Category: Celebrity Death Hoaxs

Model and famous person Charlotte Dawson, who had long fought the battle against depression, was found deceased in her Sydney apartment on Saturday.

Ms Dawson, 47, who in her book Air Kiss & Tell detailed her the past of depression, saying she was often visited by the “depression bogeyman”, is believed to have hanged herself in her luxury Woolloomooloo apartment. The estate manager, who was due to take her apartment to auction on Saturday, raised the alarm and the building doorman found her body. Apparently friends were concerned after she hadn’t tweeted for 19 hours.

Since losing her role on Australia’s Next peak Model it is believed that she was struggling monetarily. Her ex-husband, Scott Miller, who she said was the ‘love of her life’, had newly done an interview with Channel 9’s 60 minutes, talking about the role his drug addiction had played in the downfall of their wedding.

Social media had played a huge part in Ms Dawson’s life, and cyberbullying via Twitter led to her being hospitalised after an attempted suicide in 2012. Kate Carnell, chief executive of Beyond Blue said that bullying via social media can be a major factor in triggering mental health issues. She told ABC News Online, “Because people can bully anonymously, it makes it additional likely and it makes it more dangerous.”

The Federal Government has managed to get Google, Facebook, Yahoo and Microsoft to agree to guidelines when handling complaints about hateful material on social media. It is also considering a scheme which would make the civil prosecution of cyberbullying simpler.

That Charlotte Dawson was driven to take her own life is indeed sad information, that her ‘friends’ have taken to social media to express their grief, the extremely platform said to be responsible for her demise, is even sadder.

Charlotte, herself a prolific tweeter and instagramer, has fought a very public battle with cyberbullies. And when her demons became too much for her to bear, it appears her lack of social media activity is what alerted her ‘friends’ that there was something incorrect.

Sydney’s The Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported that she was found hanged. In 2012, she was admitted to a Sydney hospital later than a suicide attempt following an ongoing tirade of abuse on Twitter. She had taken medicine tablets with wine and tweeted: “you win” in a suicide note to her cyber tormentors.

She later made fighting bullying her individual mission, waging an anti-bullying media campaign on TV and radio and in newspapers and magazines as well as her beloved Twitter. Her efforts and high public profile on the problem were recognized by the National Rugby League, a main Australian football association, which final year made her an anti-bullying ambassador.

The NRL’s One-Community campaign is an extension of its zero-tolerance policy toward racial abuse in football. Dawson revealed in her 2012 autobiography “Air Kiss & Tell” that she was often visited by the “depression bogeyman.”

She had long graced the pages of women’s gossip magazines and scenes in reality TV shows. Her modeling career had taken her to Italy, Britain and Germany during the 1980s. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key tweeted he was “surprised and saddened” by the news of her death.

The Sun-Herald newspaper in Sydney reported Sunday that her body was found only minutes before her luxury waterside apartment was due to be sold at auction. The tragedy was discovered the day after the birthday of her former companion, Scott Miller, an Australian Olympic silver medal-winning swimmer who became addicted to the drug ice and accrued several convictions for criminal drug and firearm possession.

Dawson professed her enduring love for Miller and sadness at his fall from grace ahead of Australian “60 Minutes” broadcasting an exclusive talk with him on Feb. 16. Kate Carnell, chief executive of Beyond Blue, a not-for-profit business promoting depression awareness, criticized Twitter for failing to sign up to an Australian government complaint-handling program designed to eliminate hateful material from social media sites.

Facebook, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft signed up to the project final year. “There’s lots additional work that citizens like Twitter need to do,” Carnell told The Sun-Herald.

News of actor Jackie Chan’s death spread quickly earlier this week causing concern among fans across the world. However the February 2014 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 roles in Shanghai Noon, Rush Hour or Police Story is alive and well.

Rumors of the actor’s alleged demise gained traction on Sunday after a ‘R.I.P. Jackie Chan’ Facebook page attracted nearly one million of ‘likes’. Those who read the ‘About’ page were given a believable account of the actor’s passing.

Hundreds of fans immediately started writing their messages of condolence on the Facebook page, expressing their sadness that the talented 59-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 network, indicating that it was a fake report, as the death of an actor of Jackie Chan’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 Jackie Chan death rumors are not funny anymore.

On Monday (February 17) the actor’s reps officially confirmed that Jackie Chan 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.

News of actor Brad Pitt’s death extends quickly earlier this week cause concern among fans across the world. However the August 2013 report has now been established as a complete hoax and just the latest in a string of false celebrity death reports.

A rumor of the actor’s supposed gained traction on Monday after a ‘R.I.P. Brad Pitt’ Facebook page involved almost one million of ‘likes’. Those who read the ‘About’ page were given a credible account of the American actor’s passing:

    “At about 11 a.m. ET on Monday (August 05, 2013), our beloved actor Brad Pitt passed away. Brad Pitt was born on December 18, 1963 in Shawnee. He will be missed but not forgotten. Please show your sympathy and pity by commenting on and liking this page.”

Hundreds of fans right away started writing their messages of condolence on the Facebook page, expressing their sorrow that the gifted 49-year-old actor and producer was dead. And as usual, Twitter sphere was frenzied over the bereavement hoax.

Whereas some trusting fans thought the post, others were right away skeptical of the report, perhaps learning their lesson from the vast amount of false death reports rising about celebrities over recent months. Some pointed out that the news had not been approved on any major American network, representing that it was a fake report, as the death of an actor of Brad Pitt’s stature would be main news across networks.

Brad Pitt Death Hoax Dismissed Since Actor Is ‘Alive and Well’

On Tuesday (August 06) the actor’s reps formally confirmed that Brad Pitt is not dead. “He joins the long list of celebrities who have been mistreated by this hoax. He’s still alive and well, stop believe 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.