Diddy Faces Nearly $1 Million Legal Bill After Judge Dismisses His NBC Defamation Claims

Sean 'Diddy' Combs' attempt to win a massive payout from NBCUniversal has ended with an altogether different financial headache. After a New York judge dismissed his $100 million (£73.3 million) defamation lawsuit over the Peacock documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, NBCUniversal, Peacock and Ample Entertainment are now seeking $990,292 (£725,900) in legal fees.

Judge Dismissed Combs' $100 Million Claim

Combs filed the lawsuit against NBCUniversal, Peacock and production company Ample Entertainment after the documentary was released in January 2025.

He accused the companies of making false and reckless claims that damaged his reputation, particularly material concerning allegations and conspiracy theories linking him to the deaths of people including Kim Porter and The Notorious B.I.G.

The former Bad Boy Records boss sought at least $100 million in damages, arguing that the documentary portrayed him in an unfair and deeply damaging manner.

But the case collapsed in April 2026 when New York Supreme Court Justice Phaedra F. Perry-Bond granted the defendants' motion to dismiss.

The judge found that Combs had failed to establish a sufficient basis for his defamation claims and noted that the documentary presented multiple perspectives rather than simply endorsing the allegations made by interviewees.

NBCUniversal Wants Nearly $1 Million

NBCUniversal, Peacock and Ample Entertainment initially requested approximately $927,000 (£680,000) in legal fees for defending the lawsuit. They later added around $63,000 (£46,200) for work responding to Combs' objections to their fee request, taking the total to $990,292.

The defendants are relying on New York's anti-SLAPP protections, which can require plaintiffs to pay reasonable legal costs when lawsuits target speech protected by law, particularly speech involving matters of public interest.

Interestingly, Combs is reportedly not disputing that the defendants can recover legal fees. His objection focuses instead on the size of the bill. His side argues that NBCUniversal could have hired less experienced lawyers and devoted fewer hours to defeating his claim.

NBC's lawyers, however, defended the work performed, pointing to the complexity of the litigation and the number of hours required to respond to Combs' allegations.

Documentary Evidence Proved Crucial

Combs objected to claims and interviews featured in the programme, including suggestions concerning deaths and alleged misconduct. His lawsuit argued that NBCUniversal had crossed the line from reporting into defamation.

Justice Perry-Bond described the documentary as presenting a nuanced collection of material, including competing statements and information that challenged some of the allegations. The judge also highlighted material concerning Kim Porter's death, including her autopsy report and a statement from her family disputing claims of foul play.

The Legal Loss Adds to Combs' Mounting Costs

The potential $990,292 bill arrives while Combs remains behind bars serving a 50-month federal sentence after being convicted on two Mann Act counts. A jury acquitted him of the more serious racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, but his legal battles continue, including an appeal of his criminal conviction.

The NBCUniversal dispute is therefore another financial and legal setback at a time when Combs is already facing substantial expenses.

His criminal defence has reportedly cost millions, with TMZ reporting that he paid between $7 million and $8 million (£5.1 million and £5.9 million) to his legal team during the federal case.

The final amount still depends on the court's determination, so the $990,292 figure is a requested legal-fee award rather than a final payment order. But the direction of the case is already clear.