Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · October 18, 2025 · Entertainment

Star-Studded Scandal: The Most Outrageous Celebrity Death Hoaxes of All Time

Stars are no stranger to elaborate death hoaxes, and hitmaker Bon Jovi quickly saw the funny side of claims that he'd met his demise back in 2011

STARS SHOCKED BY DEATH HOAXES: WHO'S NEXT?

In the world of Hollywood, celebrities are no strangers to rumors and speculation. But one type of rumor that never fails to send shockwaves is a death hoax. Celebrities have been victims of elaborate and well-planned death hoaxes over the years, with some even falling for the fake news themselves.

From A-listers like Taylor Swift and Tom Cruise to British favorites like Denise Welch and Bradley Walsh, no one is immune to the cruel world of social media. In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of the biggest stars who have fallen victim to death hoaxes and how they handled the situation.

In 2012, Taylor Swift was hit by claims that she'd been found dead at her home, though many US news sites were quick to debunk the claims

TAYLOR SWIFT: THE QUEEN OF DEATH HOAXES

With her devoted fanbase and every move she makes under scrutiny, it's no surprise that Taylor Swift has been a target for death hoaxes. In 2012, a fake Twitter account claiming to be associated with MTV News posted a claim that Taylor had been found dead at her home. But before the news could spread like wildfire, many US news sites quickly debunked the claims.

However, this wasn't the first time Taylor fell victim to a death hoax. In fact, she's lost count of how many times she's been "killed off" by social media trolls. Other hoaxes have claimed that Taylor died in a car accident, while rapper Kanye West even fell victim to similar claims after he famously interrupted her speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

Sylvester Stallone was forced to deny claims he'd died in 2018, after fake images claiming the be his 'final days' went viral (a similar death hoax is pictured)

TOM CRUISE: THE MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

Who would have thought that Tom Cruise, the daredevil actor known for his daring stunts, would fall victim to a death hoax? But in 2010, reports surfaced that he had died in New Zealand after falling off a cliff. Even Tom's representatives were baffled by the rumors, confirming that he wasn't even in New Zealand at the time.

The Hollywood star took to Twitter to set the record straight, telling his fans not to believe the "erroneous and unreliable Internet garbage." But the damage was already done, with Tom's name trending on social media for all the wrong reasons.

But after discovering the ruse, Sylvester and his brother Frank, took to social media to shut down the claims, with the actor insisting he was 'alive and well and happy and healthy'

MIELY CYRUS: THE BANGERZ ERA DEATH HOAX

It seems that no one is safe from death hoaxes, not even Miley Cyrus. During her Bangerz era in 2014, a Facebook scam claimed that she had been found dead in her Los Angeles home. But what made this hoax even more sinister was the fact that it led users to fake social media sites that encouraged them to share the post and spread fake surveys.

Miley's team remained tight-lipped about the situation, but sources close to the star revealed that she thought the whole thing was "pretty funny." In fact, Miley reportedly compared the experience to the infamous Beatles moment when Paul McCartney was falsely reported dead in 1969.

Tom fell victim to a death hoax in 2010 when it was alleged he'd died after falling off a cliff in New Zealand. His publicist laughed off the claims

ELLEN DEGENERES: THE DAYTIME TV HOST

Ellen DeGeneres has been a target for death hoaxes on several occasions, with the most recent one taking place in 2023. Social media descended into chaos after a string of tweets claimed that she had died, but Ellen remained silent about the whole ordeal.

However, fans quickly took to Twitter to express their shock and confusion, with some even creating fake obituaries and photoshopping celebrities who looked like Ellen. The hashtag #RIPEllen eventually became a way for users to mock her "death" with humor.

At the height of her Bangerz era in 2014, many of Miley's devoted fans fell victim to a Facebook scam reporting her death, with sources saying she found the hoax 'pretty funny'

DENISE WELCH: THE LOOSE WOMAN STAR

Death hoaxes aren't just limited to Hollywood stars; British TV favorites can also fall victim to the cruel world of social media. In 2023, Denise Welch's Wikipedia page was updated with a bizarre paragraph claiming that she had been killed in a drunken rampage by a hair and makeup artist.

