Sean Combs Takes Aim at Netflix and 50 Cent, Calling Their Docuseries Unfair and Illegal

Netflix dropped a docuseries about Sean 'Diddy' Combs, and his camp is not just unhappy — they are furious. They are calling it unfair, illegal, and powered by the kind of footage fight that almost always turns messier than it sounds.

What the show is

'Sean Combs: The Reckoning' is a Netflix docuseries digging into the legal troubles surrounding the music mogul. It is out now and streaming.

What Combs is accusing Netflix of

In a statement sent to outlets including Variety, a representative for Combs blasted the series as a 'shameful hit piece' that 'sensationalize[s] every minute' of his life. The big swing: they claim Netflix used 'stolen footage' that was never cleared for release — specifically referencing a 'Good Morning America' teaser that they say proves it.

The rep says Combs has been filming his own life since he was 19 with the intention of telling his story on his own terms, and calls Netflix's alleged use of that material 'fundamentally unfair, and illegal.' They also accuse the series of ripping clips out of context, and say Combs expected better from Netflix and CEO Ted Sarandos — framing the whole thing as a personal breach of trust.

The 50 Cent factor

Combs's rep also singles out the show's producer, Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson, labeling him a longtime adversary with a personal vendetta. Not subtle.

How Netflix responded (sort of)

Netflix did not issue a traditional statement when asked. Instead, a spokesperson pointed to comments from the series director, Alexandria Stapleton, who says they did everything by the book.

'It came to us, we obtained the footage legally and have the necessary rights. We moved heaven and earth to keep the filmmaker's identity confidential. One thing about Sean Combs is that he's always filming himself, and it's been an obsession throughout the decades. We also reached out to Sean Combs' legal team for an interview and comment multiple times, but did not hear back.'

The complicated part, simplified

• Combs's team says Netflix raided his personal archive — footage he has collected since age 19 — and used it without authorization, calling that illegal and out of context.
• They also take aim at 50 Cent's involvement, framing it as personal.
• Netflix deferred to the director, who insists the production acquired the material legally, has the rights, and attempted multiple times to get Combs on the record.
• The flashpoint seems to be who controls the decades of material Combs has shot of himself, and whether what appears in the series came from that stash or someplace else.

Where this leaves things

The show is live on Netflix. Combs's side is calling the use of certain footage illegal; the filmmakers say they have the paperwork. That gap tends to lead to more fireworks. For now, the accusations and denials are the story — and the docuseries isn't going anywhere.