10 Documentaries That Led to Huge Lawsuits

Backfiring Lawsuit

“The Carter” (2009)


The 2009 documentary “The Carter” was about the life of Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., better known as Lil Wayne, in the lead-up to releasing his 2008 album “The Carter III.” Reportedly, Wayne was delighted with the final cut. However, upon its second screening at the 25th Sundance Film Festival, the rapper initiated a $50-million lawsuit against its release. Wayne claimed “The Carter” contained footage that he was promised would be removed. However, the judge threw the suit out. Regardless, “The Carter” had to resort to coming out on iTunes and DVD. In 2012, after further lawsuits between Wayne and the film's producer Quincy Jones III, the rapper went viral with his deposition. He lost the case and had to pay Jones nearly $2.2 million.

Irreparably Harmed Reputation

“Quiet on Set: The Dark Side Of Kids” (2024)

After years of rumors, in 2024, the documentary series “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side Of Kids” shone a spotlight on the murky world of Nickelodeon. One of the production’s main subjects was the explosive allegations against former children’s TV creator Dan Schneider, who was accused of fostering a toxic work environment and misconduct against children. In the aftermath, Schneider issued a lawsuit against the show's producers, claiming it “irreparably harmed” his reputation. While he apologized for his on-set behavior, the TV writer denied the allegations he knew of or participated in any abuse of the underage stars, which he believed the series implied. In November 2024, the lawsuit was given the go-ahead by a judge to proceed.

Outtake Outrage

“Crude” (2009)

Produced and directed by Joe Berlinger, 2009’s “Crude” detailed the lawsuit issued by Ecuadorians residing in the Amazon Rainforest against the oil and gas company, the Chevron Corporation. The residents believed the company had polluted their land. After Judge Lewis Kaplan allowed Chevron access to the outtakes following a lawsuit against the creators, it found footage of lawyer Steven Donziger discussing unsavory tactics to beat the company in court. After the oil firm lost the original lawsuit and had to pay nearly $19 billion, in 2014, Kaplan ruled against the previous judgment by citing fraud from the Ecuadorians’ US lawyers, as seen in the outtakes. Kaplan also controversially ruled that Donziger had committed fraud. The lawyer was later disbarred.

The Double Suit

“Tabloid” (2011)

In what is sometimes known as the “Manacled Mormon case,” in 1977, Joyce McKinney was accused by Mormon missionary Kirk Anderson of abducting and abusing him in England over several days. Weirdly, she became a sort of celebrity for a time. In 2010, “Tabloid” was released, which examined the case and the newspapers’ fascination with McKinney. In 2011, she issued a lawsuit against the director, Errol Morris, stating she was misled about the film's intention and that he defamed her. Morris won the case. However, McKinney wasn’t done, as she issued another suit in 2016. Along with similar claims, she also accused Morris of breaking into her home and stealing, as well as threatening to harm her service dog. This case was thrown out.

Serious Accusation

“The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey” (2016)

In 1996, child pageant star JonBenét Ramsey was murdered in her home in Boulder, Colorado. While the case has gripped the US and led to many theories, no one has been sentenced for the crime. The family has denied being involved for decades. In 2016, CBS released the docuseries “The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey,” which examined the case and speculated who could’ve been responsible. JonBenét’s brother, Burke Ramsey, soon issued lawsuits against CBS, forensic pathologist Dr. Werner Spitz, and others for defamation as he was accused of the crime. Altogether, he was requesting $250 million in compensatory damages and no less than $500 million in punitive damages. In 2019, the case was settled out of court.

Investors Misled

“Blackfish” (2013)

In 2013, the landscape of SeaWorld was changed forever upon the release of “Blackfish.” Focusing on the captivity of Tilikum, an orca which had taken 3 human lives, and how orcas are treated by the company, many people were disgusted at the allegations. In 2014, investors issued a lawsuit against SeaWorld for misleading them. They alleged that the company had lied about the negative impact the documentary had had on its revenue as people stopped visiting the parks and had artificially inflated share prices. In 2020, a judge agreed to a $65-million settlement. This was on top of a $5 million 2018 judgment against SeaWorld and its former CEO, James Atchison, on similar federal charges.

The Non-Disparagement Clause

“Leaving Neverland” (2019)

After Michael Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005, speculation about the nature of his relationships with children tainted his reputation. In 2019, the creators of “Leaving Neverland” wanted to examine the experiences of 2 alleged victims. However, shortly after the film premiered at Sundance, Jackson’s estate issued a lawsuit against HBO for ignoring a non-disparagement clause. The group claimed that when the broadcaster signed a deal to show one of Jackson’s concerts in 1992, there was a clause stating HBO couldn’t make disparaging remarks about the singer or those tied to him. As such, the estate demanded over $100 million. In 2020, after appealing, HBO was ordered to go to arbitration with Jackson’s estate but both sides agreed to dismiss in 2024.
Battling the Broadcaster
“The Uncounted Enemy: A Vietnam Deception” (1982)

In 1982, the docuseries “CBS Reports” released the episode “The Uncounted Enemy: A Vietnam Deception.” It detailed allegations that General William Westmoreland had manipulated intelligence reports that there were fewer communists in South Vietnam in 1967, which the US was at war with at the time. This figure editing would then give the impression to the States that the country’s invasion was successful when it actually wasn’t. As a result, Westmoreland issued a $120 million lawsuit for defamation against CBS and the episode’s producers. In 1985, the trial got underway. However, believing the jury was seemingly siding with CBS, Westmoreland settled the case out of court before a verdict was reached.

Jumping to Conclusions

“Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy” (2025)

In 2023, several women came forward with misconduct allegations about Sean Combs, also known as the musician and record producer Diddy. He was arrested and, at the time of writing, is awaiting his trial. In 2025, NBC, through its Peacock streaming service, released the documentary film “Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy,” which explored several allegations, including those that he was responsible for the deaths of various people, such as Kim Porter. In response, Combs filed a lawsuit against the broadcaster. He claimed the documentary “maliciously and baselessly jumps to the conclusion” about Diddy’s alleged criminal exploits. As such, he believed the film caused economic harm to him, resulting in him demanding $100 million in damages.

Defamation Claims

“Chris Brown: A History of Violence” (2024)


Allegations of abuse made against high-profile figures are unfortunately destined to cause a media frenzy, and Chris Brown’s legal situation is no different. Over the years, there have been various claims of Brown’s violent behavior, to varying degrees of public knowledge. An investigative 2024 documentary outlined these cases, to the obvious detriment to Brown’s image. In response, Brown filed a defamation suit against Warner Bros. Discovery for $500 million. His team claims that the accounts at the heart of the documentary are false, despite the numerous allegations to the contrary.


Are there any other cases of people suing documentary makers that we missed in our video? Let us know below!