“Kelly Slater dead 2024” : Athlete killed by internet death hoax

  • By Jessica Simpson
  • Washington
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Kelly Slater is the latest celeb to fall victim to a death hoax
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News of athlete Kelly Slater’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 athlete best known for his role on the television series Baywatch is alive and well.

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

Kelly Slater death hoax spreads on Facebook

Rumors of the athlete’s alleged demise gained traction on Thursday after a ‘R.I.P. Kelly Slater’ Facebook page attracted nearly one million of ‘likes’. Those who read the ‘About’ page were given a believable account of the American athlete’s passing:

“At about 11 a.m. ET on Thursday (April 18, 2024), our beloved athlete Kelly Slater passed away. Kelly Slater was born on February 11, 1972 in Cocoa Beach. 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 52-year-old athlete 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 American network, indicating that it was a fake report, as the death of an athlete of Kelly Slater's stature would be major news across networks.

A recent poll conducted for the Celebrity Post shows that a large majority (88%) of respondents think those Kelly Slater death rumors are not funny anymore.

Kelly Slater Death Hoax Dismissed Since Athlete Is ‘Alive And Well’

On Friday (April 19) the athlete's reps officially confirmed that Kelly Slater 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 athlete. Others say this shows his extreme popularity across the globe.

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