Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Team Hates That Netflix Gave 50 Cent Control Over New Documentary
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is the executive producer of a new Netflix docuseries about Sean “Diddy” Combs. The series shows exclusive footage of Combs in the period leading up to his arrest. Combs’ team is not happy about this. They’ve claimed that the project illegally obtained the footage and also criticized Jackson’s involvement. The two men have long been rivals, and Combs’ team believes this is unfair to their client.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ team resents 50 Cent’s involvement in a Netflix documentary
The new Netflix docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning features footage of Combs from just days before his 2024 arrest. Combs’ team has slammed the series for using the footage, which they claim was obtained illegally.
“Netflix’s so-called ‘documentary’ is a shameful hit piece,” Combs’ PR Rep Juda Engelmayer told The Hollywood Reporter. “Today’s GMA teaser confirms that Netflix relied on stolen footage that was never authorized for release.”
His team has also criticized the new series for Jackson’s involvement. They believe the longtime rivalry between Jackson and Combs means that the project won’t be fair to their client.
“It is equally staggering that Netflix handed creative control to Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson — a longtime adversary with a personal vendetta who has spent too much time slandering Mr. Combs,” Engelmayer continued. “Beyond the legal issues, this is a personal breach of trust.”
Engelmayer said Combs feels personally betrayed by Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos.
“Mr. Combs has long respected Ted Sarandos and admired the legacy of [Sarandos’ late father-in-law] Clarence Avant,” Engelmayer said. “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.”
Both Jackson and director Alex Stapleton maintain that they legally obtained the footage.
50 Cent shared why he wanted to create the docuseries
While Jackson does not deny his dislike of Combs, he said this is not the reason he wanted to create the docuseries. He wanted to show that the hip-hop genre does not support Combs.
“If I didn’t say anything, you would interpret it as hip-hop is fine with his behaviors,” Jackson said on Good Morning America (per ABC). “There’s no one else being vocal. So, you would look at it and just say … ‘mind your business,’ or ‘lemme not say nothin’ about nothin’,’ or those things that would allow an entire culture to register as if they’re for that behavior.”
Jackson has long spoken out about Combs, saying that his behavior always made him uncomfortable.
What does Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs say in the Netflix documentary footage?
In some of the contested footage, Combs appears to be making a phone call to lawyers just ahead of his arrest.
“Listen to me,” he says. “I am going to let you professionals look at the situation and come back to me with a solution. … Y’all are not working together the right way. We’re losing.”
In another scene, Combs interacts with a fan. Later, he says he needs hand sanitizer and a bath after being “in the streets amongst the people.”
“Got in the car and said, ‘Ugh, I feel like I need to wash, like, I’m [dirty],’ … it shows you his character,” Jackson said. “What’s the odds that you would do that in front of a camera? Like, that’s one of the moments where he forgot he was on tape.”
The documentary airs on Netflix on Dec. 2.
