“Raymond Briggs dead 2024” : ‘The Snowman’ author killed by internet death hoax

  • By Jessica Simpson
  • London
  • Last updated on

Raymond Briggs is the latest celeb to fall victim to a death hoax

News of cartoonist Raymond Briggs’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 author of the Snowman is alive and well.

UPDATE 27/04/2024 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Raymond Briggs death hoax spreads on Facebook

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

“At about 11 a.m. ET on Thursday (April 25, 2024), our beloved cartoonist Raymond Briggs passed away. Raymond Briggs was born on January 18, 1934 in Wimbledon. 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 90-year-old cartoonist 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 English network, indicating that it was a fake report, as the death of a cartoonist of Raymond Briggs' 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 Raymond Briggs death rumors are not funny anymore.

Raymond Briggs Death Hoax Dismissed Since Cartoonist Is ‘Alive And Well’

On Friday (April 26) the cartoonist's reps officially confirmed that Raymond Briggs 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 cartoonist. Others say this shows his extreme popularity across the globe.

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