Denise took to Twitter to deny the claims, assuring her fans that she was alive and well. But not before her name started trending on social media, with many users expressing their shock at the trending news.

Prior to her controversial departure from her daytime show, Ellen DeGeneres was the victim of several death hoaxes, with the most recent taking place in 2023

BRADLEY WALSH: THE CHASE PRESENTER

As one of Britain's most recognizable names, it's no surprise that Bradley Walsh fell victim to a death hoax in 2024. A TikTok user posted a fake BBC News page claiming that Bradley had passed away, but before the news could spread like wildfire, journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh confirmed the claims were false.

PETER KAY: THE COMEDIAN

Death hoaxes aren't just targeted at flashy Hollywood names, as British TV favourite Denise Welch was also forced to deny claims of her passing back in 2023

Having taken a break from the spotlight before his comeback in 2022, Peter Kay has been the victim of several cruel death hoaxes over the years. In 2019, the hashtag #RIPPeterKay started trending after users wondered if he had passed away, but fans quickly reassured them that it was just another hoax.

Memes started to circulate, and fans wrote about how they shouldn't fall for the rumors. But what's even more surprising is that former Everton and England footballer Peter Reid wrongly posted that Peter Kay had died in 2013, leading to confusion among his fans.

THE CELEBRITIES WHO FELL VICTIM TO DEATH HOAXES

Denise then took to Twitter to deny she was dead, assuring fans she was well and settling in at home to watch ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

So who else has fallen victim to death hoaxes? Here are some of the biggest stars who were shocked by the cruel world of social media:

  • Jon Bon Jovi: The 80s hitmaker quickly saw the funny side of claims that he'd met his demise in 2011, posting a festive snap with a sign that read "Heaven looks a lot like New Jersey."
  • Sylvester Stallone: The iconic movie boxer reassured fans he was still alive and well after claims surfaced that he had died in 2018.
  • Miley Cyrus: The Bangerz era death hoax led users to fake social media sites that encouraged them to share the post and spread fake surveys.
  • Ellen DeGeneres: The daytime TV host remained silent about her recent death hoax, but fans quickly took to Twitter to express their shock and confusion.
  • Denise Welch: The Loose Woman star's Wikipedia page was updated with a bizarre paragraph claiming she had been killed in a drunken rampage.
  • Bradley Walsh: The Chase presenter fell victim to a fake BBC News page claiming he had passed away.
  • Peter Kay: The comedian has been the victim of several cruel death hoaxes over the years, including one where former Everton and England footballer Peter Reid wrongly posted that he had died.

THE DEATH HOAXES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN

Bradley Walsh was subject to a death hoax in early 2024, after a fake BBC News page reported on his death

But what's even more surprising is that some celebrities have fallen victim to death hoaxes without even realizing it. Here are a few examples:

  • Paul McCartney: The Beatles legend was falsely reported dead in 1969, leading to one of the most infamous moments in music history.
  • Michael Jackson: The King of Pop was subject to several death hoaxes over the years, including one where a fake news report claimed he had died in 2009.

THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Peter Kay has been the victim of several death hoaxes over the years, including one in 2019 when the hashtag #RIPPeterKay started trending

So what's behind these death hoaxes? Is it the power of social media that allows them to spread like wildfire? Or is it simply the cruel nature of human beings who want to cause chaos and confusion?

Whatever the reason, one thing is certain: death hoaxes have become a reality in the world of celebrity culture. And with the power of social media at our fingertips, it's no wonder that these rumors can spread faster than ever before.

But what's even more surprising is that some celebrities are taking the high road and using humor to deal with the situation. Take Jon Bon Jovi, for example, who posted a funny tweet about his own "death" in 2011.

So next time you hear about a celebrity dying, don't believe it until you see it on a reputable news source. And remember: in the world of Hollywood, death hoaxes are just another day at the office.