“Zhang Yimou dead 2024” : Director killed by internet death hoax

  • By Jessica Simpson
  • Beijing
  • Last updated on

Zhang Yimou is the latest celeb to fall victim to a death hoax
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News of director Zhang Yimou’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 director best known for The Great Wall, House of Flying Daggers or Raise the Red Lantern is alive and well.

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

Zhang Yimou death hoax spreads on Facebook

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

“At about 11 a.m. ET on Friday (December 20, 2024), our beloved director Zhang Yimou passed away. Zhang Yimou was born on November 14, 1951 in Xi'an. 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 73-year-old director, screenwriter and producer 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 a director of Zhang Yimou's stature would be major news across networks.

A recent poll conducted for the Celebrity Post shows that a large majority (80%) of respondents think those Zhang Yimou death rumors are not funny anymore.

Zhang Yimou Death Hoax Dismissed Since Director Is ‘Alive And Well’

On Saturday (December 21) the director's reps officially confirmed that Zhang Yimou 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 director. Others say this shows his extreme popularity across the globe.

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