Two jurors from the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs have provided insights into their split verdict through a new docuseries produced by 50 Cent. Titled *Sean Combs: The Reckoning*, the series debuted on December 2, 2024, and aims to clarify the jury’s reasoning behind the decision that found Combs guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution while acquitting him of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
Juror 160, featured in the first episode, emphasized the importance of conveying the jurors’ perspective. “It’s not everything that the media has put it out to be,” she stated. Reflecting on the reaction to the split verdict, she noted, “I do feel it’s important that we let the public know from the jurors’ standpoint just kind of how we reached the verdict.” During deliberations, she expressed surprise at the limited nature of the verdict, recalling, “Oh, [spells out s***],” upon acknowledging their agreement on only two counts.
The jury reached their decision on July 2, 2024, after two days of deliberation. Combs, 56, had pleaded not guilty and denied all allegations against him. Following the trial, Judge Arun Subramanian sentenced him to 50 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $500,000.
Another juror, referred to as Juror 75, expressed confidence in the outcome, stating he “100 percent” believes that justice was served. He explained, “We saw both sides of it and we came to our conclusions.” The jury had been presented with various testimonies, including those from forensic psychologist Dr. Dawn Hughes, who discussed the complexities of abusive relationships. Juror 75, however, voiced confusion regarding the behavior of Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, questioning why she returned to Combs despite the alleged abuse.
“It was a very, very interesting relationship,” Juror 75 commented. He pointed out the contradiction in Cassie’s actions, stating, “If you don’t like something, you completely get out. You cannot have it both ways.” The jury reviewed evidence, including text messages between Cassie and Combs, which he claimed raised further doubts about her allegations.
Juror 160 acknowledged the troubling nature of a video showing Combs allegedly assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway back in 2016. “Unforgivable, honestly,” she remarked, while clarifying that the charges they considered did not include domestic violence. She also addressed speculation about Combs’ behavior during the trial. While she noted he sometimes nodded at the jury, she dismissed claims that he was attempting to influence their decision.
“It wasn’t anything crazy,” she explained. “I think it was more of just him as a person reacting to whatever was being said.” Both jurors expressed their struggle with the credibility of certain testimonies, particularly regarding the recollections of witnesses from years prior.
In response to the docuseries, Combs released a statement through his spokesperson, condemning it as a “shameful hit piece.” He criticized Netflix for allegedly using unauthorized footage and claimed that the portrayal of his life was sensationalized. Combs emphasized that he has been documenting his life since he was 19 and accused the streaming service of misappropriating his work without consent.
“Netflix is plainly desperate to sensationalize every minute of Mr. Combs’ life, without regard for truth,” the statement read. He also expressed disappointment that Ted Sarandos, CEO of Netflix, would allow a longstanding adversary like 50 Cent to produce the series.
Director Alexandria Stapleton has stated that the footage was obtained legally, asserting the necessary rights were in place. The docuseries aims to explore the complexities surrounding Combs’ life and legal challenges.
*Sean Combs: The Reckoning* is currently available for streaming on Netflix. For those seeking support related to sexual assault or domestic violence, resources such as the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) and the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 are available.
