NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 03: Janice Combs, mother of Sean "Diddy" Combs, arrives for Combs' sentencing at Manhattan Federal Court on October 03, 2025 in New York City. Combs is facing sentencing after being convicted on two prostitution-related charges that carry maximum sentences of 10 years each in an eight-week trial where the jury delivered a split verdict. He was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges that could have carried a life sentence. The defense has asked for no more than 14 months imprisonment, while the prosecution has asked for more than 11 years. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Janice Combs is finally speaking out, days after a Netflix docuseries, ‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning,’ tore into her son’s rise to the top. One of the interviews included a story about Diddy allegedly popping off and slapping his mother. But Mama Combs is saying that ain’t sowhile the internet waits to hear from the rest of the family.
As mentioned, Janice is shutting down a narrative in the viral Netflix series about an alleged encounter with her son. Former Bad Boy Records co-founder Kirk Burrows said in one of the four episodes that Diddy slapped his mother while they were talking about the fatal stampede at City College on December 28, 1991. Nine people died, and almost 30 people suffered injuries from the incident at the overcrowded gym. ‘The Reckoning’ explored Sean Combs’ part in organizing and promoting the event, and how he handled the outcome.
In her Dec. 6 statement to DEADLINE, Janice Combs said her intent was to “correct some of the lies” in the Netflix docuseries. She said the “inaccuracies” were intentional to mislead the viewers, but also “further harm” the Combs’ family reputation. She said Burrows’ allegations that Diddy slapped her are “inaccurate and patently false.”
“That was a very sad day for all of us,” Janice Combs said of the New York City incident. “For [Kirk Burrows] to use this tragedy and incorporate fake narratives to further his prior failed and current attempt to gain what was never his, Bad Boy Records is wrong, outrageous and past offensive.”
Before the docuseries’ release, Sean Combs has also strongly denied claims in the docuseries in a cease and desist letter that fell flat. Diddy, using his legal team, called out Netflix for its business with the show’s executive producer to make “a shameful hit piece.” Combs also claimed ‘The Reckoning’ featured stolen footage of him days before his arrest in September 2024. He said the videos were misappropriate content from his own collection that he’s been filming since he was 19.
Meanwhile, the filmmaker, Alexandria Stapleton, already said last month that the footage featured was obtained legally with the necessary rights. “We moved heaven and earth to keep the filmmakers identity confidential. One thing about Sean Combs is that hes always filming himself, and its been an obsession throughout the decades…,” according to Deadline.
Janice isn’t the only one speaking out since ‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning’ dropped on the streaming platform. Misa Hylton broke her silence just one day before her former mother-in-law. Misa, Justin Combs‘ mom, called out the Netflix project and Gene Deal on Instagram in a now-deleted message. Gene was previously a bodyguard for Bad Boy Records. She claimed she and Justin have been getting harassed over misleading claims, especially after Gene suggested Justin’s dad is someone other than Diddy. Misa said she and her son have been “dragged into something” they never asked for. She emphasized that her response is about “Misa and Justin ONLY.”
“With a little critical thinking it would be easy to realize that the things being said could not possibly be true because of the results that would come from these disparaging statements if they were in fact true.”
