Sean "Diddy" Combs' personal videographer has addressed how he alleges Netflix and 50 Cent obtained the behind-the-scenes footage of Combs for the docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning, which unpacks the allegations behind the rapper and his Bad Boy Entertainment empire. The videographer, Michael Oberlies, is alleging that the footage was released by a freelancer who was hired to fill in for him while he was out of state for a few days."For over two years we have been working on a project profiling Sean 'Diddy' Combs," Oberlies said in a statement to Rolling Stone. "The footage in question was not released by me or anyone authorized to handle Sean Combs' materials; it was by a third party who covered for me for three days while I was out of state. This incident had nothing to do with any fee dispute or contract issue. Story continues below advertisement "The actions of the parties involved reflect the lack of integrity every storyteller should uphold. Taking footage intended for our project to advance a narrative that was not our own is both unethical and unacceptable."The footage Oberlies is referencing features clips of Combs in his New York City hotel room days before his September 2024 arrest, when he was indicted on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges that accused him of hitting and abusing women for over a decade and presiding over an empire of sexual crimes. More on Entertainment More videos Sharon Osbourne reveals Ozzy Osbourne's final words to her before his death Grammy-nominated opera singer stabbed to death in his home, son arrested 'Jeopardy!' champ Joey DeSena arrested on felony secret peeping charges Man who rushed Ariana Grande kicked out of Lady Gaga concert in Australia City of Vancouver and Whitecaps stadium talks New Christmas 'train' in Kelowna This is BC: Turning hit songs into sheet music Grin and bear it: Nikon's Comedy Wildlife Photo Award winners revealed The footage featured in the Netflix docuseries, produced by 50 Cent, shares conversations with Combs' legal team about how to navigate the case."We have to find somebody that'll work with us. Whether they're from this country or from another country, it could be somebody that has the dirtiest of dirtiest dirty business of media and propaganda," Combs told his lawyer Marc Agnifilo on the phone, before adding, "We're losing."In another scene, Combs meets fans in Harlem, where he later says he needs hand sanitizer because he was "out in the streets amongst the people." Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. "The amount of people that actually I'm coming in contact with, that's what I have to do," he said while asking the people around him for hand sanitizer. "It's time to cleanse, I got to go under the water, water got to be boiling hot, put some peroxide in that." Story continues below advertisement 3:54 Sean "Diddy" Combs claims new Netflix doc uses "stolen footage" depicting days leading up to his arrest Sean "Diddy" Combs claims new Netflix doc uses "stolen footage" depicting days leading up to his arrest Tensions run high as Diddy sentenced in prostitution case 'A really powerful moment': Sean 'Diddy' Combs sentenced to 50 months Lawyer for Sean 'Diddy' Combs speaks as his client awaits sentencing Previous Video Next Video A day before the docuseries was released on Netflix, a representative for Combs issued a statement, calling it a "shameful hit piece.""Today's GMA (Good Morning America) teaser confirms that Netflix relied on stolen footage that was never authorized for release. As Netflix and CEO Ted Sarandos know, Mr. Combs has been amassing footage since he was 19 to tell his own story, in his own way. It is fundamentally unfair, and illegal, for Netflix to misappropriate that work," the Dec. 1 statement read.
Combs' rep said Netflix was "plainly desperate to sensationalize every minute of Mr. Combs's life, without regard for truth, in order to capitalize on a never-ending media frenzy.""If Netflix cared about truth or about Mr. Combs's legal rights, it would not be ripping private footage out of context - including conversations with his lawyers that were never intended for public viewing. No rights in that material were ever transferred to Netflix or any third party," the statement said. Story continues below advertisement "No rights in that material were ever transferred to Netflix or any third party," the statement continued. "It is equally staggering that Netflix handed creative control to Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson - a longtime adversary with a personal vendetta who has spent too much time slandering Mr. Combs." Trending Now For 1st time since trade war, Canada exported more than it imported Ex-Conservative MP Michael Ma crosses floor to