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The curtain is being pulled back. How 50 Cent and Netflix got Sean "Diddy" Combs' behind-the-scenes video for their documentary series. Sean Combs: The Reckoning has been a hot topic since its premiere on the streaming service on December 2.
Michael Oberlies, Combs' personal cameraman, is now correcting the record, alleging that a freelancer hired to cover for a few days leaked the clip.
In a statement to Rolling Stone on December 10, Oberlies stated, "We have been working on a project profiling Sean 'Diddy' Combs for over two years." "A third party who filled in for me for three months released the footage in question; neither I nor anyone authorized to handle Sean Combs' materials did. "Those were the days" was out of state. This incident had nothing to do with any fee dispute or contract issue.”
He went on to say, "The behaviors of the parties concerned demonstrate the lack of integrity that every storyteller should maintain. Using film intended for our purpose to advance a story that was not our own is unethical and immoral."
The footage in question includes clips of Combs in his New York City hotel room days before his arrest in September 2024, conversations with his legal team about how to navigate the case, and a scene in which he mingled with fans in Harlem, after which he joked about needing hand sanitizer because he was "out in the streets amongst the people."
For his part, rapper Sean Combs, currently serving a 50-month prison sentence, has criticized a Netflix documentary about him as a “shameful hit piece.” His spokesperson released a statement on December 1 to Variety, claiming that the streaming service used "stolen footage" without authorization and accused Netflix and CEO Ted Sarandos of unfairly appropriating Combs' work, which he has been documenting since he was 19. The spokesperson alleged that Netflix is trying to sensationalize his life to profit from ongoing media interest and pointed out that conversations with Combs' lawyers were contextually distorted and intended to remain private.
In contrast, 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, along with Netflix and the docuseries' creative team, insists that the footage was legally obtained. A statement from Netflix on December 2 emphasized that the project does not involve any past discussions with Combs and reaffirmed that it is not a retaliatory piece. They clarified that while 50 Cent serves as an executive producer, he does not have creative control over the project, and no participants were paid.
Additionally, both 50 Cent and director Alexandria Stapleton have emphasized their commitment to protecting their informants' anonymity, with Stapleton stating, “We moved heaven and earth to keep the filmmaker’s identity confidential.” In interviews, 50 Cent has defended his motivations for creating the documentary, claiming, "If I didn't say anything, you would interpret it as hip-hop being fine with his behaviors," and highlighted the lack of vocal opposition to Combs' actions from others in the hip-hop community.
