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Being a celebrity means you have to deal with plenty of issues the average person will almost never encounter, which includes browsing the internet only to discover someone has started to spread a rumor that you’ve died—a situation retired NFL running back Sony Michel found himself dealing with on Monday.
The former Georgia Bulldog was selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft and spent some time with the Rams, Dolphins, and Chargers before deciding to bring his career to an end at the age of 28 when he announced his decision to retire at the end of July.
Michel cited the wear and tear football took on his body while explaining his decision to hang up his cleats, and he’s just the latest NFL player who’s opted for a fairly early retirement in the hopes of being able to enjoy the rest of their lives without having to deal with the long-term repercussions that burden many players who pushed themselves to the limit.
On Monday evening, a verified Twitter user asserted tragedy struck when they posted a now-deleted tweet claiming Michel had died following a motorcycle accident in Florida.
While it didn’t take long for that rumor to make the rounds, it also didn’t take very long for Michel to debunk it, as he hopped on the platform to confirm the report of his death had been grossly exaggerated with a two-word response where he assured everyone he was still, in fact, alive.
Fake news
— Sony Michel (@Flyguy2stackz) August 14, 2023
Sadly, it appears the rumor in question turned out to be a case of mistaken identity, as we soon learned former NFL RB Alex Collins had passed away in a motorcycle accident at the age of 28.
The Twitter user who made the error acknowledged the mistake while stating it’s the “last time [they] try to report any news,” which is probably a good call.