‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning’ Is The Most Jaw-Dropping Documentary Of The Year

Think you know everything about Diddy? Think again. We all watched him build his empire: Bad Boy Records, Sean John, Cîroc, the whole nine. The man was inescapable, a fixture of hip-hop royalty for decades who completely changed the game.

But Netflix’s new documentary Sean Combs: The Reckoning will shatter everything that you thought you knew. I just binged all four hours (four episodes at one hour each) in one sitting, and I was left absolutely flabbergasted. This isn’t just another celebrity exposé. It’s a complete dismantling of one of hip-hop’s most powerful figures, and it’s impossible to look away.

50 Cent and Alexandria Stapleton Deliver a Masterclass in Documentary Filmmaking

Executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and directed by Alexandria Stapleton, this four-part series is a staggering examination of Sean Combs’ meteoric rise and catastrophic fall. The documentary comes at a pivotal moment, as Combs was found guilty in July of two counts of transportation for purposes of prostitution and is currently serving time in federal prison while appealing his conviction.

“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.”

Exclusive Footage You Won’t Believe Exists

Here’s where things get wild: the documentary includes intimate footage shot in the six days leading up to Combs’ arrest and indictment while he was under federal investigation. How did they obtain this bombshell material? Stapleton explains that “it came to us, we obtained the footage legally and have the necessary rights. One thing about Sean Combs is that he’s always filming himself, and it’s been an obsession throughout the decades.”

Watching a man document his own downfall is surreal, and it is impossible to look away. The series also features footage from Biggie’s murder that’s never been broadcast before, and let me tell you, that material that will send chills down your spine.

The People Who Actually Knew Him Break Their Silence

What makes this documentary so compelling is the roster of people who’ve finally decided to speak out. We’re talking Bad Boy Entertainment co-founder Kirk Burrowes, former assistant and executive Capricorn Clark, and artists like Aubrey O’Day, Kalenna Harper, and Mark Curry. Many of these interviews are being given for the first time, and they paint a picture that’s drastically different from the champagne-popping mogul we saw in public.

The doc also includes jurors from Combs’ federal case, individuals who filed civil suits against him, and even former LAPD detective Greg Kading who oversaw the Tupac and Biggie murder investigations. One particularly haunting interview comes from Clayton Howard, a former sex worker allegedly employed by Combs.

Stapleton’s approach to these interviews is what makes them so powerful. “I spend a lot of time with interview subjects. Especially with artists, writers, producers, and rappers – [I want them to] talk about what it felt like to be in the music [industry],” she explains. “No one entered thinking that they were going to get chewed up and spit out. They had a dream and were trying to get a piece of the American dream.”

Aubrey O’Day, member of Danity Kane and Making the Band contestant

Where Are All the A-List Celebrities?

You might notice some glaring absences from the interview lineup, as none of Diddy’s most famous collaborators or celebrity friends appear on camera. Stapleton addresses this head-on, revealing the extensive efforts made to include them:

“Extreme efforts were made to contact as many people as we could. I had many off-the-record conversations. There are some people who I’ve been able to talk with to verify and fact-check certain pieces of information, but they did not want to do an interview. And their reasons are vast. There was a lot of fear — Combs’ tentacles spread very wide.”

That silence speaks volumes. The fact that people are still afraid to go on record tells you about the kind of power Combs wielded.. and possibly still wields.

A Mirror Held Up to Celebrity Culture

What director Alexandria Stapleton accomplishes here goes beyond just chronicling one man’s crimes. She’s forcing us to examine our own complicity in building these untouchable celebrity empires. The documentary begins with Cassie’s lawsuit in November 2023, which kicked off the avalanche of allegations.

“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,” Stapleton reflects. “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.”

She drives the point home even harder: “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.”

Kirk Burrowes, co-founder of Bad Boy Entertainment

What Each Episode Covers

The four-part series is structured chronologically, with each episode revealing another layer of Diddy’s story, and showing us a whole other side of him:

Episode 1: “Pain vs. Love” traces Combs’ origins in Harlem and his transformation into Puff Daddy, including the tragic City College stampede.

Episode 2: “What Goes Down Must Come Up” dives into the legendary Bad Boy vs. Death Row rivalry, featuring never-before-seen footage from Biggie’s murder.

Episode 3: “Official Girl” is where things get really dark, detailing alarming allegations of abusive relationships with artists and romantic partners.

Episode 4: “Blink Again” covers the federal investigation, his 2024 arrest, and the trial, featuring interviews with jurors and exclusive footage from producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones.

The Bottom Line

Sean Combs: The Reckoning is now streaming on Netflix, and despite being four hours long, I guarantee that you won’t be able to stop watching. Whether you’re a hip-hop head who lived through the Bad Boy era or just someone who’s been following the headlines over the past year, this documentary fills in all the gaps you didn’t even know existed.

Just know this going in: you’ll never listen to “Mo Money Mo Problems” the same way again. Some things, once you know, you can’t unknow. But that’s why this documentary matters.