Fact Check: Samuel L. Jackson did not testify at Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial
Claim:
Actor Samuel L. Jackson testified against Sean 'Diddy' Combs during his trial in New York.
Rating:
A claim alleging Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson testified against Sean "Diddy" Combs, the music mogul on trial in a New York federal court facing charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, circulated online in May 2025.
The rumor further purported that Jackson named comedian Steve Harvey as a coconspirator in the crimes of which Combs is accused, alleging Harvey "groomed" his stepdaughter, Lori Harvey, for the rapper.
The trial was on the minds of many internet users, as Combs faces a potential sentence of life in prison if found guilty. Users spread the rumor on social media platforms like Facebook (archived) and TikTok (archived) and it was particularly pervasive on YouTube (archived, archived, archived).
A grand jury indictment further charged Combs with creating "a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice."
@jep1536 #cops #news #copsoftiktok #nasa #fo #ysl ♬ original sound - jep1
However, the claim that Jackson testified against Sean "Diddy" Combs is false. There is no evidence that Jackson appeared at the trial and searches on Google and DuckDuckGo reveal no credible outlet reported this claim.
Further, while Combs and Lori Harvey reportedly dated in the past, there is no evidence that Steve Harvey was involved in Combs' alleged crimes or was mentioned during the trial as of this writing.
Instead, on May 22, 2025, a video created at least partially with artificial intelligence (AI) appeared on a YouTube channel with a disclaimer that read, "The content on this channel may contain gossip-based information, rumors, or exaggerated portrayals of reality. Please exercise your own discretion while watching and remember that not all information presented may be factual or verified."
Further, the video itself contained a disclaimer in its description that read, "this content is fictional and intended for entertainment purposes only. No verified court documents or official statements confirm these claims."
The description of the video also featured a note under the heading "how this content was made" that read, "Sound or visuals were significantly edited or digitally generated."
Indeed, plugging the video into the AI-detection tool Hive Moderation revealed that the voice-over audio was 99% likely to have been generated with AI. Many of the visuals used in the video are authentic clips of Jackson and Combs from prior interviews or courtroom sketches available online.
(Hive Moderation)
The same YouTube channel, WhatIsMyStarWorth, shared similar false claims Snopes has previously fact-checked. These include allegations that Usher testified against Combs and that a secret Prince recording was played during the trial.
A quick look at the channel's video page revealed a slew of rumors conjured about various notable names with no tangible involvement in the Combs trial using AI-generated thumbnail images of Combs and the celebrities in question.
(WhatIsMyStarWorth on YouTube)
The video purported that the news came from an outlet called Inner City Press, though there is no evidence that Inner City Press reported about Jackson in relation to the trial. Further, the outlet previously debunked similar claims that falsely credited it with being the source of the fictional news.
CBC. "Diddy on Trial - Transcript." CBC Radio, 22 May 2025. CBC.ca, https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/diddy-on-trial-transcript-1.7541027.
"Diddy Faces Public Scrutiny over Alleged Sex Crimes as Questions Arise about Future of His Music." AP News, 21 Sept. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/sean-combs-diddy-7ffff613c885e5010ba3cfdb0625fb5a.
"Diddy Hangs Out With Rumored Girlfriend Lori Harvey's Family in Italy." TMZ, https://www.tmz.com/watch/080518-tmz-clip-diddy-4606151-0-5y4f3hnw/. Accessed 23 May 2025.
France, Lisa Respers. "Courtroom Sketches of the Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial Are Drawing Quite a Reaction." CNN, 21 May 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/21/entertainment/court-sketches-diddy-trial-cassie.
Liles, Jordan. "Secret Prince Recording Wasn't Played at Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial." Snopes, 19 May 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/prince-diddy-recording/.
---. "Usher Didn't Testify in Court against Sean 'Diddy' Combs." Snopes, 21 May 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/usher-testify-diddy-trial/.
Scannell, Nicki Brown, Lauren del Valle, Kara. "May 20, 2025 - Day 7 of Testimony in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial." CNN, 20 May 2025, https://www.cnn.com/entertainment/live-news/diddy-trial-cassie-court-case-05-20-25.
United States of America v. Sean Combs. United States District Court Southern District of New York, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/media/1368556/dl.
"United States v. COMBS, 1:24-Cr-00542 - CourtListener.Com." CourtListener, https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69167625/united-states-v-combs/. Accessed 23 May 2025.
What Is Sean "Diddy" Combs Charged with and How Long Will His Trial Last? 13 May 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0qz32wzeego.
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