We don’t want to believe it but The National Enquirer is now saying that “Prince Died of AIDS” and had been preparing for his death “for a while.”

A devout Jehovah’s Witness, prince was diagnosed with the condition six months before his sudden death and his weight is said to have been just 80lbs. He is also alleged to have refused medical treatment, according to the National Enquirer‘s front page story, saying,

“God can cure me.“

According to the shocking story that is now making its way around the world,

“Doctors told Prince his blood count was unusually low and that his body temperature had dropped dangerously below the normal 98.6 degrees to 94 degrees. He was totally iron-deficient, very weak and often disoriented. He rarely ate and when he did, it all came right back up.

His face was yellowish, the skin on his neck was hanging off and the tips of fingers were a brownish-yellow.”

Prince was seen to be making runs to a local pharmacy shortly before his death to pick up treatment for what is believed to have been a painful and severe case of influenza. A source told the National Enquirer,

“We were all just shocked that he came in last night looking so beat. We said, ‘We are praying for you.”

He said, almost under his breath,

“‘Maybe if you prayed for me a year ago it’d be different right now.“

Then he waved and said thanks anyway.

It comes as sources close to the investigation into the circumstances of Prince’s death said he was in possession of prescription painkillers when he passed away. According to CNN and TMZ, the painkillers were found on Prince shortly after his death aged 57 at his home in Minneapolis.

The Enquirer has also claimed that Prince suffered from an addiction to Percoet, which he was using to try and dull his pain during the final stages of his life. L. Londell McMillan, who knew Prince for 25 years and at once point worked as his manager denies this and insists the singer did not have addiction issues.

The National Enquirer claims Prince was diagnosed with HIV back in the 1990s, but it developed into AIDS at the end of last year. A statement from Prince’s family and friend’s issued shortly after his death said it was caused by influenza, an illness which could prove fatal to an AIDS sufferer due to their weakened immune defences.

The Enquirer has surely published plenty of falsehoods and half-truths in the past, but American Media (who owns them) has been sued many times before and their lawyers PROBABLY had a good look at the evidence before they went with this story. Prince’s estate WILL take legal action if this proves to be false… otherwise, you won’t hear a word from them.

Representatives for Prince haven’t yet responded to the allegations and an autopsy is pending. (via Telegraph)