Why Did NBC Delete Its 'Dateline' Episode on Diddy?
The Dateline episode, titled 'Sean Combs on Trial,' has been entirely wiped from the networks' official streaming platforms, with only promotional materials remaining scattered online, such as a trailer, a publicity piece, and official social media posts.
The episode's logline described it as a 'report on Sean 'Diddy' Combs' life.' The show summarizes Combs's rise to fame and his litany of past legal troubles, culminating with the present trial over charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges and rejected a plea deal.
An NBC spokesperson told The Intercept that once the trial began on May 12, the 'Dateline' episode that aired the previous day had become outdated. NBC would not elaborate on which specific portions of the episode had become outdated and warranted the episode being taken down, since the bulk of the program is not about the current trial. Only the first three and last seven minutes of the 41-minute episode focus on Combs's present indictment.
NBC also declined to comment on whether or how often Dateline episodes removes episodes because they have become outdated, and what criteria is used before scrubbing a show from NBC's platforms.
'Dateline' episodes that air before trials don't always appear to be removed from the program's official streaming portals.
For instance, the fourth episode of the show's current 33rd season, 'The Night of the Nor'easter,' focuses on Karen Read, who stands accused of killing her boyfriend. The episode originally premiered on October 18, 2024 — some three months after Read's initial trial was declared a mistrial; a retrial began in April 2025. Although Read's second trial is presently ongoing, the original 'Dateline' episode remains online despite presenting now outdated information. For instance, the episode mentions that Read's lawyers are appealing a judge's decision to reject their attempt to dismiss several of the charges. The appeal was denied in February 2025, four months after the 'Dateline' episode aired.
The 'Dateline' episode that aired two days before the Combs episode, 'The Terrible Night on King Road,' also discusses an upcoming trial. Bryan Kohberger, who is accused of the killings of four University of Idaho students, is scheduled to stand trial in August. The episode remains online on Peacock, although there have been new developments since the episode aired. The case judge issued a document hold order, as the episode contained nonpublic information about the case that the judge believes someone either in law enforcement or on the prosecution team provided Dateline with. Kohberger's attorneys also requested a delay in the trial, citing the 'Dateline' episode.
In February, Combs filed a lawsuit against NBC and Peacock, seeking a minimum of $100 million in damages owing to allegedly false and defamatory statements against Combs in another NBC documentary, 'Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy.' The complaint was filed three months before the Dateline 'Sean Combs on Trial' episode aired. NBC would not comment on the record about whether the removal of the Dateline episode was related to the defamation lawsuit. Combs's lawyers did not respond to a request for a comment. Dateline continues to host a daily podcast about the trial. NBC has also joined a number of other media outlets in asking the court to allow cameras inside the courtroom.
The Combs defamation suit against NBC comes amid a sweep of prominent public figures filing cases against the media. Kash Patel, who was selected by Trump to be the reigning FBI director, previously sued CNN for defamation for claiming that he spread conspiracy theories about then-President Joe Biden. That defamation suit was dismissed, though Patel is now filing a new defamation suit, this time against MSNBC over reporting on the amount of time he allegedly spent at nightclubs.
Trump has recently announced that he is suing CBS for defamation, though the threatened lawsuit doesn't appear to have come to fruition as of yet. Parent company Paramount has also reportedly offered $15 million to settle another suit by Trump against CBS for allegedly deceptive editing practices.
In court on Tuesday, meanwhile, one of Combs's exes testified that 'Dateline' is Combs's favorite TV show.
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