An upcoming docuseries about Sean “Diddy” Combs, produced by his longtime rival Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, features previously unseen footage of Combs in the days before his arrest — filmed by the imprisoned music mogul’s own team — although Combs’ team questioned how the documentary obtained it.
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Jackson, in an appearance on “Good Morning America” on Monday, revealed that his upcoming Netflix docuseries about Combs includes new footage that Combs commissioned in 2024 before his arrest in September on sex trafficking, prostitution and racketeering charges.
In a brief trailer released Monday, footage shows Combs speaking to his lawyers in September 2024, lamenting that “we’re losing,” while another clip from “Good Morning America” shows Combs saying he needs “hand sanitizer” and a “bath” after being “on the street, among people.”
Combs spokesperson Juda Engelmayer told the New York Times that neither Combs nor his team gave permission to use the footage in the Jackson documentary, adding that he is “deeply concerned” about “how this material was accessed and why Netflix chose to use it.”
Jackson and director Alexandria Stapleton did not explain how they obtained the footage on “Good Morning America,” but Jackson said he felt the footage shed light on Combs’ personality and added that he was surprised his legal troubles were filmed.
Engelmayer told the Times that Combs was working on his own documentary before his arrest and was in talks with Netflix, but that he faced a “problem” over how much creative control he would have.
Jackson and Stapleton also revealed that the docuseries includes interviews with two jurors from Combs’ trial, who will discuss how the jury reached its mixed verdict, which included convictions on two counts of prostitution and acquittals on more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.
Read more: ’50 Cent’ Miniseries About ‘Diddy’ Premieres December 2
When and where will 50 Cent’s documentary about Diddy air?
“Sean Combs: The Reckoning,” a four-part series, will premiere on Netflix on December 2. Netflix announced in a statement last week that the series will cover Combs’ rise to music stardom and the dozens of sexual assault lawsuits and criminal trial that derailed his career.
Netflix indicated that the series will include “explosive and previously unreleased material, including exclusive interviews with those who were in Combs’ orbit.”
Stapleton stated last week that the documentary is not just about Combs’ allegations, but is a “reflection as an audience, and what we say when we put our celebrities on such a high pedestal.”
Key context
Jackson announced his intention to make a documentary about Combs in December 2023, and Netflix signed on to produce it the following year. Jackson and Combs were rivals for decades, and Jackson escalated his attacks on the music mogul during his arrest and criminal trial.
After federal agents raided Combs’ homes in March 2024, Jackson tweeted: “Now it’s not Diddy did it, it’s Diddy did it 🤷🏽♂️ they don’t come like this unless they have a case.”
Their extensive feud dates back to at least 2006, when Jackson accused Combs in a smear song of knowing who shot and killed Notorious BIG Jackson also accused Combs of profiting from the late rapper’s name and image, as well as being involved in the murder of Tupac Shakur.
Jackson also criticized Combs for his brand of vodka and speculated about his sexuality, although Combs stated in a 2018 interview that he has no problem with Jackson.
What was Combs convicted of?
In July, a jury found Combs guilty of two counts of transportation for prostitution. The charges related to prosecutors’ accusations that Combs had transported his ex-girlfriends across state lines for “freak offs,” as sexual acts with male escorts were called.
The jury acquitted him of two counts of sex trafficking — which would have required prosecutors to prove that Combs used force, fraud or coercion to force the alleged victims into sex — and one count of conspiracy to commit extortion.
Combs was sentenced to 50 months in prison, although he is actively trying to reduce his sentence through an appeal and by participating in a sobriety program in prison.
This article was originally published in Forbes US
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