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Diddy Loses Defamation Suit and Defendants Seek Nearly $1 Million in Fees

Defendants have invoked New York’s anti‑SLAPP law to recover legal costs which could add pressure to Combs’s finances while he serves a federal sentence.

Overview

  • The federal court dismissed Sean 'Diddy' Combs’s $100 million defamation lawsuit over Peacock’s documentary after finding the film presented competing viewpoints and that Combs did not show grossly irresponsible reporting.
  • Citing court filings, NBCUniversal, Peacock and Ample asked the judge on Tuesday to award roughly $990,292 in legal fees after an initial request of $927,448 plus $62,844 for work responding to fee objections.
  • The companies say New York’s anti‑SLAPP statute requires fee shifting because the suit targeted protected speech on a matter of public interest and aimed to penalize reporting about Combs.
  • Combs is serving a 50‑month federal sentence at FCI Fort Dix with a projected release date in February 2028, and the defendants pointed to his sentencing statement and prior litigation to argue his reputation was already diminished.
  • The case sits inside a larger web of civil claims and renewed public scrutiny of long‑running allegations that have not produced criminal charges, and a court award of fees could discourage similar high‑cost suits against media outlets.