The hashtag "#RIPEllen" started trending on Twitter on Monday night after users reported that Ellen DeGeneres had died — despite the fact that the talk show host was still alive and well.
After speculation last week that DeGeneres' popular talk show was going to be canceled, some Twitter users reportedly took things further by spreading false news of DeGeneres' "death."
According to the New York Post, people on social media said the host had taken her own life in response to the impending "cancellation" of her show — even though the host was still very much alive.
Producers also confirmed with the Post that DeGeneres' show was not, in fact, going to be canceled.
But that didn't stop users from continuing to use the "#RIPEllen" hashtag in their tweets.
Some people shared photos of DeGeneres' celebrity lookalikes (including Jane Lynch's character from "Glee" and Katy Perry), along with their joking condolences for the talk show host.
—hallie 🍭 (@sacreddeer) July 7, 2020
—cukoo bananas (@st4rph1re) July 7, 2020
—ً (@booksmarters) July 7, 2020
—𝐅𝐈𝐀 🦋 (@tobesostill) July 7, 2020
—яαω вєєƒ 💍| #𝟏 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐋𝐲𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧 (@rosslynchcumrag) July 7, 2020
—яαω вєєƒ 💍| #𝟏 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐋𝐲𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧 (@rosslynchcumrag) July 7, 2020
Others referenced the fabricated details of DeGeneres' supposed "death" directly, including false claims that she had jumped off a roof.
—kełłen (@MakeMeFweaky) July 7, 2020
—jared🔮 ʜ.ᴀᴠ (@taylornology) July 7, 2020
And plenty of users were just confused about the whole thing.
—Shemaé Singh (@ShemaeSingh) July 7, 2020
—SushiGum (@SushiiGum) July 7, 2020
—pipipcheerio (@90LOUISV) July 7, 2020
The death hoax, as well as the rumors about her show's cancellation, came after a turbulent past few months for the host.
In April, DeGeneres was called out on Twitter after she compared self-isolating in her California mansion to being in prison. She was also criticized for reportedly leaving members of her crew in the dark about their schedule and paychecks in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
And before that, numerous other people, including makeup YouTuber NikkieTutorials, spoke out about their negative experiences with the host, leading to even more backlash online.
- Read more:
- Why 2020 has been the year of backlash against Ellen DeGeneres
- Ellen DeGeneres is facing backlash after comparing self-isolating in her mansion to being in prison
- A former bodyguard for Ellen DeGeneres said his experience with the host was 'kind of demeaning'
- People continue to call out Ellen DeGeneres after she posted a tearful video about racial injustice
