Lil Wayne is NOT Dead

Outline
Social media driven messages claim that American rapper Lil Wayne has died of a drug overdose.



Brief Analysis
The claims in the messages are false. Although Lil Wayne was recently hospitalized, he has now been released and is reportedly recovering well. This is just one more in a long line of hoaxes that claim a celebrity has died.

Enter your email address to subscribe to the Hoax-Slayer Newsletter:

Last updated: November 1, 2012
First published: November 1, 2012
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer

Example

Detailed Analysis

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons/Michael Williams Lil Wayne is NOT Dead

A spate of messages currently circulating via Twitter, Facebook and other social media outlets claim that American rapper Lil Wayne has died. Many of the messages claim that he died as a result of a drug overdose. Several R.I.P Lil Wayne Facebook Pages and groups have also been created.

However, Lil Wayne has not died as claimed. The messages are just more baseless celebrity death rumours. Reports indicate that Lil Wayne was hospitalized in late October 2012 due to a severe migraine and dehydration. However, he has now been released and is reportedly recovering well. He posted the following message on his Facebook Page on October 28:

Thanx for all the prayers! I am good.

In fact, a spate of such celebrity death hoaxes have circulated via social media in recent months. Morgan Freeman, Johnny Depp, John Cena and various others have all been targeted in recent death hoaxes. And, Lil Wayne himself has been the subject of several other death rumours in recent years. In 2008, a fake BBC news article spread the false rumour that the rapper had died of gunshot wounds. And, in 2011, another fake news report claimed the star had died of a massive PCP overdose.

Given the increasing frequency of such hoaxes, it is always wise to check the veracity of any social media reports about the supposed demise of a celebrity before reposting or sharing. Note also that some versions of these fake death reports contain links that point to malware, rogue app or survey scam websites.





References
Lil Wayne released from hospital, thanks fans
Lil Wayne Facebook Page
Lil Wayne in BBC News death hoax
Lil Wayne dead at 29

---

Pages in this issue:

1. Hoax - Texas Town Adds Sugar to Water Supply
2. Hoax - Facebook Shutting Down on January 15, 2013
3. Suncorp Bank '1 Unread Message' Phishing Scam
4. US States Petition For Secession
5. Survey Scam - Change Facebook to Black
6. Missy, Dog Rescued From Colorado Mountain
7. Adam Sandler is NOT Dead
8. Monkey Orchid
9. Dangerous Hoax - 'A Needle Can Save The Life of a Stroke Victim'
10. Hoax - Oliver North Warned Congress About Osama Bin Laden in 1987
11. Facebook Rogue App/Survey Scam - Free $100 McDonald's Gift Card
12. USPS Malware Emails
13. Rumors Regarding FEMA and Hurricane Sandy
14. Australia Day Name Change Hoax Targets Prime Minister Gillard
15. Webmail Account Phishing Scam
16. Misinformation Regarding Straight Ticket Voting On 06 November 2012 US General Election
17. December 2012 - 5 Saturdays, 5 Sundays and 5 Mondays
18. Lil Wayne is NOT Dead
19. More 2012 US Election Dissatisfaction: California's Prop 37