By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy.
Sign In with your social account
We won’t post to any of your accounts without asking first
Your password must include:
Sign In with your social account
We won’t post to any of your accounts without asking first
Your password must include:
Lil Tay and Josh Seiter are just some of the celebrities who had to clarify that they are still alive after being pronounced dead on the internet.
In August 2023, Lil Tay’s Instagram account released a statement claiming she and her brother had passed away. Us Weekly subsequently received a response from the email address listed in the rapper’s Instagram bio. “With profound regret, we confirm the accuracy of the statement,” the comment read.
Lil Tay issued a statement one day after her death was reported.
“I want to make it clear that my brother and I are safe and alive, but I’m completely heartbroken, and struggling to even find the right words to say. It’s been a very traumatizing 24 hours. All day yesterday, I was bombarded with endless heartbreaking and tearful phone calls from loved ones all while trying to sort out this mess,” the statement read. “My Instagram account was compromised by a 3rd party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumors regarding me, to the point that even my name was wrong.”
Deal of the Day
Act Fast — Apple Airpods Are on Sale Under $100 Today! View Deal
You have successfully subscribed.
By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly
Check our latest news in Google News
Check our latest news in Apple News
Seiter, meanwhile, made headlines later that month when his Instagram account posted a statement claiming that he died. The Bachelorette alum took to social media shortly after news about his alleged death broke to confirm that he was still alive.
Scroll down for more celebrities who clarified that they are still over the years:
Credit: Courtesy of Lil Tay/Instagram; Getty Images(2)
Lil Tay and Josh Seiter are just some of the celebrities who had to clarify that they are still alive after being pronounced dead on the internet. In August 2023, Lil Tay's Instagram account released a statement claiming she and her brother had passed away. Us Weekly subsequently received a response from the email address listed in the rapper's Instagram bio. “With profound regret, we confirm the accuracy of the statement,” the comment read. Lil Tay issued a statement one day after her death was reported. "I want to make it clear that my brother and I are safe and alive, but I’m completely heartbroken, and struggling to even find the right words to say. It’s been a very traumatizing 24 hours. All day yesterday, I was bombarded with endless heartbreaking and tearful phone calls from loved ones all while trying to sort out this mess," the statement read. "My Instagram account was compromised by a 3rd party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumors regarding me, to the point that even my name was wrong." Seiter, meanwhile, made headlines later that month when his Instagram account posted a statement claiming that he died. The Bachelorette alum took to social media shortly after news about his alleged death broke to confirm that he was still alive. Scroll down for more celebrities who clarified that they are still over the years:
Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Image
Buckingham Palace clarified in March 2024 that the monarch was alive after a Russian news organization shared a fake statement claiming otherwise.
“We are happy to confirm that The King is continuing with official and private business,” the palace shared in a statement to the Russian state-run TASS news agency, per the New York Post.
One month prior, Charles was diagnosed with a “form of cancer” after undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate.
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia
Osbourne was not thrilled to stumble upon a series of YouTube videos that claimed he was dead.
“I’m not dead. I’m not going any-f—king-where. And I’m gonna go up and do some more gigs before I’m finished anyway," he said on an episode of "The Osbournes" podcast in December 2023. “The thing on YouTube, it’s got ‘Celebrities Who Have Died Today,’ and there’s a picture of me. And I go, ‘I’m not dead. I’m not really dead … Just a little flesh wound.'”
The Black Sabbath vocalist went on to quote Monty Python, adding, “It’s a bit f—king much, isn’t it?”
Credit: Courtesy of Lil Tay/Instagram
Before Lil Tay addressed the confusion, her former manager questioned the legitimacy of the death announcement.
“Given the complexities of the current circumstances, I am at a point where I cannot definitively confirm or dismiss the legitimacy of the statement issued by the family,” Harry Tsang told Insider in a statement in August 2023. “This situation calls for cautious consideration and respect for the sensitivities involved. My commitment remains focused on delivering updates that are both reliable and appropriately timed.”
Credit: Courtesy of Josh Seiter/Instagram
A statement was posted on Seiter's social media in August 2023 claiming he died following a mental health battle.
