Did recording artist Usher testify during the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs in May 2025? No, that's not true, as of May 21: The claim appeared in a YouTube video whose description labeled it "fictional". Despite widespread and intensive news coverage, no outlet covering the trial has mentioned any testimony by him.
The rumor appeared in a May 20, 2025, video on YouTube (archived here), which bore the title "1 MINUTE AGO: Usher Breaks Down in Court, Reveals What Diddy Did to Him at 14..."
At the outset of the video, a voice could be heard saying:
The courtroom was dead silent as the judge called the next witness. All eyes turned toward the back, as a familiar face stepped forward -- one that noone expected to see. Usher Raymond, the Grammy-winning R&B star was about to testify. Not about his music, not about a label dispute, but about what really happened behind the closed doors of Sean "Diddy" Combs's empire.
For years, Usher stayed silent. He played the game, smiled through interviews, dodged questions. But now, as Diddy faces federal charges of trafficking, coercion and a criminal enterprise of abuse, Usher has finally decided to tell the truth. And the truth, he says, has been eating him alive.
From what he witnessed as a 14 year-old under Diddy's care, to what he later realized about the entertainment industry's darkest corners, his testimony isn't just shocking -- it's historic, and it could change everything.
This is what it looked like at the time of writing:
(Source: YouTube screenshot)
As of May 21, Usher, the recording artist whose full name is Usher Raymond, 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 Usher had given testimony, the fact of his testimony, and its content, would undoubtedly have been mentioned in news reports, especially if it involved a suggestion that Combs had sexually abused him at a young age.
A Google News search for the words "Usher", "Diddy" and "trial" yielded no relevant results, demonstrating that the rumor was false. Usher was reportedly mentioned during testimony by the singer Dawn Richard, who testified on May 19 that he was among several celebrities present at a dinner, during which Combs allegedly assaulted his then-girlfriend, the singer Cassie.
It remains a possibility that Usher will be called to testify at the trial, but as of May 21, he had not, and the testimony contained in the May 20 YouTube video was fictional.
Indeed, the description of that video conceded as much, stating:
Disclaimer: This content is fictional and for entertainment purposes only. No official court records or verified reports confirm these claims.
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For previous Lead Stories debunks about Sean "Diddy" Combs, click here.
