“Liu Xiang dead 2024” : Athlete killed by internet death hoax

  • By Jessica Simpson
  • Beijing
  • Last updated on

Liu Xiang is the latest celeb to fall victim to a death hoax
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News of athlete Liu Xiang’s death spread quickly earlier this week causing concern among fans across the world. However the November 2024 report has now been confirmed as a complete hoax and just the latest in a string of fake celebrity death reports. Thankfully, the 41-year-old athlete is alive and well.

UPDATE 05/11/2024 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Liu Xiang death hoax spreads on Facebook

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

“At about 11 a.m. ET on Sunday (November 03, 2024), our beloved athlete Liu Xiang passed away. Liu Xiang was born on July 13, 1983 in Shanghai. 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 41-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 Chinese network, indicating that it was a fake report, as the death of an athlete of Liu Xiang's stature would be major news across networks.

A recent poll conducted for the Celebrity Post shows that a large majority (89%) of respondents think those Liu Xiang death rumors are not funny anymore.

Liu Xiang Death Hoax Dismissed Since Athlete Is ‘Alive And Well’

On Monday (November 04) the athlete's reps officially confirmed that Liu Xiang 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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