Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has spoken candidly about his decision to serve as executive producer of a new documentary series examining the rise, fall, and legal reckoning of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is currently incarcerated after being convicted on prostitution-related charges.

In an exclusive interview with Good Morning America that aired Monday, Jackson explained that remaining silent was never an option. He told ABC News anchor Robin Roberts that without public commentary from influential figures in hip-hop, Combs’ behavior could be misinterpreted as something the culture itself tolerates or ignores.

“If I stayed quiet, people would assume hip-hop is okay with what he did,” Jackson said. “Nobody else was speaking up. That silence sends a message — that we’re looking away, that we’re minding our business instead of holding people accountable. And that reflects on the entire culture.”

Jackson partnered with director Alexandria Stapleton on the four-part docuseries, Sean Combs: The Reckoning, which includes previously unseen footage of Combs obtained by Netflix. The material captures Combs in the tense days leading up to his September 2024 arrest in New York City, including a revealing phone conversation in which he debates legal strategy with his attorneys.

Stapleton said the footage offered a rare glimpse into how Combs managed his public image even while facing imminent legal consequences. “It was fascinating to watch someone so skilled at branding and self-promotion remain hyper-aware of how he might be perceived,” she told Roberts. “Even in moments of crisis, that instinct never really shut off.”

One particularly striking scene shows Combs greeting fans in Harlem before privately expressing discomfort afterward, saying he needed hand sanitizer and a bath. Jackson pointed to the moment as unintentionally revealing. According to him, it exposed a side of Combs that contradicted his public persona and demonstrated how power and detachment can shape behavior.

“He got in the car and said he felt dirty,” Jackson recalled. “That tells you a lot about who he is. Moments like that matter because he forgot the camera was rolling — and that’s when the truth slips out.”

Combs, who is expected to be released from prison in 2028, has strongly criticized the series. In a statement to ABC News, his representative accused Netflix of using stolen footage and labeled the project a “shameful hit piece.” The statement argued that Combs had spent decades documenting his life with the intention of telling his own story and claimed it was both unethical and illegal for Netflix to release the material without authorization.

The representative also took aim at Jackson personally, describing him as a longtime adversary with a personal vendetta against Combs. Handing creative control to someone who has publicly criticized Combs for years, the statement said, was deeply unfair and felt like a deliberate personal attack.

Stapleton firmly rejected those accusations. She stated that the footage was obtained legally and that the production team took extraordinary measures to protect the identity of the filmmaker who provided it. She also emphasized that Combs’ legal team had been contacted multiple times for comment and participation but never responded.

Beyond behind-the-scenes footage, The Reckoning also features rare interviews with two jurors from Combs’ trial — identified as Juror 75 and Juror 160 — who speak publicly for the first time about how the jury reached its mixed verdict. In July, Combs was found guilty on two counts related to prostitution but acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges involving his former partner Cassie Ventura and another woman who testified under the pseudonym “Jane.”

Juror 75 characterized Combs and Ventura as “two people in love,” while Juror 160 noted that domestic violence was not among the charges considered. Jackson, however, expressed sympathy for Ventura, emphasizing her young age at the start of the relationship and the long-term psychological effects of abuse.

“When you’re that young, you don’t always recognize what’s happening,” Jackson said. “Over time, people become conditioned. That’s why I see her as a victim in all of this.”

Stapleton said one of the documentary’s central goals is to encourage viewers to critically examine how justice is applied and who benefits from doubt in high-profile courtrooms. She hopes audiences will question whether fame, wealth, and perception influenced the trial’s outcome.

Ultimately, Jackson believes Combs himself would recognize the documentary’s quality, even if he disagrees with parts of it. “I think he’d say it’s one of the best documentaries he’s seen in a long time,” Jackson said. “He may not like everything in it, but he knows what’s true — and I think he’ll see that truth reflected back at him.”