With all of the high-profile celebrity deaths in 2016, it’s no wonder people are taking advantage of an already shocked world. Recently a fake BBC Twitter account pulled on heartstrings and sent people into a panic when it announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II. However, the Queen is still very much alive.
Many people have been worried about the Queen’s health over the last few weeks given that for the first time in decades, she missed the annual Christmas church service at Sandringham. She was suffering from a heavy cold. What’s more, the queen is 90 years old and the longest reigning queen in England and the longest reigning living monarch in the world. So, naturally, people are worried she could pass at any point.
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That worry is exactly what one fake Twitter account played with in the wake of a string of very emotional and high-profile deaths around the world. The fake account – @BBCNewsUKI – has since been deactivated, but was set up to look like the very real news account @BBCNewsUK. Due to the similarities in looks, many people easily mistook the news as real.
Of course, there were many others around the internet that didn’t believe the news at all.
@ashymareads unfortunately
— Tall Rob (@big_tall_rob) December 29, 2016
#QueenElizabeth isn’t dead because A, the source is a fake twitter account and
— Rika Furude (@Hellstorm901) December 29, 2016
B, like the Emperor in 40K the throne gives her immortality.
When you see Queen Elizabeth trending but it’s only another death hoax pic.twitter.com/ZXWUyiR07j
— Memestermcmemester (@lordharambe69) December 29, 2016
HOAX! Queen Elizabeth is NOT dead! Man won’t these idiots ever get over creating death hoax’s?
— 🎭Joe🎭 (@TrajectoryFlash) December 29, 2016
Our top story tonight: Queen Elizabeth II is still alive. pic.twitter.com/qQ6munvBqr
— Orli Matlow (@HireMeImFunny) December 29, 2016
Death hoax and fake news stories have been a major issue around the internet over the last few years, spreading misinformation everywhere. However, given the number of celebrity deaths in 2016, it would be easy to believe that another beloved person has passed.
Luckily, the Queen is still very much alive and well – or at least alive and fighting back a simple winter cold.
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[H/T PEOPLE]
