50 Cent vs Diddy Explodes Over Netflix Docuseries ‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning’ and Alleged Stolen Footage

On the eve of Netflix’s explosive new docuseries “Sean Combs: The Reckoning”, the long-simmering feud between 50 Cent and Sean “Diddy” Combs has erupted into an all-out war of words, with Combs denouncing the project as a “shameful hit piece” built on “stolen footage.” According to statements released today by Combs’ representatives, the music mogul alleges that Netflix and executive producer 50 Cent relied on personal archives he has been filming since age 19 without his authorization, calling the use of that material “fundamentally unfair and illegal.”

The four-part documentary, directed by Alexandria Stapleton and executive produced by 50 Cent, examines Combs’ meteoric rise with Bad Boy Entertainment alongside the serious misconduct and prostitution-related convictions that have now reshaped his public image. Netflix has positioned the series as a “staggering examination” of a music legend and “convicted offender,” built around never-before-seen footage and extensive interviews with former associates, employees and artists who were once inside Combs’ inner circle.

In a sharply worded statement released today, Combs’ camp insists the footage showcased in a new teaser — including a phone call recorded just days before his 2024 arrest — was lifted from a private archive intended for his own documentary. They argue the clips were ripped out of context, even including what they say are privileged conversations with attorneys. Combs’ spokesperson accuses Netflix of chasing a media frenzy, charging that the streamer is “plainly desperate to sensationalize every minute of Mr. Combs’ life” while allowing a longtime rival to shape the narrative.

Netflix and Stapleton, however, are standing firm. The director says the production team “obtained the footage legally and have the necessary rights,” emphasizing that they reached out repeatedly to Combs’ legal team for interviews and comment but received no response. She also notes that Combs’ decades-long habit of filming himself created a vast trove of material that sources ultimately shared with the filmmakers.

For his part, 50 Cent has rejected claims that the series is a personal vendetta, telling outlets that the project is meant to confront the hip-hop industry’s silence around Combs’ alleged abuses rather than simply score points in a public beef. While early reports suggested the docuseries would be more balanced than fans expected, Combs’ blistering response — and fresh accusations of stolen footage — have turned the release into a high-stakes showdown over control of his story, just as “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” begins streaming for viewers in the U.S. and around the world.