Jan. 12, 2026
By Maddie Scherzer
Staff Writer
”Sean Combs: The Reckoning” is a four-episode documentary that details both the allegations and legal actions connected to rapper, music producer and record executive Sean “Diddy” Combs. While the subject matter — which addresses claims ranging from sexual abuse and harassment to sex trafficking — is unsettling, the series is compelling due to its extensive, never-before-seen footage.
The first episode chronicles Combs’ early life and entry into the music industry, specifically recounting the celebrity charity basketball game he and rapper Heavy D organized on Dec. 28, 1991. Some purchased tickets for this event, but others charged into the gym, far exceeding the venue’s 2,700 capacity. When people reached the entrance, the doors did not open properly, which led to a stampede resulting in nine deaths and 29 injuries.
This episode is particularly disturbing, as it reveals the inexcusable actions Combs took against his female employees.
Episode 2 revolves around the rivalry between Combs’ Bad Boy Records on the East Coast and Death Row Records on the West Coast. It examines the attempted murders of rappers Tupac Shakur and record executive Suge Knight following the robbery at Quad Studios in Manhattan on Nov. 30, 1994. While Combs has not been found responsible, South Side Compton Crips member Keefe D asserts that Combs offered to pay for the attack.
In interviews, former associate Kirk Burrowes further alleges that although Combs did not kill rapper Notorious B.I.G. on March 9, 1997, in Los Angeles, he later profited from Biggie’s estate despite portraying himself as a grieving friend.
The third episode highlights one of Combs’ victims, Aubrey O’Day, who was a former member of Danity Kane, a group created on the MTV reality show “Making the Band 3,” for which Combs was the executive producer. This episode is particularly disturbing, as it reveals the inexcusable actions Combs took against his female employees.
The final episode focuses on the lawsuits brought forth by Combs’ former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, whose cases are still pending. In 2023, five years after their breakup, Ventura publicly announced the sexual abuse, harassment, manipulation and drug use to which Combs subjected her.
The 247-minute series does not cover every aspect of Combs’ fall from fame or answer every question. Instead, it prompts viewers to consider how public figures wield their authority. Appropriately titled “The Reckoning,” the series underscores the importance of examining, judging and holding people in power accountable.
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
