Netflix hits back at Diddy's criticism of 'shameful' documentary
Netflix has insisted its new documentary about Sean "Diddy" Combs, produced by rapper 50 Cent, is "not a hit piece or an act of retribution", following criticism from the jailed former hip-hop mogul.
A spokesman for Combs called the four-part documentary, titled Sean Combs: The Reckoning, "a shameful hit piece" that "relied on stolen footage".
It includes what Netflix described as "explosive" footage filmed in the days before his arrest, including a phone conversation with his lawyer. Combs was convicted of prostitution-related charges in July.
His spokesman said it was "fundamentally unfair, and illegal" to use his private recordings, but Netflix said the material was obtained legally.
'Personal vendetta'
Combs' spokesman also said it was "staggering" that Netflix had given creative control to Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, who he described as "a longtime adversary with a personal vendetta".
"Netflix is plainly desperate to sensationalise every minute of Mr Combs's life, without regard for truth, in order to capitalise on a never-ending media frenzy," the statement said.
"If Netflix cared about truth or about Mr Combs's legal rights, it would not be ripping private footage out of context - including conversations with his lawyers that were never intended for public viewing. No rights in that material were ever transferred to Netflix or any third party."
The statement added: "For Netflix to give his life story to someone who has publicly attacked him for decades feels like an unnecessary and deeply personal affront. At minimum, he expected fairness from people he respected."
In response, Netflix said: "The claims being made about Sean Combs: The Reckoning are false.
"The project has no ties to any past conversations between Sean Combs and Netflix. The footage of Combs leading up to his indictment and arrest were legally obtained. This is not a hit piece or an act of retribution.
"Curtis Jackson is an executive producer but does not have creative control. No one was paid to participate."
The long-running feud between Jackson and Combs stretches back two decades.
A spokesman for Combs called the four-part documentary, titled Sean Combs: The Reckoning, "a shameful hit piece" that "relied on stolen footage".
It includes what Netflix described as "explosive" footage filmed in the days before his arrest, including a phone conversation with his lawyer. Combs was convicted of prostitution-related charges in July.
His spokesman said it was "fundamentally unfair, and illegal" to use his private recordings, but Netflix said the material was obtained legally.
'Personal vendetta'
Combs' spokesman also said it was "staggering" that Netflix had given creative control to Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, who he described as "a longtime adversary with a personal vendetta".
"Netflix is plainly desperate to sensationalise every minute of Mr Combs's life, without regard for truth, in order to capitalise on a never-ending media frenzy," the statement said.
"If Netflix cared about truth or about Mr Combs's legal rights, it would not be ripping private footage out of context - including conversations with his lawyers that were never intended for public viewing. No rights in that material were ever transferred to Netflix or any third party."
The statement added: "For Netflix to give his life story to someone who has publicly attacked him for decades feels like an unnecessary and deeply personal affront. At minimum, he expected fairness from people he respected."
In response, Netflix said: "The claims being made about Sean Combs: The Reckoning are false.
"The project has no ties to any past conversations between Sean Combs and Netflix. The footage of Combs leading up to his indictment and arrest were legally obtained. This is not a hit piece or an act of retribution.
"Curtis Jackson is an executive producer but does not have creative control. No one was paid to participate."
The long-running feud between Jackson and Combs stretches back two decades.
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