“Richard Ford dead 2024” : ‘The Sportswriter’ author killed by internet death hoax

  • By Jessica Simpson
  • Washington
  • Last updated on

Richard Ford is the latest celeb to fall victim to a death hoax
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News of author Richard Ford’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 author of the Lay of the Land, Independence Day and the Sportswriter is alive and well.

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

Richard Ford death hoax spreads on Facebook

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

“At about 11 a.m. ET on Friday (December 20, 2024), our beloved author Richard Ford passed away. Richard Ford was born on February 16, 1944 in Jackson. 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 80-year-old author 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 author of Richard Ford'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 Richard Ford death rumors are not funny anymore.

Richard Ford Death Hoax Dismissed Since Author Is ‘Alive And Well’

On Saturday (December 21) the author's reps officially confirmed that Richard Ford 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 author. Others say this shows his extreme popularity across the globe.

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