Fans of Steve Harvey went berserk after receiving a fake news alert that the beloved television host had died – before eventually realizing the report was untrue.
Dozens of social media users took to according to The Wrap.
The article, titled Steve Harvey Passed Away Today: Remembering the Legacy of a Comedy Legend, was shared on the NewsBreak app on Wednesday.
“Today the world lost a remarkable figure in the entertainment industry when Steve Harvey passed away,” it said.
But those who looked closely noticed that the article was dated a day later, and upon closer inspection, the 67-year-old Family Feud host was very much alive.
“Anyone else woke up to the news of Steve Harvey’s death and was it a spam or virus link?” one X user posted.
He soon received numerous responses from other Steve Harvey fans saying they had received the warning too.
“I did,” wrote another. “I clicked on it and there was no information. I looked him up and it looks like he’s still very much alive.
Fans of Steve Harvey were shocked and outraged when they received a fake news alert saying he was dead
One social media user asked if he was the only one who received the notification
‘Why do people do these things?’
“The internet really needs to stop playing with people’s lives,” a third X user added.
“That fake news about Steve Harvey being completely wrong. Smh.”
A fourth also wrote that the hoax shows the dangers of AI.
“Just when you think AI is infallible, Steve Harvey is declared dead!” she posted.
“Remember, even techies can stumble. Let’s hustle and live life to the fullest.’
The comments section of the NewsBreak app was also filled with angry responses, with one person even suggesting that Harvey sue the outlet.
“I don’t care about this guy, but I hope he gets wind of this article and sues whoever wrote this article,” he wrote. “You actually wished for the death of that man right here, as you lay on that man’s soul like this.
“How damn fake, it would be all over the internet and Google says nothing,” wrote another.
He soon received numerous responses from other Steve Harvey fans saying they had received the warning too
Many took to the NewsBreak app for spreading the false story
A spokesperson for NewsBreak told the Independent in its wake, it is simply “an information platform that aggregates content from a wide range of sources, including leading news outlets.”
“Our team investigates all content flagged as harmful or misleading and acts quickly to remove anything that violates our community standards.
‘We have removed the article in question and sincerely apologize to Mr Harvey and his family for any distress it may have caused.’
Still, news of Harvey’s death made it the second most popular Google search Wednesday morning.
But it was unclear whether Harvey was aware of the rumors of his death, although he wrote on Sunday: “I wake up feeling grateful every day, no matter what situation I’m in.”
One social media user said it shows the limits of artificial intelligence
Harvey had been the subject of death hoaxes in the past, with a rumor circulating in October that he died in a car crash.
#RIPHarvey also spread like wildfire last year after a Kentucky sports fan named Harvey Doyle lost his life.
But the hashtag led to misinformation that the television host had died suddenly, prompting him to have some fun as he shared a photo of himself looking at his phone while smoking a cigar.
“I see RIP Harvey is trending,” he wrote.