Hold up, BlkCosmo fam! The tea is piping hot regarding how Diddy’s rival, 50 Cent, and Netflix got their hands on that exclusive, unseen footage of the mogul. We’re talking about behind-the-scenes moments right before his federal racketeering, sex trafficking, and prostitution arrest. Diddy’s documentary videographer, who filmed him for two years, is finally spilling. He’s denying rumors about unpaid fees and pointing the finger at a freelancer who filled in for just three days.
So, Rolling Stone reports that Diddy had a documentarian named Michael Oberlies tracking his moves. With all the chatter online about ‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning,’ directed by Alexandria Stapleton, Oberlies felt it was time to set the record straight. He told the music and news outlet:
“For over two years, we have been working on a project profiling Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. 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.
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.”
Oberlies has been in Diddy’s circle since at least 2019, practically his personal photographer. He was there for the lavish 50th birthday bash in L.A. and documented the creation of Diddy’s 2023 album, ‘The Love Album: Off the Grid.’ He even followed Diddy’s sons to court, showing support during their father’s arraignment.
Before Oberlies stepped forward, the streets were talking. Rumors were rampant that Diddy stiffed his videographer, who then allegedly got petty and sold the footage to 50 Cent. We all know 50 Cent has been hinting at a documentary about the mogul’s fall from grace.
Every time 50 Cent or Netflix was pressed about how they snagged that bombshell, behind-the-scenes footage of Diddy – especially those vulnerable moments right before his September 17, 2024 arrest – they just stuck to their guns. Their consistent reply? They “legally obtained” it and weren’t about to snitch on their sources.
But even with 50 Cent and Netflix playing coy about their acquisition, Diddy and his crew were clearly blindsided. They swiftly hit the streaming giant with a cease-and-desist letter even before the documentary hit the airwaves.
Diddy‘s legal team blasted the project as a “hit piece” in their letter to Netflix, claiming copyright infringement for airing the footage. His attorneys made it clear: he’s never shied away from suing those who violate his rights, and Netflix won’t be an exception.
Diddy’s Videographer Catches Mogul in Raw Moments Before RICO Arrest
As we know, Oberlies’ footage reveals Diddy in the days right before his federal RICO arrest. The cameras kicked off on September 10, 2024, at his Park Hyatt hotel room in New York City. The scenes capture Diddy inside the hotel, navigating the city streets, chilling with fans in Harlem, and huddling with his family and inner circle — including his security team, attorney Marc Agnifilo, and chief of staff Kristina Khorram.
And just like Oberlies said, a freelancer stepped in for a few days. Viewers of ‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning’ can actually see Diddy schooling this fill-in videographer, telling them to snag “cutaway shots” of the law enforcement chilling on a rooftop across from his hotel. Talk about meta!
