Did percussionist Sheila E. testify during the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs in May 2025? No, that's not true: That claim appeared in a YouTube video whose description labeled the claim "fictional". Despite widespread and intensive news coverage, no outlet covering the trial has mentioned any testimony by her.
The rumor appeared in a May 19, 2025, video on YouTube (archived here), which bore the title "1 MINUTE AGO: Sheila E. Reveals What Prince Told Her About Diddy Before His Death..." At the outset of the video, a voice can be heard saying:
This is the verbatim federal courtroom testimony of the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial...In a shocking twist on Day 7 of the Diddy trial, the courtroom fell silent as Sheila E. was called to testify. Known to most as Prince's legendary percussionist and close confidante, few expected her to speak out, but when she took the stand, she wasn't just representing herself, she was carrying the final warnings of a man who many believe knew too much. Sheila E. revealed that Prince had confided in her, years before her sudden death, claiming he feared for his life after learning the truth about what was happening behind closed doors in the industry.
This is what it looked like at the time of writing:
(Source: YouTube screenshot)
As of May 20, Sheila E., the stage name of percussionist and recording artist Sheila Escovedo, had not testified at the trial, in which Combs faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The trial has formed the basis of widespread and intensive news coverage since it opened on May 5. If a celebrity such as Escovedo had given testimony, the fact of her testimony, and its content, would undoubtedly have been mentioned in news reports, especially if it contained accounts of confidential conversations with Prince, before his death in 2016.
A Google News search for the words "Sheila E", "Diddy" and "trial" yielded no relevant results, demonstrating that the rumor was false.
Indeed, the description of the May 19 YouTube video conceded as much, reading:
Disclaimer: This content is fictional and for entertainment purposes only. No official reports confirm these statements or events.
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For previous Lead Stories debunks about Sean 'Diddy' Combs, click here.
