News of actor Jared Padalecki’s death spread quickly earlier this week causing concern among fans across the world. However the August 2016 report has now been confirmed as a complete hoax and just the latest in a string of fake celebrity death reports. Thankfully, the actor best known for his role on the television series Gilmore Girls is alive and well.
Jared Padalecki death hoax spreads on Facebook
Rumors of the actor’s alleged demise gained traction on Friday after a ‘R.I.P. Jared Padalecki’ Facebook page attracted nearly one million of ‘likes’. Those who read the ‘About’ page were given a believable account of the American actor’s passing:
“At about 11 a.m. ET on Friday (August 12, 2016), our beloved actor Jared Padalecki passed away. Jared Padalecki was born on July 19, 1982 in San Antonio. He will be missed but not forgotten. Please show your sympathy and condolences by commenting on and liking this page.”
Hundreds of fans immediately started writing their messages of condolence on the Facebook page, expressing their sadness that the talented 34-year-old actor was dead. And as usual, Twittersphere was frenzied over the death hoax.
Where as some trusting fans believed the post, others were immediately skeptical of the report, perhaps learning their lesson from the huge amount of fake death reports emerging about celebrities over recent months. Some pointed out that the news had not been carried on any major American network, indicating that it was a fake report, as the death of an actor of Jared Padalecki's stature would be major news across networks.
A recent poll conducted for the Celebrity Post shows that a large majority (90%) of respondents think those Jared Padalecki death rumors are not funny anymore.
Jared Padalecki Death Hoax Dismissed Since Actor Is ‘Alive And Well’
On Saturday (August 13) the actor's reps officially confirmed that Jared Padalecki is not dead. “He joins the long list of celebrities who have been victimized by this hoax. He's still alive and well, stop believing what you see on the Internet,” they said.
Some fans have expressed anger at the fake report saying it was reckless, distressing and hurtful to fans of the much loved actor. Others say this shows his extreme popularity across the globe.