about Sean Combs: The Reckoning are false.

"The project has no ties to any past conversations between Sean Combs and Netflix. The footage of Combs leading up to his indictment and arrest were legally obtained. This is not a hit piece or an act of retribution.

"Curtis Jackson is an executive producer but does not have creative control. No one was paid to participate."

The long-running feud between Jackson and Combs stretches back two decades.

Jackson told ABC News' Good Morning America on Monday: "If I didn't say anything, you would interpret it as that hip-hop is fine with his behaviours. There's no-one else being vocal."

Speaking about the new footage, the documentary's director Alexandria Stapleton has said: "It came to us, we obtained the footage legally and have the necessary rights. We moved heaven and earth to keep the film-maker's identity confidential."

The documentary was released on Tuesday and is billed as a "staggering examination" of Combs' career as one of the most powerful men in hip-hop.

It includes allegations that he was involved in the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in 1996, and includes tapes of a police interview in which former gang member Duane "Keffe D" Davis claims that Combs offered him $1m (£769,000) for a hit on Shakur.

Mr Davis is set to stand trial for Shakur's murder in 2026. He now says his proffer agreement with police, under which he agreed to tell them what he knew but it couldn't be used against him in court, was given under duress, according to Netflix.

The programme also includes Kirk Burrowes, who co-founded Bad Boy Entertainment with Combs, claiming that he believes Combs "had a lot to do with the death of Tupac".

Combs has always denied any involvement in Shakur's death.

The documentary also features further claims of violence and threats, many of which have previously been made public in dozens of lawsuits, including alleged abuse against former girlfriend Cassie, which ended in a settlement.

Combs has previously denied the complaints, calling them "sickening" and "full of lies".

In a media statement earlier this year, his lawyers said "anyone can file a lawsuit", adding: "No matter how many lawsuits are filed it won't change the fact that Mr Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone – man or woman, adult or minor."

The documentary also includes interviews with two jurors from Combs' trial.

In July, he was convicted on two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution but found not guilty of the most serious charges - racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking of two ex-girlfriends.

He is now serving a 50-month prison sentence and has said he will appeal.