The Real Reason Diddy’s Sons Stayed Silent in 50 Cent’s Netflix Docuseries
50 Cent says he was in talks with one of Sean Combs’ sons about appearing in the Netflix docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning, and that the family was briefly interested in joining the project.
So, here is a twist: 50 Cent says Sean Combs' sons nearly sat down for Netflix's 'Sean Combs: The Reckoning' and then backed out. The doc still exploded, but their missing voices were almost in there. Here is how it went down and why it matters.
50 says the sons almost joined the doc
In an interview flagged by Billboard, 50 Cent — who produced the Netflix series — said he had talked with one of Combs' sons about appearing in the project. According to him, the kids were initially open to participating to offer their side, but got uneasy about how the whole thing might be framed for a massive audience. He was interested in including their perspective; they decided it was safer to sit this one out.
Why they passed
Short version: loyalty and liability. When your dad is at the center of a very public legal firestorm, appearing on camera is not a low-stakes decision. Family loyalty makes people think twice about saying anything that could be read the wrong way, and the legal landscape around Combs right now is the definition of messy. With ongoing lawsuits and entrenched public narratives swirling, a single line in a documentary can turn into a headline or a subpoena. Not worth it.
Where things stand
- In October 2025, Combs was sentenced to a little over four years in prison and fined $500,000 after being convicted on Mann Act charges, per the BBC.
- He was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking in that same case.
- The Netflix doc pulled major attention: 21.8 million views out of the gate, according to Deadline.
- 'Sean Combs: The Reckoning' is streaming now on Netflix in the US.
Joe Budden did not hold back
Joe Budden has been blunt about all of this. On 'The Joe Budden Podcast' (via Billboard), he said Combs did not get enough time given the severity of what the doc lays out. He also zeroed in on how the series frames the lead-up to Biggie traveling to Los Angeles, arguing the narrative makes that decision look even worse in hindsight.
'I was absolutely pissed [at Diddy] by episode two because the way the doc was framing it is B.I.G. didn't want to go to L.A. at all.'
Budden's larger point is not subtle: when the allegations are this serious and the spotlight is this bright, the punishment should meet the moment.
The bottom line
50 Cent wanted Combs' sons in the room to tell their side. They almost did, then pulled back — and given the legal stakes and the family dynamics, you can see why. The doc is already a hit, the debate over the sentence is not going anywhere, and the parts of this story still off-camera might be as telling as what made the cut.
Watched it? Think the sentence fits — and should the kids have spoken? Drop your take.