Sean “Diddy” Combs has filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal and Ample Entertainment, the production company behind the documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, which aired on NBC and Peacock in January. The lawsuit, filed in New York and obtained by Page Six, alleges that the documentary falsely portrays Combs as a criminal, accusing him of heinous crimes such as serial murder, rape of minors, and sex trafficking of minors. Combs’ attorneys argue that the film maliciously paints their client as a “monster” and even draws unfounded comparisons to Jeffrey Epstein, stating that the claims are entirely baseless and lack any evidence.
The lawsuit details several specific allegations made in the documentary that Combs’ legal team claims are defamatory. For instance, the film suggests that Combs was responsible for the 2018 death of Kim Porter, his former partner and the mother of his children. Porter’s cause of death was determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office to be lobar pneumonia, and the Los Angeles Police Department found no evidence of foul play. However, the documentary included statements from Albert Joseph Brown III, also known as Al B. Sure!, who questioned the official findings and implied that Porter was “gone because she was going to be the next Cassie Ventura.” Ventura, another ex-partner of Combs, had previously filed a rape lawsuit against him in November 2023, which was settled within 24 hours. While Ventura’s allegations were corroborated by hotel surveillance video, Combs’ attorneys argue that the documentary’s attempt to link Porter’s death to Combs is utterly false and harmful.
Combs’ legal team also takes issue with the credibility of some of the documentary’s sources, particularly Al B. Sure!, whom they describe as having a “weird, very kind of complicated relationship” with Combs. The lawsuit points out that producer Ari Mark was aware of Sure!’s animosity toward Combs but still chose to include his claims in the film. Additionally, the documentary resurrects unproven allegations from a $30 million lawsuit filed by producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who accused Combs of assaulting underage women. Combs’ attorneys note that the women involved have since come forward to deny these claims, stating that they were not minors at the time of the alleged incidents and that they never witnessed any wrongdoing on Combs’ part.
The lawsuit further condemns the documentary for advancing what it describes as “unhinged conspiracy theories” about Combs’ involvement in the deaths of several high-profile figures, including The Notorious B.I.G., Andre Harrell, and Dwight “Heavy D” Arrington Myers. Combs’ attorneys argue that these claims are completely unfounded and that the documentary recklessly ignores the official causes of death for each individual, which were determined to be unrelated to Combs. The lawsuit also criticizes the film for including statements from Courtney Burgess, who is currently facing a separate defamation lawsuit alongside NewsNation for spreading lies about Porter’s memoir and other defamatory statements. Burgess and NewsNation have yet to respond to these allegations.
Combs’ attorneys emphasize that they warned NBCUniversal and Ample Entertainment about the false allegations in the documentary on December 10, 2024, well before its release. Despite this, the companies chose to proceed with airing the film, which Combs’ legal team describes as a greedy attempt to capitalize on sensationalism at the expense of Combs’ reputation. The lawsuit alleges that the documentary has caused significant reputational and financial harm to Combs, as well as potential damage to his right to a fair trial in his ongoing federal case. Combs is currently facing charges related to sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution, all of which he has denied, pleading not guilty. If convicted, he could face a minimum of 15 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. His trial is set to begin on May 5.
Combs’ attorney, Erica Wolff, issued a statement slamming NBCUniversal and Ample Entertainment for their role in producing and airing the documentary. Wolff accused the companies of prioritizing profits over truth and basic journalistic standards, stating that they “grossly exploited the trust of their audience” by broadcasting “outrageous lies” about her client. She further criticized the film for making unfounded allegations of “horrible crimes” against Combs, including serial murder and sexual assault of minors, knowing full well that there was no evidence to support these claims. Wolff emphasized that the documentary’s false narrative was designed to capitalize on public fascination with scandal, without regard for Combs’ right to a fair trial. Page Six has reached out to NBCUniversal and Ample Entertainment for comment but has yet to receive a response.
