Actor Wayne Knight, best known as Seinfeld’s Newman, was the latest victim of an Internet death hoax on Sunday.
A fake story circulating on the web noted that Knight passed away in a tragic car accident. Reportedly, two other passengers were critically injured in the accident that occurred when their vehicle slammed into a disable semi-tractor-trailer late on Saturday night.
Knight, 58, died on the scene, according to the report.
The accident allegedly took place near the Pennsylvania-New York state border in Eldred Township. Initially, the report was presumed to be true as it contained details about the hospital and police agencies involved in investigating the accident. Names of the victims were also mentioned.
These details were first reported by a TMZ.Today, a website modelled around popular entertainment news site.
Soon after the report went viral, Knight, who has worked in “Jurassic Park”, “Space Jam” and “Hot in Cleveland,” took to his Twitter account to appease his numerous fans devastated by the news. He took a shot at the rumor noting that celebrities tend to trend on Twitter only after they die.
Some of you will be glad to hear this, others strangely disappointed, but….I am alive and well!
— Wayne Knight (@iWayneKnight) March 16, 2014
Does someone have to DIE to trend? Geez! Thanks for all the love everybody. I didn’t know you cared. Glad to be breathing! — Wayne Knight (@iWayneKnight) March 16, 2014
Regrets to my friends and family who were shocked this morning and the family of the woman who actually died in my “supposed” accident.
— Wayne Knight (@iWayneKnight) March 16, 2014
Thanks to the small town of new followers who came onboard just to tell me they’re glad I didn’t kick! I feel good about the result as well. — Wayne Knight (@iWayneKnight) March 17, 2014
Meanwhile, a number of fans have recorded their displeasure at the increasing number of death hoaxes in recent times. Besides Knight, actors such as Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Charlie Sheen and singer including Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and Usher have been targets of these death hoaxes.
"Pawn Stars" star Austin Russell, popularly known as Chumlee, was also reported to be dead by TMZ Today and eBuzzd. And like Knight, Russell too have been flooded with calls and messages from concerned fans.
