Why is 'Robert Downey Jr. dead' trending?
RUMORS of Robert Downey Jr.'s death has been swirling around the internet, sparking concern among the actor's stunned fans.
Fortunately, the beloved star is alive and well, and this was only the latest celebrity death hoax among many.
Who is Robert Downey Jr.?
Robert Downey Jr. is an American actor born in 1965. He is best known for playing the main part in the Marvel sci-fi series Iron Man.
Robert started acting at the age of five and built his career throughout the 1900s before suffering a major setback.
From 1996 to 2001 the actor was arrested several times on drugs related charges.
He attended several treatment programs, and in 1999 he explained to a judge: "It's like I have a shotgun in my mouth, and I've got my finger on the trigger, and I like the taste of the gun metal."
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Robert said he had been addicted to drugs since the age of eight, as his father, who had also been an addict, had been giving them to him.
After working to beat his habit he dramatically re-emerged onto the acting scene and landed the lead role as Tony Stark in the Hollywood blockbuster, Iron Man.
The actor is married to Susan Downey and has three children, two with Susan and one with his ex-wife, Deborah Falconer.
Why is 'Robert Downey Jr. dead' trending?
"Robert Downey Jr. dead" is trending as concern was spreading for the star's welfare after a Facebook page was set up announcing his alleged death.
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The page posted this statement: “At about 11 a.m. ET on Monday (October 16, 2023), our beloved actor Robert Downey, Jr. passed away. Robert Downey, Jr. was born on April 4, 1965 in New York.
"He will be missed but not forgotten. Please show your sympathy and condolences by commenting on and liking this page.”
The post rapidly gained traction and received nearly one million likes, leaving people turning to Google to find out if it was true.
It soon became clear that Robert had been the subject of a death hoax when his team released this statement: "He joins the long list of celebrities who have been victimized by this hoax.
"He's still alive and well, stop believing what you see on the Internet."
"He joins the long list of celebrities who have been victimized by this hoax. He's still alive and well, stop believing what you see on the Internet," they said.
Robert is only the latest celebrity to have to dispel rumors that they have passed away, as the pranks appear to be a common occurrence.
Why is 'Tony Stark dead' trending?
The reason why "Tony Stark dead" is trending is because October 17, 2023, is the date the character dies - according to the Marvel timeline.
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Tony ended up in an epic final face-off against Thanos, which resulted in him defeating the villain and saving the universe.
However, Tony died on the battlefield shortly after he won the fight due to his exposure to gamma radiation and the power of the stones, zapping him of his remaining life force.
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