Sean “Diddy” Combs’ mother Janice has spoken out against Netflix’s new docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning, claiming that the series is “intentionally misleading” about her relationship with her son and his upbringing.
“I am writing this statement to correct some of the lies presented in the Netflix Sean Combs: The Reckoning,” she said in a statement to Deadline. “These inaccuracies regarding my son Sean’s upbringing and family life [are] intentionally done to mislead viewers and further harm our reputation.”
Janice continued, first addressing a claim in the doc that she beat her son when he was a child.
“In the documentary, I am portrayed as an abusive parent,” she alleged. “This is untrue. As I have stated previously, I was a single mother, raising my son, I held three and even four jobs in an attempt to provide a comfortable upbringing and quality education for my child. I raised Sean with love and hard work, not abuse.”
After that, Janice brought up the incident mentioned in the series where her son allegedly hit her, as they were arguing in the aftermath of the 1991 City College celebrity basketball game tragedy, where nine people died and more than 30 were injured at an event that Diddy promoted.
“The allegations stated by Mr. Kirk Burrows that my son slapped me while we were conversing after the tragic City College events on December 28, 1991, are inaccurate and patently false,” she said. “That was a very sad day for all of us.”
Sean Combs: The Reckoning came out on Dec. 2. The docuseries was executive produced by 50 Cent, who has had a personal beef with Diddy. In an interview with GQ about the docuseries, 50 Cent revealed that the project wasn’t driven by his problems with the music mogul.
“If someone’s not saying something, then you would assume everybody in hip-hop is okay with what’s going on,” said Fif, adding that many artists prefer to “mind [their] business” due to the position of power the producer held for decades, which ultimately left 50 feeling like he should be the person to step forward.
Ahead of its release, Diddy’s legal team sent Netflix a cease-and-desist letter about the docuseries, referring to it as a “hit piece.” The letter also alleged that documentary interviewees were paid to participate.
Netflix responded to the letter, clarifying that no one was paid to be a part of the documentary.