“Hey guys as you can see, I am alive and well,” the former reality star said in an Instagram video, one day later. “My account was hacked for the last 24 hours. I had been trying desperately to get into it. Somebody was playing a cruel joke and mocking my mental illness and the struggles I’ve gone through with depression and suicide attempts. I am sorry for the pain they caused when they made that post.”
Seiter also addressed fan speculation that he faked his own death. "Those are all ridiculous accusations made up by somebody with nothing better to do with their time," he said in a separate statement. "As a mental health advocate, issues of suicide are very sensitive for me. To suggest that I would orchestrate a death post around that issue is sickening. I have dedicated the last 8 years of my life blogging and raising awareness about mental health, and I will continue to do so. Regardless of what my detractors have to say."
Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Stagecoach
In October 2022, TMZ incorrectly reported that Lewis passed away at age 87. “He’s alive,” the singer’s rep told Us at the time.
Lewis actually died two days later after dealing with health issues.
Credit: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
Reports surfaced in January 2021 that Roberts died after being hospitalized for a urinary tract infection that advanced to sepsis. The actress’ longtime publicist, Mike Pingel, confirmed the news to TMZ due to a conversation he had with Roberts' partner, Lance O'Brien, after he spoke to the hospital.
O'Brien, meanwhile, later got a call from Cedars Sinai Medical Center that his longtime girlfriend wasn’t actually dead. She passed away shortly after her death was prematurely announced.
Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Intimate Britney Spears
In 2016, Spears made headlines when Sony Music’s Twitter account got hacked and claimed she died. A spokesperson for the pop singer quickly clarified that Spears was alive and well.
“I assume their account has been hacked,” the statement read. “I haven’t spoken to anyone ... as of yet but I am certain their account was hacked. Britney is fine and well. There have been a few Internet clowns over the years who have made similar claims about her death, but never from the official Sony Music Twitter account.”
Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
“While it is strangely moving to realize that so many people around the world care so deeply about my life and death, I have to go with Mark Twain and insist that the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated,” the author wrote via LiveJournal in 2016 following an online death hoax. “I expect to hang around for quite a while yet, thank you very much. But thank you all for caring.”
Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
"What happened was someone made a very believable CNN page with my death announcement. It was so believable. As I understand it, a fan was trying to play a prank on his friend," Braff explained on Alan Carr: Chatty Man in 2014. "Everyone called me, like, 'Are you dead?' I then had to go and make an announcement, like a video, saying 'Hey, I'm still alive.' It put it on Facebook and the saddest part of the story is, my video didn't even get that many likes!"
Credit: Jesse Grant/WireImage
Following an online death hoax, Knight took to social media to refute the claims. "Some of you will be glad to hear this, others strangely disappointed, but....I am alive and well!" the Seinfeld alum tweeted in March 2014.
Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Claims about Culkin's alleged death began circulating on social media in 2014. The actor tweeted about the incident, writing, "We're on tour you silly people. One of the great things you can do when you're alive is stop for lunch in Breaux Bridge, LA."
Culkin also poked fun at the rumors by using the Instagram account for his band, The Pizza Underground, to post a photo of himself pretending to be dead.
Credit: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
In 2013, Moretz slammed reports claiming she died in a snowboarding accident while visiting Switzerland.
"I've had my loved ones calling crying to check and see if I'm alive. Don't make this up. It's not real. I am fully alive and here. You're sick," the actress tweeted at the time. "I don't know who made this up but you're disgusting. I am not dead. I did not die from snowboarding. It isn't even snowing here in Switzerland."
Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
"There is a rumor going around that I died after falling off a mountain in Austria yesterday while shooting a movie," the country artist tweeted in January 2012. "While I would love to be shooting a movie in Austria, I definitely did not fall off a mountain! Nor am I dead! I am alive and kicking!!! Most of you know this already because I've been giving you daily accounts of Shelby's race. Oh well. Have a great day."
In order to view the gallery, please allow Manage Cookies
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!
You have successfully subscribed.
By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly
You have successfully subscribed.
By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly
Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services.
You have successfully subscribed.
By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly
Us Weekly is part of Part of the a360media Entertainment Group.
Powered by WordPress VIP
