Incarcerated hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has blasted a new Netflix documentary series about his life and legal downfall as a “shameful hit piece,” accusing the streaming giant and executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson of using stolen footage. The explosive claims add another chapter to a decades-long rivalry between the two music titans, playing out on a global stage as Combs serves a prison sentence.

The controversy centres on “Sean Combs: The Reckoning,” a four-part series set to premiere on December 2. It promises a “staggering examination” of Combs’s journey from cultural icon to convicted offender, featuring never-before-seen material. For many in Kenya and across the world who use Netflix, this series offers a front-row seat to the unravelling of a global celebrity, raising questions about power, accountability, and the media's role in shaping legacy.

A Rival’s Retelling

A spokesperson for Combs argued that Netflix’s documentary is “fundamentally unfair, and illegal,” claiming it misappropriates footage Combs has been collecting since he was 19 to tell his own story. The statement specifically condemned Netflix for handing creative control to 50 Cent, whom it described as a “longtime adversary with a personal vendetta.” Their feud dates back to at least 2006, involving diss tracks and public mockery.

A teaser for the series features a clip of Combs from September 2024, just days before his arrest, in which he appears distressed. On a phone call, he is heard saying, “We’re losing,” before calling for “somebody that’ll work with us that has dealt in the dirtiest of dirty business.” Combs’s team alleges this footage, including conversations with his lawyers, was never authorized for release.

Netflix Defends Its Project

In response to the allegations, the series' Emmy-winning director, Alexandria Stapleton, maintained the footage was obtained legally. “It came to us, we obtained the footage legally and have the necessary rights,” Stapleton noted, adding that Combs’s legal team was contacted for comment multiple times but did not respond. 50 Cent, while acknowledging his history with Combs, has stated the project is not personal but aims to provide a platform for those who came forward.

The series lands while the events are still raw. In October 2025, Combs was sentenced to 50 months—just over four years—in federal prison after being convicted in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was, however, acquitted of more severe charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. He is currently incarcerated at a federal facility in Fort Dix, New Jersey, with an expected release date in May 2028.

As the world prepares to watch, the series highlights a broader cultural conversation about celebrity worship. Stapleton herself framed the documentary as a “mirror reflecting us as the public, and what we are saying when we put our celebrities on such a high pedestal.” For viewers here in Kenya, it’s a powerful reminder of the complex realities often hidden beneath the polished surface of global fame.