50 Cent Addresses Securing Unreleased Footage for Diddy Netflix Documentary

The highly anticipated Diddy Netflix documentary, Sean Combs: The Reckoning, has been a significant topic of discussion since its Dec. 2, 2025, release date. The four-part series was released all at once on the popular streaming service, just under two years after Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson revealed he was developing the docuseries on Dec. 7, 2023. The series, directed by Alexandria Stapleton, has not only ignited reactions from viewers due to its content, but also a cease-and-desist letter sent to Netflix over some surprising footage included. Not surprisingly, everyone wants to know how the footage surfaced, and 50 Cent responded to the topic directly.

'Doubt He Knows:' 50 Cent on Obtaining the Secret Tapes in Diddy Netflix Doc

The specific clips that went viral were recorded in September 2024, as NBC News revealed. In them, Combs is seen discussing his legal issues in what appeared to be a hotel room. Among the most notable comments made was Diddy speaking about "losing."

"We have to find somebody that'll work with us that has dealt in the dirtiest of dirty business," he says.

"We're losing," Combs goes on to say.

The video was reportedly taken six days before federal agents arrested Combs at a New York City hotel. He was initially charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for purposes of prostitution. A jury acquitted him of racketeering and sex trafficking but convicted him on two lesser counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, as NBC News highlighted.

During an interview ahead of the release of Sean Combs: The Reckoning, 50 Cent was asked directly about the unreleased footage. NBC News correspondent Chloe Melas asked Jackson how he got the hotel room footage for the Diddy Netflix documentary.

"I figured most journalists would not disclose their sources," Jackson said.

After following up to ask whether Diddy knows that Jackson and company put the videos in the documentary, the rapper and producer gave an honest admission.

"I would doubt he knows," Jackson responded.

Melas went on to ask whether this meant Diddy and his legal team would find out about the videos being in the documentary for the first time when it officially releases, to which Stapleton replied, "Perhaps."

Diddy & Netflix Documentary Director Speak About Footage

Diddy responded to the use of the footage in Sean Combs: The Reckoning, unloading on Netflix and Jackson. According to Deadline, he said that "Netflix’s so-called ‘documentary’ is a shameful hit piece." The comments reportedly also cited 50 Cent as a "longtime adversary with a personal vendetta" for Combs.

"Today’s GMA teaser confirms that Netflix relied on stolen footage that was never authorized for release," Combs’ statement says.

"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 fundamentally unfair, and illegal, for Netflix to misappropriate that work."

According to Deadline, Netflix shared remarks from Stapleton about the acquired footage, made just less than one week before the documentary's release. The director stated the footage was obtained "legally" and that they have "the necessary rights."

"It came to us, we obtained the footage legally and have the necessary rights," the filmmaker said in an interview on Netflix’s site. "We moved heaven and earth to keep the filmmaker’s identity confidential. One thing about Sean Combs is that he’s always filming himself, and it’s been an obsession throughout the decades...We also reached out to Sean Combs’ legal team for an interview and comment multiple times, but did not hear back."

The cease-and-desist sent to Netflix did not delay or interrupt the release of the Diddy documentary, which is currently streaming on the platform.

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