Sean “Diddy” Combs’ videographer Michael O’Barrys is trying to clear his name as Combs’ team claims a new Netflix documentary series about Diddy’s rise and fall uses footage that was “stolen” from before his arrest.
‘Diddy’ claims Netflix used ‘stolen’ footage in new documentary
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has hit out at Netflix and 50 Cent, saying a documentary about him uses footage that was “never authorized for release”.
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Sean “Diddy” Combs’ videographer has joined Netflix, leading to a spat between Combs over 50 Cent’s new documentary series about the rapper’s rise and fall.
After Combs’ camp condemned Sean Combs: The Reckoning as a “disgraceful hit,” Michael O’Barrys released a statement to Rolling Stone on December 10th clearing his name.
“The video in question was not released by me or by anyone authorized to handle Sean Combs’ material,” O’Barrys, who filmed for the Project Profiling Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and has worked for the rapper since 2019, told the outlet.
His statement continued: “This incident had nothing to do with a pay dispute or contract dispute. The actions of those involved reflect a lack of integrity that all storytellers should uphold. Shooting footage intended for our project to advance a story that is not ours is unethical and unacceptable.”
O’Barry’s comments are the latest in recent communications between Netflix, which released the 50 Cent-produced series, and Combs’ family and legal team, alleging the content perpetuates “lies” about Combs’ upbringing and uses “stolen footage not authorized for release.”
The four-part series, directed by Alexandria Stapleton, debuted on December 2nd and delves into Combs’ rise (and subsequent fall) in the music industry. It combines interviews and never-before-seen footage from the days before his arrest on federal sex trafficking charges in Manhattan on September 16, 2024.
Mr. Combs often kept his camera rolling to document his life and work. He had a videographer follow him while in New York City, where he was being investigated by federal prosecutors for sex crimes. He is currently serving 50 months in prison for that crime.
At one point, the videographer filmed federal agents on the rooftop across from the hotel room. In another scene, Combs is seen berating one of his attorneys, prominent criminal defense attorney Mark Agnifilo.
What does Diddy’s team say about 50 Cent’s Netflix series?
The day before the documentary series debuted on Netflix, a teaser trailer for the series premiered on Good Morning America, and a representative for Combs issued a statement condemning the streamer’s actions as “unlawful.”
“Netflix’s so-called ‘documentary’ is a shameful hit. Today’s GMA teaser confirms that Netflix relied on stolen footage that it was not authorized to release. As Netflix and CEO Ted Sarandos know, Mr. Combs has been collecting footage since he was 19 years old to tell his story in a unique way. Netflix’s exploitation of that work is fundamentally unfair and illegal,” the Dec. 2 statement read.
“Netflix is clearly desperate to ignore the truth and sensationalize every moment of Mr. Combs’ life in order to capitalize on the never-ending media frenzy. If Netflix cared about the truth and Mr. Combs’ legal rights, they would not cut private footage out of context, such as conversations with his lawyer that were never intended for public viewing.”
Combs’ team also questioned the origins of the footage included in the series.
“No rights in that material were ever transferred to Netflix or any third party,” the statement said. “It is equally surprising that Netflix has ceded creative control to Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson, a longtime adversary who has a personal vendetta and has spent far too much time smearing Mr. Combs.”
The rap mogul’s team also issued a second cease-and-desist letter to Netflix, which issued an initial cease-and-desist letter when the documentary was first announced.
Diddy’s mother speaks out against Netflix docuseries
Combs’ mother, Janice Combs, also spoke out against the docuseries in a statement shared with USA TODAY on Dec. 8 through her son’s representative.
“These inaccuracies regarding my son Sean’s upbringing and family life were intentionally made to mislead viewers and further damage his reputation,” said Janice Combs. “Sean was a loyal son who always made sure I had access to care, carefully managed my medical care, and provided financial support. I am calling on him to publicly retract these distorted, false, and misleading statements.”
She specifically criticized her portrayal as an “abusive parent” and claims by Bad Boy Entertainment co-founder Kirk Burroughs that her son slapped her during a 1991 exchange about the City College of New York stampede that killed nine people between the ages of 15 and 28.
What does Netflix say about ‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning’?
In a statement to Netflix’s official news site Tudum, Stapleton said the footage “came to us. We obtained it legally and have the necessary rights.”
She continued, “One thing about Sean Combs is that he’s constantly filming himself, and it’s been an obsession for decades. We’ve also reached out to Sean Combs’ legal team multiple times for interviews and comment, but we haven’t heard back.”
In a separate statement from a Netflix spokesperson shared with USA TODAY on Dec. 2, the streamer doubled down on that sentiment. “The claims being made about ‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning’ are false. This project has no connection to any past conversations between Sean Combs and Netflix,” the company said in a statement.
“The footage of Combs leading up to his indictment and arrest was legally obtained. This is not a hit film or an act of retaliation. Curtis Jackson is an executive producer but has no creative control. No one received any participation fees.”
In an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts, 50 Cent said, “It’s nothing personal.”
“If I don’t say anything, the hip-hop (community) will interpret his actions as okay because no one else is speaking out,” he added.
Stapleton said, “The show doesn’t fully incorporate the perspective of people who don’t like Sean. We weren’t just trying to cover the highlights and sordid details. The real purpose was to tell the story.”
Contributors: Anna Kaufman and Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
