Actor Martin Lawrence has become the latest Hollywood celebrity to be killed off via an Internet hoax.
A Facebook Page entitled R.I.P. Martin Lawrence appeared on Facebook mid-April that attracted hundreds of thousands of likes.
The Page read –
At about 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday (April 14, 2015), our beloved actor Martin Lawrence passed away. Martin Lawrence was born on April 16, 1965 in Frankfurt. He will be missed but not forgotten. Please show your sympathy and condolences by commenting on and liking this page.
The story was picked up by other webpages who quickly concocted more elaborate stories, including the claim that the actor was found dead inside a hotel room.
However the stories are false, and Lawrence joins a growing number of celebrities who have faced viral death hoaxes, including Morgan Freeman, Jeff Goldblum, Eminem and Keanu Reeves.
The rumours appear to have peaked during Lawrence’s 50th birthday.
Always verify such stories with mainstream media before sharing. You can read our article on how to spot celebrity death hoaxes via our blog post here.
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