New York City has resolved its legal dispute with Jordan McGraw, a television producer and the son of well-known TV personality Dr. Phil McGraw. The settlement, reached on a Friday, paves the way for the release of a reality television series about the New York Police Department (NYPD) titled "Behind the Badge." This agreement brings an end to a contentious battle that had threatened to block the show's distribution.
The central issue in the dispute was the city's insistence on maintaining editorial control over the content of the show. The city had accused McGraw and his production company, McGraw Media, of attempting to take control of the editorial decisions, which the city claims was a violation of their agreement. Under the terms of the settlement, the city will retain this editorial control. McGraw Media is required to provide the NYPD with "rough cuts" of episodes, which are preliminary versions of the show, so that the department can review them and request edits. McGraw Media must then incorporate the NYPD's requested changes into the final versions of the episodes.
The agreement specifically requires McGraw Media to remove any content that the NYPD designates as inaccurate or confidential. This includes material that the department is legally prohibited from releasing, information that could reveal police investigatory techniques, or anything that might compromise public safety or the public trust. Additionally, McGraw Media agreed to remove any content flagged by the NYPD as portraying the city or the police department in a negative light.
Efforts to obtain comments from Jordan McGraw or representatives of McGraw Media were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. However, a lawyer previously representing McGraw Media, Chip Babcock, had stated that the city's lawsuit was unexpected, especially since the show's publication was not imminent. Babcock noted that McGraw Media had been cooperating with the city to address requested edits and was willing to continue working collaboratively.
The legal conflict began in January when New York City filed a lawsuit against Jordan McGraw and McGraw Media. The city alleged that McGraw and his company violated their agreement, which had granted them special behind-the-scenes access to the NYPD, the largest police force in the United States. The city claimed that this violation risked causing "immediate and irreparable harm." As a result, the city secured a court order that prohibited McGraw Media from selling or distributing any footage from "Behind the Badge."
The lawsuit detailed that the "rough cuts" provided by McGraw Media were largely unedited footage and contained material that was not allowed under the terms of the production agreement. This included sensitive information such as discussions of police operations, identities of undercover officers, crime victims, and witnesses. The lawsuit also cited specific examples of footage that compromised security and privacy, including an officer entering a security code at a police station entrance, discussions of encrypted police communications, and unblurred faces of individuals who had been arrested but not yet tried or convicted.
The original contract between New York City and McGraw Media was signed in April 2025 and was set to last three years. It allowed McGraw Media to produce up to 17 episodes per year, with the city retaining the right to opt out of the agreement. However, the city decided to abandon the project late in the previous year, just hours before the inauguration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The city had expressed concerns about the quality and content of the show and had communicated these to McGraw. According to the lawsuit, McGraw Media responded by refusing to accept the city's requested edits and indicated an intention to distribute the contentious material regardless. McGraw Media was reportedly seeking a buyer to air the show.
The planned distribution for "Behind the Badge" was Phil McGraw's MeritTV cable and streaming channels, where Dr. Phil had previously featured segments involving the police department.
In the days leading up to the settlement, a lawyer representing New York City informed a judge that both parties had agreed on a framework to resolve the dispute. This framework involved a collaborative review process of the rough cuts for nine episodes of the show. According to the terms of the settlement, McGraw Media had already edited the first four episodes in accordance with the city's requirements. The city planned to provide feedback on the fifth and sixth episodes within the following week and on the last three episodes by April 16.
This resolution marks a significant step forward in allowing the reality show to move ahead while ensuring that the city maintains control over how the NYPD is portrayed. The agreement reflects the delicate balance between producing engaging media content and protecting sensitive law enforcement information and public trust. As "Behind the Badge" prepares to be released, viewers can expect a series that has undergone careful vetting to address the city's concerns about accuracy, confidentiality, and security.