In a new four-part documentary by Emmy and Grammy Award–winning executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Emmy Award–winning director Alexandria Stapleton, Sean Combs: The Reckoning is a staggering examination of the media mogul, music legend, and convicted offender. (In July, Combs was found guilty of two counts of transportation for purposes of prostitution, and is currently serving time in federal prison. He is appealing his conviction and his sentence.) Born with an insatiable drive for stardom and a knack for spotting talent, Combs made a quick ascent through the ranks of the music industry with Bad Boy Entertainment and was crucial in bringing hip-hop to the pop masses and launching the careers of dozens of generation-defining artists like The Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, and Danity Kane. But along the way, and as detailed by his former associates, childhood friends, artists, and employees, something darker began to color his ambitions — much of which began coming to light following R&B singer Casandra Ventura’s lawsuit against Combs in November, 2023.
“Being a woman in the industry, and going through the #MeToo movement — watching giants in music and film go on trial, and to know what their outcomes were … When Cassie dropped her lawsuit, I just thought this could go a million different directions,” says director Alexandria Stapleton. “I wondered how she had the confidence to go out there against a mogul like Sean Combs. As a filmmaker, I instantly knew it was a stress test of whether we’ve changed as a culture, as far as being able to process allegations like this in a fair way.
“This isn’t just about the story of Sean Combs or the story of Cassie, or the story of any of the victims, or the allegations against him, or the trial. Ultimately, this story is a mirror [reflecting us] as the public, and what we are saying when we put our celebrities on such a high pedestal. I hope [this documentary] is a wake-up call for how we idolize people, and to understand that everybody is a human being,” Stapleton says.
“I’ve been committed to real storytelling for years through G-Unit Film and Television,” says executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. “I’m grateful to everyone who came forward and trusted us with their stories, and proud to have Alexandria Stapleton as the director on the project to bring this important story to the screen.”
The documentary series features intimate footage, shot with Combs’ knowledge, in the six days leading up to his arrest and indictment. At the time, Combs was under federal investigation. Director Alexandria Stapleton explains the origin of the footage: “It came to us. 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.”
Aubrey O’Day, member of Danity Kane and Making the Band contestant
Also appearing in the documentary are interviews with those formerly in his orbit, many of whom are telling their stories for the first time. These exclusive interviews include the following participants:
- Aubrey O’Day — member of Danity Kane and Making the Band contestant
- Kirk Burrowes — co-founder of Bad Boy Entertainment
- Jurors from United States v. Combs
- Joi Dickerson-Neal — alleged victim, and former acquaintance of Combs’
- D1 — former member of Mansfield Crips
- Erick Sermon — rapper and former member of EPMD
- Roxanne Johnson — ex-wife of Bad Boy artist Craig Mack
- Mark Curry — former Bad Boy Artist and author of Dancing with the Devil: How Puff Burned the Bad Boys of Hip Hop
- William Lesane — cousin of Tupac Shakur
- Kalenna Harper — member of Diddy — Dirty Money
- Brooklyn Babs — Making the Band contestant, member of Da Band
- Clayton Howard — former sex worker allegedly employed by Combs
- Qwanell “Que” Mosley — Making the Band contestant, member of Day26
- Brian Andrews, Willie Taylor, and Robert Curry — Making the Band contestants, members of Day26
- Greg Kading — former LAPD detective
- Derrick Parker — former head of NYPD rap intelligence unit
- Capricorn Clark — former assistant and creative director at Bad Boy Entertainment
Told together, their experiences paint a picture of a powerful, enterprising man and the gilded empire he built — and the underworld that lay just beneath.
Sean Combs: The Reckoning will stream on Netflix from Dec 2. Check back here for updates on who’s featured in the documentary, exclusive materials and interviews, and more.
