Another "Elvis Presley alive" hoax went viral this week after a report claiming that the body of an 80-year-old homeless man found dead under an overpass in San Diego, California has turned out to be that Elvis Aaron Presley.
The hoax report that was first published in Empire News sparked quite an interest online. It, however, should be noted that Empire News is a satirical website that is often found to have published such baseless reports.
As per its own admission, the site states on its disclaimer page: "Empire News is intended for entertainment purposes only. Our website and social media content uses only fictional names, except in cases of public figure and celebrity parody. Any other use of real names is accidental and coincidental."
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The hoax report gained quite some traction and was widely shared on social media.
The false report stated:
Earlier this month, an 80-year-old, homeless, white-bearded man was found deceased under an overpass in San Diego, California. Nobody knew the man's name, but friends referred to him as Jessie, so investigators decided to try DNA testing with hopes that something would pop up in the nationwide DNA database. What popped up on the computer screen in the high-tech lab stunned everyone. The DNA results of 'Jessie Doe' were an exact match to the one and only, Elvis Aaron Presley.
Lab technician Robert Brensdale said he and his lab assistant, Madeline Hedgespeth, laughed when the name popped up. "We thought somebody, somewhere, somehow in the system pulled the greatest and most elaborate prank on us ever, we both laughed with hysteria for about an hour," Bresndale told Jerry Hardin of the Hollywood Word, a new entertainment publication based out of Los Angeles.
The hoax also included a statement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The false report citing FBI spokesperson Philip Hunter noted that Elvis Presley wanted to lead an anonymous life. And since Elvis and President Nixon were friends, the latter put Elvis in the witness protection programme since 1977.
While the report indeed makes for a great read, the story is nothing but a figment of imagination. Had he not died at age 42 from cardiac arrhythmia on 16 August 1977, the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley would have turned 80 on 8 January this year.
Twitter Reactions on 'Elvis Presley Alive' hoax
RAMSEY @rams_hatchett
apparently Elvis didn't actually die, he faked his death so he could escape fame/become homeless & was just found dead foreal this time.....
nails by charlotte @charlottecollis
There's hope 4 u yet ladies. Deborah Collis Anne Hall
Zach @Ronny_Rolex
Sooo everyones just ignoring the fact that my man Elvis was found dead as a homeless man earlier this month?? Proof from DNA testing and all
Nicholas Adamson @voxfour
Elvis Presley faked his death, died as homeless man.
Jordan Jones @jordanjones623
Shocking DNA Results Revealed: Body Of Elderly Homeless Man Identified As Elvis Presley
Michelle @Michelle_Mohn
... Haha is this for real? I don't know this publication but I feel like it's a satire kind of thing:
