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Earlier this month, rapper and entrepreneur Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, along with Netflix, released a four-part documentary, Sean Combs: The Reckoning, examining the life and career of the music mogul and business executive. Jackson confirmed that proceeds from the project will be directed to alleged victims from Combs’ federal and civil cases.
The announcement follows an earlier statement in December 2023, when Jackson revealed plans for the docuseries, emphasizing that funds would support individuals who brought sexual misconduct allegations against Combs. The series, produced by Jackson—who has publicly been a longtime rival of Combs—explores Combs’s rise in the music industry while also highlighting controversies and allegations spanning decades.
Previously unseen footage shows Combs days before arrest
The documentary features a wide array of voices, including former members of Combs’s inner circle, past employees, childhood friends, artists previously signed to Bad Boy Records, two jurors from his federal trial, and several individuals who have filed civil lawsuits against him. Some accuse Combs of sexual assault, allegations he has consistently denied.
The series arrives months after Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was acquitted of more serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. In October 2024, Combs was sentenced to 50 months in prison at the Fort Dix complex in New Jersey. He is appealing both his conviction and sentence and remains subject to dozens of civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse.
Sean Combs: The Reckoning includes previously unseen footage of Combs in the six days leading up to his September 2024 arrest filmed by a videographer. The filmmakers obtained the material legally and include it to show his interactions and mindset during the final days before the federal investigation concluded.
Documentary covers career, trials, feuds
The documentary opens with Combs in a New York hotel room, speaking with his lawyer about public perception on social media. “We have to find somebody that will work with us, that has dealt in the dirtiest of dirty business of media and propaganda,” he says in the footage. Days later, he was arrested and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Director Alexandria Stapleton confirmed that all footage was legally obtained and rights were secured.
Each episode explores a different phase of Combs’s life—from his early career as Puff Daddy to his feud with Death Row Records, the death of The Notorious B.I.G., and the events surrounding his 2024 trial. A spokesperson for Combs criticized the series, calling it “one-sided” and driven by sensationalism. He emphasized that Combs would continue to address legitimate claims through legal channels, not through the documentary.
