AceShowbiz - Sean Combs, also known as Diddy, received a significant legal setback on Wednesday when a New York judge dismissed his $100 million defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal. The suit targeted the documentary Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, which streamed on NBCUniversal’s Peacock platform.

The lawsuit was originally filed on February 25, 2025, and accused NBCUniversal of damaging Sean Combs' reputation. However, Empire State Supreme Court judge Phaedra F. Perry-Bond ruled that the documentary could not have harmed Combs' standing because his public image was already severely compromised. The judge cited multiple lawsuits, a domestic violence video, extensive press coverage, and a pending criminal indictment that existed prior to the documentary’s release.

This dismissal marks a notable development amid ongoing legal challenges for Sean Combs, who is currently incarcerated and awaiting a decision from a panel of U.S. Court of Appeals judges regarding his criminal case. While the defamation lawsuit has been thrown out, his legal battles continue on other fronts.

The judge’s ruling effectively ends Combs' attempt to seek damages from NBCUniversal for the documentary’s portrayal of his life and career. The court found that the negative information presented was not newly damaging but rather reflected a reputation already under significant scrutiny and criticism before the documentary aired.

As Sean Combs pursues a fast-track appeal regarding his criminal case, this dismissal represents a crucial loss in his broader legal strategy. The outcome clarifies that the court does not view the documentary as the source of any defamation, reinforcing that prior incidents had already affected public perception.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Deadline.