“Dario Franchitti dead 2024” : Racing driver killed by internet death hoax

  • By Jessica Simpson
  • Edinburgh
  • Last updated on

Dario Franchitti is the latest celeb to fall victim to a death hoax

News of racing driver Dario Franchitti’s death spread quickly earlier this week causing concern among fans across the world. However the April 2024 report has now been confirmed as a complete hoax and just the latest in a string of fake celebrity death reports. Thankfully, the 50-year-old racing driver is alive and well.

UPDATE 20/04/2024 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Dario Franchitti death hoax spreads on Facebook

Rumors of the racing driver’s alleged demise gained traction on Thursday after a ‘R.I.P. Dario Franchitti’ Facebook page attracted nearly one million of ‘likes’. Those who read the ‘About’ page were given a believable account of the Scottish racing driver’s passing:

“At about 11 a.m. ET on Thursday (April 18, 2024), our beloved racing driver Dario Franchitti passed away. Dario Franchitti was born on May 19, 1973 in Bathgate. 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 50-year-old racing driver 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 Scottish network, indicating that it was a fake report, as the death of a racing driver of Dario Franchitti's stature would be major news across networks.

A recent poll conducted for the Celebrity Post shows that a large majority (78%) of respondents think those Dario Franchitti death rumors are not funny anymore.

Dario Franchitti Death Hoax Dismissed Since Racing driver Is ‘Alive And Well’

On Friday (April 19) the racing driver's reps officially confirmed that Dario Franchitti 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 racing driver. Others say this shows his extreme popularity across the globe.

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