News surfaced on Wednesday that John “Ecstasy” Fletcher, the co-founder of Whodini, had passed away at the age of 56. Several outlets reported the news, including Deadline, but this particular site made a mistake and used a photo of Cam Newton instead of Fletcher. The staff at Deadline ultimately realized the mistake and deleted the original tweet featuring the well-dressed quarterback. However, people had already taken screenshots showing the incorrect featured image. Additionally, an email blast had gone out that featured Newton’s visage.
Twitter users saw the incorrect image and reacted with a variety of angry comments. Many said that Deadline was being disrespectful with its obituary. Others said that the outlet had simply searched for an image featuring a large hat before publishing the article. The comments continued well after Deadline deleted the original tweet, to the point that one person said they “can’t trust” the outlet writing articles about COVID-19 or other serious topics due to its mixup with Newton and Fletcher.
Videos by PopCulture.com
Now @DEADLINE I’m pretty sure Cam Newton was never a member of Whodini.
— Captain Cristobal (@CRS_One) December 23, 2020
Y’all got some Splaining to do…. pic.twitter.com/1iH2TXJK2g
In case anyone is wondering, this is Cam Newton, not Ecstasy. Good job yahoo. pic.twitter.com/qKewitQ9ri
— Snuffjuice (@enohp660) December 23, 2020
You can’t even figure out the difference between Cam Newton and that rapper who died and we’re supposed to take you and @DEADLINE seriously? I think not.
— David Lee (@GARaidersFan) December 24, 2020
Is Cam Newton okay, though?
— GatorGum (@gator_gum) December 24, 2020
#Whodini were & are legends. Rest in Power #Ecstasyhttps://t.co/BzqHDCTc3f
— Dominic Patten (@DeadlineDominic) December 24, 2020
Apologies to all The article that @DEADLINE did on the passing of #Whodini legend John “Ecstasy” Fletcher incorrectly included a photo that was not the Freaks Come Out at Night singer By the time error was fixed, the story had proliferated online No disrespect intended
— Dominic Patten (@DeadlineDominic) December 24, 2020
Bruh! Deadline’s newsletter is disrespectful putting using cam newton for this headline! hahaha pic.twitter.com/ey7kDu1EYP
— L.A. (@LdotAdot) December 23, 2020
@DEADLINE your email blast on John Fletcher is a photo of Cam Newton…. 🤦🏾♂️
— Shaun Sutton (@avataroslo) December 23, 2020
Awww crap! Cam Newton died?
— David Lee (@GARaidersFan) December 23, 2020
Always rushing to the headline. 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
— Captain Cristobal (@CRS_One) December 23, 2020
You got to stop disrespecting black men this is #CamNewton and not the Great #JohnEcstasy John Fletcher of the supergroup Whoudini rest in paradise king. @DEADLINE you’re so wrong for this 😡
— R.A. GUIRAND (@its_R_A_) December 23, 2020
No expert but I think that’s Cam Newton
— Izzy Davis (@izzybelledavis) December 23, 2020
Damn RIP Cam Newton
— 14DollarsTheHardWay (@ShowTheGolf) December 23, 2020
Um….. that’s Cam Newton
— A.A. “This is now a Cudi Stan account” Loza (@st_abel45) December 23, 2020
