The recent documentary exploring the dramatic downfall of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs may appear to be arriving late, as the rapper has already been the focus of two other multi-part documentaries following his 2024 arrest on federal racketeering and sex-trafficking charges. However, this comprehensive four-part series on Netflix, produced by his rival Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, has garnered significant attention. It provides a detailed look at Combs’ remarkable three-decade rise to fame and subsequent fall, presenting new insights that expand on aspects of his life unrelated to his incarceration.
Entitled Sean Combs: The Reckoning, the docuseries debuted on Netflix just two months post Combs’ sentencing to 50 months in prison following a complex federal trial. Jackson, often mocking Combs on social media throughout the trial, highlighted allegations of coercing women into nonconsensual, drug-fueled sexual encounters managed through his extensive business networks. In a five-count indictment, the government accused Combs of using his empire to manipulate romantic partners into participating in his sexual escapades—a claim the jury ultimately did not support.
While earlier documentaries predominantly focused on the allegations against him, Jackson and director Alex Stapleton delve into Combs’ past. They illustrate how a man perceived by some as a monster and by others as a self-made success came to wield immense power, which ultimately contributed to his downfall. This examination also captures the growing number of civil lawsuits against him, which he vehemently denies.
Interestingly, this nuanced portrait from Combs’ rival may be the most thorough and balanced depiction yet. The series features interviews with his accusers, longtime collaborators, a childhood friend, and for the first time, jurors who acquitted him of charges that could have resulted in a life sentence.
With the documentary gaining traction on Netflix—Jackson boasts it’s headed to No. 1—audiences may already have preconceived notions about Combs’ life. This extensive exploration of 30 years of hip-hop history offers fresh perspectives on Sean Combs, who is also known as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, and Diddy. Combs maintains his innocence, recently sending a cease and desist letter to Netflix in an attempt to remove the series from the platform.
Controversial Footage of Combs’ Legal Strategy
Although details about how the new footage was obtained remain undisclosed, viewers see Combs pre-arrest in a Manhattan hotel, displaying anxiety and charisma as pressure mounts. This footage emphasizes his control over his legal team during and after his arrest and throughout the trial. At one point, he clearly communicates to his attorneys his dissatisfaction with their teamwork, stating, “We’re losing.”
The Biggie Bombshell
Episode two explores the murders of Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, suggesting their rivalry was artificially escalated into gang conflict. The series includes accounts from drug lord Duane “Keffe D” Davis, who claims Combs promised compensation for the murders but failed to follow through. Further, it alleges that Combs exacerbated the very tensions that placed his artists in perilous situations, leading to B.I.G.’s tragic death in 1997.
