A Manhattan judge blocked Dr. Phil’s son from selling footage from an NYPD doc hours after the Mamdani administration sued over the release of “life-threatening” footage, court filings show.
Judge Carol Sharpe signed a restraining order late Wednesday, forbidding Jordan McGraw — son of prominent TV doc and former Oprah sidekick Dr. Phil — from “transferring, selling, disposing of, or in any way disseminating and/or distributing any video footage,” unless he removed the “vetoed” content.
City lawyers say that the footage, if aired, would “pose an imminent threat to the life and safety of active NYPD officers,” and “undoubtedly tarnish their reputation and goodwill” of the department.
That footage is part of a contentious NYPD documentary, “Behind the Badge,” which gave McGraw “special” access to police operations for a multi-part TV show to “highlight the extraordinary work of the NYPD.”
In exchange for the access, the city retained “reasonable discretion” over what footage could air, given the “sensitive” nature of police work, court docs show.
The lawsuit filed by the city on Wednesday claims that McGraw ignored requests to remove the “harmful footage” that could “irreparably harm” the NYPD, its officers and ongoing investigations — despite McGraw agreeing to the city’s right to veto in his contract.
That “harmful” footage flagged by the city revealed the names and faces of undercover cops, witnesses, and juveniles, as well as details of active investigations — and even a secret code to a precinct house.
“Any of this footage airing threatens to interfere with law enforcement investigations, judicial proceedings, deprive numerous arrestees’ rights to a fair trial,” the suit claims, “and cause significant harm to the City and the Department as it would undoubtedly tarnish their reputation and goodwill.”
Officials from then-Mayor Eric Adams’ office sent written feedback twice flagging the issues, and a letter on Dec. 31, his last day in office, looking to squash the project entirely, according to the Manhattan Supreme Court filing.
But a producer for McGraw allegedly rebuffed the contractual obligations, hinting at an intent to publish the “harmful” and “negative” footage, or find a buyer for the footage, the city claims.
“Defendants have disavowed their obligations to allow the City its say in what material becomes part of the Project, risking immediate and irreparable harm to the City, its employees, and the public at large,” the lawsuit states.
“Even if the Producer is unsuccessful in finding a buyer,” city lawyers wrote, “it could self-publish the footage at any time.”
Police commissioner Jessica Tisch was never on board with the show, sources said — and the whole program was a pet project by two of Adams’ top allies: former Chief of Department John Chell and Kaz Daughtry, who formerly served in top positions in the department and City Hall.
McGraw’s lawyer pushed back on the ruling.
“It is our position that last night’s order violates the First Amendment’s near total prohibition of prior restraints,” attorney Chip Babcock said. “In any event, the Production company received certain requests for edits and was in the process of addressing them when this lawsuit was filed without prior notice.”
But Adams was happy to share his thoughts, praising the Dr. Phil progeny and oddly claiming that it’s all good, despite his own office penning the letter terminating the contract with McGraw on his last day in office.
“City Hall raised concerns about the faces of victims and witnesses being shown,” said Adams spokesperson Todd Shapiro. “All the concerns were addressed.”
