In what will surely be a relief to Empire fans Gabourey Sidibe is not dead, but she was understandably shocked when people started tweeting to her in a panic, thinking that she had, in fact, passed away. The 32-year-old is alive and well, but had apparently fallen victim to the latest celebrity death hoax, with reports insisting that she'd died from an asthma attack. In a world where all news, especially celebrity news, is spread around the world instantly, it's super easy to believe the breaking news alert that a celebrity, like Sidibe, has died, but the Oscar nominee quickly took to Twitter to reassure fans that she was not dead.
Sidibe used her signature humor to muse that perhaps she was dead, if her "version of Hell is people believing poorly written articles about me." She also joked with Empire writer/producer Malcolm Spellman and fellow actor Heather Matarazzo, who were upset that they weren't invited to her funeral, saying that they "can come through. There will be a DJ and everyone has to do the whop!"
Sidibe's death hoax is the latest in a long line of celebrity death hoaxes that remind us not to believe everything written on the Internet. It certainly bears repeating that rumors can spread really quickly online, and it's important to consider your sources, no matter what the topic is.
In this case, thankfully, Sidibe was able to joke about the silliness of the rumor, but online rumors can definitely tread in dangerous territory. Many celebrities have fallen victim to false rumors about their death, which understandably freak out fans, family members, and friends alike. In 2013, Chloë Grace Moretz took to Twitter to blast rumors that she had died in a snowboarding accident. Moretz tweeted, "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. 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."
Other celebrities to have recent false death hoaxes include Chris Brown, Paul McCarthy, Justin Bieber, and Celine Dion, all in 2012. They, too, are all still with us.
Lesson of the day? Don't believe everything you read online. Unless, of course, it involves a weight loss plan for 30 pounds in 30 days!
