Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs suffers massive legal blow as he’s forced to pay NBC $500K in fees

See more of our coverage in your search results. Sean “Diddy” Combs has been ordered to pay NBCUniversal nearly $500,000 in attorneys’ fees after suing the media company over its “Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy” doc. A judge ordered Combs, 56, to pay $477,700.50 after NBCUniversal successfully defended itself against his lawsuit, according to court documents obtained by TMZ. The company had initially sought $990,292 to cover its attorneys’ fees, but the judge reduced the amount after finding some of its billing excessive despite determining that the attorneys’ hourly rates were reasonable given their experience. Sean “Diddy” Combs (pictured above in Los Angeles in 2023) has been ordered to pay NBCUniversal $477,700.50 in attorneys’ fees after suing the media company over its “Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy” doc. GC Images NBCUniversal had initially sought $990,292 to cover its attorneys’ fees, but a judge reduced the amount after finding some of its billing excessive. (Combs is seen above at the 2022 BET Awards.) Getty Images for BET Combs’ rep, Juda Engelmayer, told TMZ that the ruling was “only half the story,” pointing out that NBCUniversal had sought nearly $1 million and that the court ultimately cut more than $512,000 from its request. Engelmayer said the judge found “substantial portions” of NBCUniversal’s billing “excessive and unreasonable.” “Ironically, the arguments challenging those excessive legal bills were made by the same firm that recently withdrew from representing Sean amid its own billing dispute with him,” he added. Combs’ rep, Juda Engelmayer, told TMZ that the ruling was “only half the story,” pointing out that the court ultimately cut more than $512,000 from NBCUniversal’s request. (Combs is pictured above in an Instagram upload.) Diddy/Instagram “Ironically, the arguments challenging those excessive legal bills were made by the same firm that recently withdrew from representing Sean amid its own billing dispute with him,” Engelmayer said. (Combs is seen above at Capital Preparatory School in the Bronx in 2022.) Getty Images for Sean âDiddyâ Combs The firm Engelmayer is referring to, Sher Tremonte, had represented Combs in a separate $50 million defamation lawsuit he filed in January 2025 against multiple defendants, including NewsNation, over claims involving alleged sex tapes. In September, Sher Tremonte attorneys filed a motion to withdraw from the case. Michael Tremonte, a partner at the firm, said Combs “[had] not paid a substantial balance of attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses” and was “in substantial arrears” on his legal bills, according to court documents obtained by Page Six. In January 2025, Combs filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against multiple defendants, including NewsNation, over claims involving alleged sex tapes. (Combs is pictured above at the 2023 Met Gala.) Getty Images In September 2026, Combs’ attorneys filed a motion to withdraw from the case, saying that Combs was “in substantial arrears” on his legal bills. (Combs is seen above at Howard University in 2023.) Getty Images for Sean "Diddy" Combs Want more celebrity and pop culture news? Start your day with Page Six Daily. Thanks for signing up! In February 2025, Combs filed the $100 million defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal and production company Ample, alleging that the “Making of a Bad Boy” doc caused him “severe reputational and economic harm.” His attorneys claimed in the complaint that the documentary assumes Combs “has committed numerous heinous crimes, including serial murder, rape of minors, and sex trafficking of minors,” while attempting to “crudely psychologize him.” “It maliciously and baselessly jumps to the conclusion that Mr. Combs is a ‘monster’ and ‘an embodiment of Lucifer’ with ‘a lot of similarities to Jeffrey Epstein,'” the lawsuit further stated. Combs (pictured above at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey in 2025) filed the $100 million defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal and production company Ample in February 2025, citing “severe reputational and economic harm.” TMZ / BACKGRID Combs (seen above at the 2023 MTV VMAs) is currently serving a 50-month prison sentence and was recently reportedly placed back in solitary confinement. Getty Images for MTV Combs is currently serving a 50-month prison sentence at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey after he was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Most recently, he was reportedly placed back in solitary confinement after a report revealed his alleged “pampered” lifestyle behind bars. Combs is currently set to be released on Jan. 21, 2028. Community Guidelines Welcome to the Page Six Community! Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas in a safe space. 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