Sean “Diddy” Combs has been ordered to pay NBCUniversal $477,700.50 in legal fees following the dismissal of his $100 million defamation lawsuit over the documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy.
The ruling, issued by New York Supreme Court Justice Phaedra F. Perry-Bond on October 6, represents a significant financial setback for the music mogul, whose lawsuit accused NBCUniversal and other parties of damaging his reputation through the 2025 documentary.
NBCUniversal, Peacock and production company Ample Entertainment had initially requested approximately $990,292 in legal fees for defending themselves against the lawsuit. However, the judge reduced the award by more than $512,000, finding that portions of the legal work billed were excessive or unreasonable.
Why Diddy Sued NBCUniversal
Combs filed the $100 million lawsuit in 2025 over Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, a documentary released that year on Peacock. The production examined his rise in the music industry, his personal relationships and the allegations surrounding his conduct.
The documentary included interviews with former associates, journalists, people who accused Combs of misconduct and others connected to his life and career. Among those featured was singer Al B. Sure!, who raised questions about the death of Combs’ former partner, Kim Porter.
Combs argued that the documentary promoted unfounded conspiracy theories and falsely suggested he was responsible for serious crimes, including murder. He maintained that the programme had caused reputational and financial harm.
Judge Dismissed the Lawsuit
In April 2026, Justice Perry-Bond dismissed Combs’ claims, finding that he had not established a sufficient basis for the reputational harm alleged in the lawsuit. The court also applied the libel-proof plaintiff doctrine, which concerns whether allegedly defamatory statements can cause additional reputational damage to someone whose reputation has already been substantially harmed.
Combs subsequently faced the additional legal-fee order after the defendants sought reimbursement for their costs in successfully defending the case.
The fee award does not mean Combs has been ordered to pay the $100 million he originally sought. Instead, it requires him to cover the specified portion of the defendants’ legal expenses.
Combs’ Legal Challenges Continue
The ruling comes as Combs continues to deal with other legal matters. He is serving a 50-month federal prison sentence following his conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was acquitted of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges in the same federal case.
His representative, Juda Engelmayer, acknowledged the reduction in NBCUniversal’s legal-fee request in a statement to PEOPLE, noting that the court had cut the amount sought by more than $512,000.
Although the original defamation case was dismissed, reports indicate that Combs has appealed the decision. The latest fee ruling adds another financial obligation as he continues to challenge aspects of the legal proceedings against him.
