What is it with these fake celebrity deaths that aren't true?

[Hawkee]

I'm noticing a hugely popular trend in entertainment today and that is fake celebrity deaths and I think it's just odd today. Is it just for the entertainment industry to make more money or is it to scare fans and give them sad news? Because every time I look at Youtube it seems that they advertise celebrity "deaths" all the time and I can't figure it out. Take for example I noticed that there was many stories about the "death" of sitcom star Tony Dow and when he finally really died the news made a big deal of it. A second celebrity that has been reported "dead" a lot is Howie Mandel and when I look at the newest Howie Mandel news I always see videos mentioning titles such as "Howie Mandel has died" or Howie Mandel Dies" and when you look at it Howie Mandel is very healthy and I think the news is trying to give fans sad news on purpose. Because it used to be in entertainment magazines the stories about celebrities used to be good and true but now if you read the entertainment magazines about sitcom stars they come with stories about fake celebrity deaths and this is a habit that should go away in the future
Bestie

[Yong Fang]

I read, I think on Facebook once a message that Willie Nelson died. When someone dies, I go to Wikipedia to validate it. Willie wasnt dead, and what would motivate someone to say he was (he wasnt sick or hurt). News outlets more than once declared Abe Vigoda dead. Probably again second hand information that no one bothered verifying. Now in the internet age, there is no excuse not to quickly verify information.

I think in the case of Tony Dow was that he was terminally ill and on his death bed and a member of the family probably told the press that Tony was dying or near death and it was reported he was dead. That was an error, but not by much.

For the record, Tony Dow lived to be 77, he was born in 1945. I think we think if him as young was actually always youthful loooking and acting even in old age. But on that subject there were rumors in the late 1960's that Jerry Mathers will killed in Vietnam. Why would anyone tell that lie, is again beyond my understanding.

[Edward216]

Unfortunately there'll always be sickos who get their jollies by saying things that are shocking or hurtful.

Ed.

[stevea]

Yeah, incorrect death reports affected not only Tony Dow recently, but Jerry Mathers years ago.

[Hawkee]

When I was looking at Youtube videos of my celebrity crushes I found more videos about two fake celebrity "deaths" and the first thing I saw when I was finding new info on Jeremy Renner and I saw three videos with titles such as "JEREMY RENNER HAS DIED" and "JEREMY RENNER PASSES AWAY" and then the second celebrity I found was Jamie Foxx and some videos have titles such as "JAMIE FOXX DIES AFTER ILLNESS" and it shocked me and when I confirmed the truth on the first video it turned out to be a false rumor and the Jamie Foxx "death" was also false too. Can't celebrities get in trouble for making a make-believe story like these "deaths"? I mean Jeremy Renner is doing marvelous and nobody should make up stories about him passing away. I don't know why these stories are becoming fads in entertainment today but as I mentioned in the opening post why these stories are made is so that entertainment magazines can make more money on celebrities and they should not upset fans with stories like this about sitcom stars or TV stars in general

[Chocolate Moose]

People like attention.

[Frank Gannucci]

I think it’s in bad taste when they report “deaths” of celebrities who are in very old. The other day, I saw a thumbnail of a YouTube video reporting Barbara Eden’s “death” (she’s still alive at the time I am posting this.)