Diddy Combs Documentary Leak Exposed: How Netflix Obtained Damning Hotel Footage

Netflix‘s explosive documentary on Sean “Diddy” Combs featured jaw-dropping behind-the-scenes footage. The clips showed Combs in his hotel room just days before his 2024 arrest. The footage’s origin was a major mystery until now.The documentarian hired by Combs himself has revealed the source. He says a freelance fill-in videographer provided the material to Netflix without authorization.

Fill-In Videographer Allegedly Leaked Private Combs Tapes

Michael Oberlies worked as Combs’s personal photographer for over two years. He was filming a separate, authorized project profiling the music mogul. Oberlies needed to leave town for three days in September 2024.He hired a freelance videographer to cover for him during that short period. According to a statement from Oberlies provided to Rolling Stone, that third party is responsible. The footage was taken without permission from Combs or his team.Oberlies strongly denied any contractual or payment dispute led to the leak. He called the action “unethical and unacceptable.” The footage shows Combs at New York’s Park Hyatt hotel on September 10, 2024.It captures private strategy sessions with his lawyer. Combs discusses managing public perception ahead of his trial. He was arrested on federal charges six days after the footage was shot.

Netflix and Director Stand Firm on Legal Grounds

Netflix and director Alexandria Stapleton have maintained their position. They state the footage for “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” was obtained legally. Stapleton previously said they “moved heaven and Earth” to protect the source.Combs’s legal team sent a cease-and-desist letter to Netflix before the documentary aired. They called it a “hit piece” and threatened legal action for copyright violation. No lawsuit has been filed against Netflix following the documentary’s release.The footage had a significant impact. It showed Combs reacting angrily to a lawsuit from former artist Dawn Richard. Prosecutors later cited his calls to another artist, seen in the footage, as potential witness tampering.The leak provides an unprecedented look at crisis management. It reveals the intense effort to control the narrative during a major legal battle. The fallout continues to shape public perception of the case.

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The Diddy Combs documentary leak highlights the blurred lines in modern media. Private moments became public evidence, altering a high-profile legal narrative.

A quick knowledge drop for you

Who is Michael Oberlies?

Michael Oberlies is a documentarian and personal photographer for Sean Combs. He had been working on an authorized project about Combs for over two years before the leak occurred.

What does the leaked footage show?

The footage shows Combs in his New York hotel room days before his arrest. It includes private talks with his lawyer and his real-time reaction to a new lawsuit against him.

Has Diddy sued Netflix over the documentary?

Not yet. Combs’s lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter threatening legal action. However, no lawsuit has been filed since the documentary aired on Netflix.

How did Netflix say it got the footage?

Netflix and director Alexandria Stapleton state the footage was “legally obtained.” They have not disclosed their specific source, citing confidentiality.

What was Combs convicted of?

Sean Combs was acquitted of the most serious charges in July 2025. He was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and sentenced to 50 months in prison.