Cher is dead. At least that's what Twitter is saying. However the singer didn't die. She's just the victim of a social media death hoax. Cher is fine.
A message started going around on Monday saying that the "Believe" singer passed away. MTV news said "Music Legend Cher found dead in her Malibu Home at the age of 66, Rip Cher, more details at http://MTV.com."
The message was retweeted 85 times and many others started to pass the message around. Some started to tweet photo of Cher saying "RIP Cher. RT out of respect."
While MTV would be a reliable source to report Cher's death, the account is not the real MTV News account. The Twitter handle is @MTVNevvs and uses two "V's" to make the "W" of news. The account also looks like the real MTV News account. This fake account only had two tweets. One is about Cher's supposed death and another claims Nicki Minaj has aids.
For anyone who actually bothered to click on the fake MTV News account, it is clear that is fake.
This isn't the first time this fake account has tried to kill off celebrities. The same account tried to kill off Taylor Swift. The 23-year-old country singer isn't dead, yet many believed it even though she's so young. Being that Cher is 66-year-old, it might be a bit more believable that she died.
Many on Twitter did fall for the prank. Several people took to the site to mourn and question the death of Cher.
"CHER IS DEAD?! WHAAAT??"
"Cher can not be dead? Please lord Jesus no?"
"Cher died on Blue Ivy's Birthday. From one legend to another. RIP Cher"
"I know Madonna is better but still! I didn't want you to die! RIP Cher"
Even Sports Illustrated cover model Christine Teigen fell for it as she wrote "I woke john up to tell him Cher is dead. He got sad but then went back to bed. Don't want to wake him again so just roll with it in the AM."
This message was retweeted several times as well. She later realized her mistake and said "Stupid fake mtv news account. I'm laughing out loud at 3:30am by myself."
The same hoax was going around last January. During that prank, Kim Kardashian fell for it.
"Did I juist [sic] hear Cher has passed away? Is this real? OMG," Kardashian said. "I hope this is a twitter joke and not true. I don't see it on the news anywhere. I'm praying its not true..."
Cher wasn't dead then and she isn't dead now. She's fine. She's currently working on creating a show on gay-friendly network LOGO.
Cher isn't the only celebrity to be killed off by the Internet. Celebrity death hoaxes have been a trend for years.
Some other celebrities who became victims of a death hoax in recent months include "The Big Bang Theory actory Jim Parsons, actress Megan Fox, wrestler John Cena, singer Bruno Mars, actor Vin Diesel, musician Skrillex, Rapper Lil Wayne, Actor Vince Vaughn, Tom Kenny, the voice behind SpongeBob Squarepants, country singer Taylor Swift, legendary actor Morgan Freeman, Comedian Bill Cosby, Alfonso Ribeiro aka Carlton from the Fresh Prince, and Bill Nye the Science Guy. All of these celebrities are just fine.
