Diddy's lawsuit over Peacock documentary is tossed out of court
Diddy's lawsuit over Peacock documentary is tossed out of court
KiMi Robinson, USA TODAYWed, April 22, 2026 at 11:02 PM UTC
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Sean "Diddy" Combs has been dealt a loss in court with the dismissal of his defamation lawsuit over a Peacock documentary.
New York Supreme Court judge Phaedra Perry-Bond issued an order on April 20 granting NBCUniversal's motion to dismiss Combs' complaint, writing that his lawsuit "fails to establish" NBCUniversal was "grossly irresponsible in publishing the documentary," 2025's "Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy."
Perry-Bond added that "reliance on biased sources where a publication presents those sources' subjective views and personal experiences does not constitute grossly irresponsible conduct."
Sean "Diddy" Combs arrives at the 13th annual Warner Bros. and InStyle Golden Globe Awards afterparty at tThe Beverly Hilton hotel on Jan. 15, 2012, in Beverly Hills, California.
The judge noted the documentary's producers reached out to Combs for comment and included his attorney's denial that the rapper sexually assaulted anyone.
The documentary, the judge concluded, "demonstrates a carefully curated and nuanced approach." As such, "the court will not entertain [Combs'] second-guessing of editorial content."
USA TODAY has reached out to Combs' representative for comment.
"This is an important ruling that protects filmmakers and journalists by dismissing this meritless complaint as barred by New York law and the First Amendment," Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., an attorney for NBCUniversal, said in a statement provided to USA TODAY on April 22.
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"Making of a Bad Boy," which premiered last month, features candid interviews with Combs' associates over the years, including the Bad Boy Records founder's friend, bodyguard, makeup artist, intern and producer. Combs is also suing Ample Entertainment in the lawsuit.
Combs' lawyers claimed in his lawsuit that the documentary was evidence of NBCU "shamelessly capitalizing on the public’s insatiable appetite for content about Mr. Combs in the lead up to his criminal trial," arguing that the company and its streaming service "made a conscious decision to line their own pockets at the expense of truth, decency, and basic standards of professional journalism."
On July 2, following a nearly two-month trial, a 12-person jury delivered a bombshell split decision in Combs' case. They found Combs guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution – charges related to former girlfriends Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine and "Jane," who both testified. However, he was acquitted of the most serious charges, which were racketeering and two counts of sex trafficking.
Combs' lawyers are seeking to overturn his conviction as he serves a 50-month prison sentence.
Contributing: Edward Segarra and Jay Stahl
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diddy dealt loss in court, 'Making of a Bad Boy' lawsuit dismissed
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
