World News
- Super User
- Category: World News
- Monday, 19 September 2016 13:34
Death of Retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu a hoax, not true!...
News of religious figure Desmond Tutu’s death spread quickly earlier this week causing concern among fans across the world. However the September 2016 report has now been confirmed as a complete hoax and just the latest in a string of fake celebrity death reports. Thankfully, Nobel Peace Prize 1984 is alive and well.
Desmond Tutu death hoax spreads on Facebook
Rumors of the religious figure’s alleged demise gained traction on Saturday after a ‘R.I.P. Desmond Tutu’ Facebook page attracted nearly one million of ‘likes’. Those who read the ‘About’ page were given a believable account of the South African religious figure’s passing:
“At about 11 a.m. ET on Saturday (September 17, 2016), our beloved religious figure Desmond Tutu passed away. Desmond Tutu was born on October 7, 1931 in Klerksdorp. 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 84-year-old religious figure 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 South African network, indicating that it was a fake report, as the death of a religious figure of Desmond Tutu's stature would be major news across networks.
A recent poll conducted for the Celebrity Post shows that a large majority (73%) of respondents think those Desmond Tutu death rumors are not funny anymore.
Desmond Tutu Death Hoax Dismissed Since Religious figure Is ‘Alive And Well’
On Sunday (September 18) the religious figure's reps officially confirmed that Desmond Tutu 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 religious figure. Others say this shows his extreme popularity across the globe.
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