American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor and activist ― Willie Nelson ― recently fell victim to a celebrity death hoax, after a fake Facebook page claimed that he had died at the age of 81.
The "RIP Willie Nelson" Facebook page claimed that he died on 6 March at the age of 81. The news soon went viral after the fans started sharing it on Facebook and Twitter.
Reports claim that the Facebook page attracted nearly one million "likes," especially as many who read the "About" page were given a believable account of Willie Nelson's obituary:
"At about 11 a.m. ET on Friday (March 06, 2015), our beloved guitarist Willie Nelson passed away. Willie Nelson was born on April 30, 1933 in Abbott. He will be missed but not forgotten. Please show your sympathy and condolences by commenting on and liking this page," the fake Facebook page said, according to MediaMass website.
A NewsOk report, which called the bluff on the entire Willie Nelson death hoax, noted that the fake report got major traction after it appeared on MSMBC - a fake website.
Many fans mistook the website for MSNBC and fell for the fake report that claimed that Nelson was found dead in his Maui home.
However, all Willie Nelson fans can be rest assured that the country music legend is still healthy and in fact is expected to be at the SXSW on 17 March.
A Rolling Stone report suggests that when the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music and Media Conference kicks off next week in Texas, Willie Nelson will be the headline act for the Heartbreaker Banquet.
Read Twitter Reactions on Willie Nelson Death Hoax Below:
Joylynne Llewallyn @joylynnell
Hoping the Willie Nelson death buzz is a hoax. #willienelson
Jill Kaminski @jillkam
I fell for the Willie Nelson death hoax. Called my parents who love Willie. Had to call them back and try to explain a death hoax. Oops.
Liz Long @LizCLong
Someone please tell me that the Willie Nelson death is a hoax because I cannot go home to see my husband crying into a bottle of whiskey.
Elaine Liner @ElaineLiner
Whew, Willie Nelson is still alive. Man, people are quick to spread these internet death hoaxes. My old heart skipped a beat there.
rageofthefrozensoul @leftwingsdoom
What kind of sick twisted scum creates a celebrity death hoax, especially one for a great such as Willie Nelson?
