Diddy Alleges Netflix Series Based on Illegally obtained Footage
NEWARK, NJ – Disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has condemned an upcoming Netflix documentary series produced by 50 Cent as a “shameful hit piece,” claiming it relies on footage obtained unlawfully. A spokesperson for Combs released a statement asserting the series utilizes ”private moments, pre-indictment material from an unfinished project and conversations involving legal strategy” that were never authorized for release.
“Today’s GMA teaser confirms that Netflix relied on stolen footage that was never authorized for release,” the statement read. “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 indeed fundamentally unfair, and illegal, for Netflix to misappropriate that work.”
The statement further emphasized that the footage was not provided by Combs or his team, raising “very serious questions about how this material was accessed and why Netflix chose to use it.” Combs’s legal team has reportedly contacted Netflix regarding the matter.
The controversy erupted following a teaser released on Good Morning America featuring 50 Cent and the documentary’s director, Alexandria Stapleton. While neither addressed how the footage was obtained, Stapleton told The Hollywood Reporter that it was “obtained entirely legally.”
50 Cent downplayed any personal animosity driving his involvement, despite releasing a diss track targeting Combs in 2006. “It’s not personal,” he stated, adding, “If I didn’t say anything, the world might have thought hip-hop is fine with his behaviors. Ther’s no one else being vocal.”
Stapleton previously described the documentary as a reflection of public idolization of celebrities, stating it aims to be “a wake up call for how we idolize people, and to understand that everybody is a human being.”
The series comes after a federal trial this summer where combs faced accusations of abuse from his ex-partner, Cassie. He was convicted on two charges of transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution,related to flying individuals across state lines for drug-fueled sexual encounters. He was acquitted of more serious charges including sex trafficking and racketeering.
Combs is currently serving a four-year and two-month sentence in New Jersey, with a potential release date in May 2028, contingent on participation in rehabilitation programs. His legal challenges continue, as the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Department announced in November 2025 that it is indeed investigating a new sexual battery allegation against him dating back to 2020.
