“Maria Sharapova dead 2024” : Tennis player killed by internet death hoax

  • By Jessica Simpson
  • Moscow
  • Last updated on

Maria Sharapova is the latest celeb to fall victim to a death hoax

News of tennis player Maria Sharapova’s death spread quickly earlier this week causing concern among fans across the world. However the December 2024 report has now been confirmed as a complete hoax and just the latest in a string of fake celebrity death reports. Thankfully, the 37-year-old tennis player is alive and well.

UPDATE 22/12/2024 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Maria Sharapova death hoax spreads on Facebook

Rumors of the tennis player’s alleged demise gained traction on Friday after a ‘R.I.P. Maria Sharapova’ Facebook page attracted nearly one million of ‘likes’. Those who read the ‘About’ page were given a believable account of the Russian tennis player’s passing:

“At about 11 a.m. ET on Friday (December 20, 2024), our beloved tennis player Maria Sharapova passed away. Maria Sharapova was born on April 19, 1987 in Nyagan. She 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 37-year-old tennis player 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 Russian network, indicating that it was a fake report, as the death of a tennis player of Maria Sharapova's stature would be major news across networks.

A recent poll conducted for the Celebrity Post shows that a large majority (70%) of respondents think those Maria Sharapova death rumors are not funny anymore.

Maria Sharapova Death Hoax Dismissed Since Tennis player Is ‘Alive And Well’

On Saturday (December 21) the tennis player's reps officially confirmed that Maria Sharapova is not dead. “She joins the long list of celebrities who have been victimized by this hoax. She'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 tennis player. Others say this shows her extreme popularity across the globe.

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