A fake news website posted an article titled “BREAKING NEWS: Road racing cyclist Lance Armstrong has died’’.
The fake article opens: American former professional road racing cyclist Lance Armstrong, 45, passed away on Wednesday, according to his family.
Rumors of the athlete’s alleged demise gained traction on social media after a ‘R.I.P. Lance Armstrong’ Facebook page attracted nearly one million of ‘likes’. Those who read the ‘About’ page were given a believable account of the American athlete’s passing:
“At about 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday (May 10, 2017), our beloved athlete Lance Armstrong passed away. Lance Armstrong was born on September 18, 1971 in Plano. 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 45-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.
Lance Armstrong has taken to Instagram to prove that he is very much alive and well.
