NBCUniversal controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Court orders Sean 'Diddy' Combs to pay NBCUniversal nearly $500,000 in legal fees
Ruling
In a ruling issued on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, Judge Phaedra F. Perry-Bond ordered Sean 'Diddy' Combs to pay NBCUniversal $477,700.50 in legal fees. The decision followed the dismissal of Combs's lawsuit, filed in New York in early 2025, which accused NBC and Peacock of defaming him in the documentary 'Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy.' Combs had sought $100 million in the suit. NBCUniversal had requested nearly $1 million in legal fees, but the court found substantial portions of that request excessive and unreasonable, reducing it by more than half.
Source excerpt
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been ordered to pay nearly half a million dollars in legal fees after he unsuccessfully sued NBC over its documentary, Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy.
“NBCUniversal sought nearly $1 million in attorneys’ fees, and the Court found substantial portions of those fees excessive and unreasonable, cutting their request by more than half,” Juda Engelmayer, a spokesperson for Combs, told PEOPLE in a statement.
Judge Phaedra F. Perry-Bond ruled Tuesday, Oct. 6, that Combs would be responsible for $477,700.50.
2026
Writer sues Taylor Sheridan and studios over Yellowstone idea
Lawsuit filed
TV writer Lauren J. Salkin filed a lawsuit claiming Taylor Sheridan stole her idea for the series Yellowstone, naming Sheridan, his management company Elevate Entertainment, NBCUniversal, Paramount and others as defendants; she alleges she pitched a series titled Sovereign Nation to Sheridan's representatives between late 2016 and early 2017 and that it was declined on February 1, 2017, while Paramount greenlit Yellowstone within a month.
Source excerpt
Salkin has claimed she presented a pilot, concept, storylines and a pitch deck for a TV series, Sovereign Nation, to Sheridan's reps at Elevate sometime between late 2016 and early 2017.
It's alleged that Paramount greenlit Yellowstone "within month," while she pointed to several examples - including story mechanisms, character functions and plot devices - to suggest there are many parallels between the ideas.
Taylor Sheridan, the mind behind Yellowstone, is being sued by a TV writer claiming he stole her idea for the hit show.
2021
NBCUniversal reaches confidential settlement with Ron Meyer
Settlement
NBCUniversal made a confidential settlement with former Universal studio executive Ron Meyer. The report says Meyer had been ousted amid a sex scandal; the settlement terms were not disclosed.
Source excerpt
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
NBCUniversal has made a confidential settlement with former Universal studio executive Ron Meyer, who was ousted last year amid a sex scandal, according to two people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to comment.
2021
Devin Nunes sues NBCUniversal over Rachel Maddow report
Lawsuit filed
Devin Nunes filed a lawsuit against NBCUniversal, alleging that Rachel Maddow defamed him in a March 18, 2021 segment on her show.
Source excerpt
has filed a lawsuit against NBCUniversal Media, alleging acclaimed MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow defamed him in a March 18, 2021 segment on her show.
2020
EU fines NBCUniversal over merchandise sales restrictions
Fine or penalty
EU authorities fined NBCUniversal and other companies owned by parent Comcast Corp. €14.3 million over what the EU described as anti-competitive licensing and distribution practices that restricted cross-border sales of licensed film merchandise.
Source excerpt
Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager on Thursday slapped a 14.3 million euro ($15.8 million) penalty on NBCUniversal and other companies owned by parent Comcast Corp. for “anti-competitive licensing and distribution practices” that are illegal under the bloc’s rules.
Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said that the fine has been imposed for "anti-competitive licensing and distribution practices" that are illegal under the bloc's rules.
However, the antitrust regulators reduced NBCUniversal's fine by 30% as a noble gesture since the company cooperated with the regulators during the investigations.
2019
Locast countersues broadcasters over alleged antitrust conduct
Lawsuit filed
Locast countersued ABC, CBS, Fox and NBCUniversal, alleging that the broadcasters engaged in antitrust conduct and colluded to grow their market power. The source reports the allegations and does not establish a determination.
Source excerpt
Locast, a non-profit streaming service, has countersued Disney's ABC, CBS, Fox and Comcast's NBCUniversal, alleging the broadcasters engaged in antitrust conduct and colluded to grow their market power.
Locast, a nonprofit streaming service, has countersued Disney’s ABC, CBS, Fox and Comcast’s NBCUniversal, alleging the broadcasters engaged in antitrust conduct and colluded to grow their market power.