STORY UPDATED: check for updates below.
Did film director John Singleton die after suffering a major stroke? No, that's not true: It is another celebrity death hoax taking advantage of a serious health crisis to generate web traffic. John Singleton, 51, is in a coma after suffering a stroke, but not dead, a source close to his family told Lead Stories Thursday night.
(A family representative confirmed to Lead Stories Monday, April 29, 2019 at 1:45pPT that John Singleton has died. The family released this statement: "John passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends," Singleton's family said. "We want to thank the amazing doctors at Cedars-Sinai Hospital for their expert care and kindness and we again want thank all of John's fans, friends and colleagues for all of the love and support they showed him during this difficult time.")
The story originated from an article (archived here) where it was published on April 25, 2019 under the title "Director John Singleton Passes Away After Suffering Major Stroke!!! It opened:
Famed director John Singleton suffered a stroke last week after taking a trip to Costa Rica and experienced problems with his legs. He checked himself into a hospital in L.A. and suffered another stroke Wednesday in his hospital room. This time it was much more severe, putting the director into a coma resulting in his untimely death.
This is what social media users saw:
The fake story offers no sourcing for the confirmation that Singleton has died. To the contrary, media reports Thursday, April 25, 2019 centered on a court filing by Singleton's mother, Shelia Ward, asking that a conservator be appointed by the court to take manage his finances and personal needs. The filing said Singleton is "currently hospitalized in a coma and is unable to provide for his personal needs" or "manage his financial resources."Singleton suffered a stroke on April 17, his family said.
"This story is false and John has not passed away," a source close to the family told Lead Stories Thursday night.
In 1992, Singleton became the youngest person,and the first African American to be nominated for a best director Oscar for directing the Boyz n the Hood.
Updates:
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2019-04-29T20:56:55Z 2019-04-29T20:56:55Z A family representative confirmed to Lead Stories Monday, April 29, 2019 at 1:45pPT that John Singleton has died. The family released this statement: "John passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends," Singleton's family said. "We want to thank the amazing doctors at Cedars-Sinai Hospital for their expert care and kindness and we again want thank all of John's fans, friends and colleagues for all of the love and support they showed him during this difficult time." -
2019-04-29T17:22:56Z 2019-04-29T17:22:56Z Contrary to renewed reports that John Singleton has died, a family representative confirmed to Lead Stories Monday, April 29, 2019 at 10aPT that the director was still alive, however, they would soon end medical life support. "It is with heavy hearts we announce that our beloved son, father and friend, John Daniel Singleton will be taken off life support today. This was an agonizing decision one that our family made, over a number of days, with the careful counsel of John's doctors."
