Jaleel White is a well-known actor and comedian who rose to fame as Steve Urkel on the hit sitcom Family Matters. However, he also became the victim of a cruel death hoax that circulated online in 2024, claiming that he had committed suicide. How did this false story start, and how did it spread? Here is a summary of the events and the facts.
The Fake Video That Started It All
The death hoax originated from a YouTube video that was uploaded by a channel called The End of Them 1970s in February 2024. 1 The video had the title “Comedian Jaleel White has passed away after a massive heart attack, condolences to fans” and showed a photo of White with the words “Rest in Peace” and “1965-2024” on it. The video also claimed that White had suffered a fatal heart attack and that his family and friends were mourning his loss.
The video was completely fabricated and had no credible source or evidence to support its claim. The channel that posted the video was known for spreading false and sensational stories about celebrities and other topics. The photo of White that was used in the video was actually taken from a 2013 interview he did with Oprah Winfrey, where he talked about his health issues and his recovery from a coma he had in 1999.
The Viral Spread of the Death Hoax
Despite being debunked by several media outlets and fact-checking websites, the death hoax continued to circulate on social media and other platforms, especially on WhatsApp, where many people forwarded the video and the message without verifying its authenticity. 3 Some people also created fake news articles and tweets that repeated the same false information and added more details, such as the date and place of his death, his funeral arrangements, and his last words.
Some of these fake news articles and tweets were designed to look like they came from reputable sources, such as CNN, TMZ, and The New York Times, which added to the confusion and credibility of the hoax. Some of them also included links to malicious websites that could infect the users’ devices with viruses or malware.
The Reaction of Jaleel White and His Representatives
As the death hoax spread, many of White’s fans, friends, and colleagues expressed their concern and sympathy for him and his family, and some of them even contacted him directly to check on his well-being. White and his representatives were quick to respond and deny the rumors, and assured everyone that he was alive and healthy.
White also took to his official social media accounts to post a video of himself and a message to his fans, where he thanked them for their love and support, and joked about the death hoax. He said, “Hey, what’s up, everybody? This is your boy, Jaleel White. As you can see, I’m still here. I didn’t go nowhere. I’m not dead. I’m alive and well. I just want to say thank you to all my fans for reaching out to me and showing me so much love. I appreciate it. And to the people who started this rumor, shame on you. But hey, it’s all good. I’m still here. God bless you all. Peace.”
The End of the Death Hoax
The death hoax was eventually exposed and dismissed by most people, and White continued to work on his projects and appear in public events. He also starred in the Netflix series The Big Show Show, which premiered in 2020 and featured him as the best friend of a retired wrestler.
However, some people still believed or doubted the death hoax, and some websites and social media accounts still shared and promoted it. Therefore, it is important to always check the source and validity of any news or information that you see or receive online, and not to spread or share anything that is unverified or suspicious. Remember, Jaleel White is not dead. He is alive and kicking.
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