Contrary to the viral death hoax that went wild on all social media platforms, Jackie Chan is alive and doing great. Starting sometime last week, the 71-year-old martial arts legend was claimed to be dead due to complications from his past injuries. While fans tried to confirm this report, highly connected sources immediately squashed the rumors and reassured people that the iconic actor was in fact in good health.

Here is a breakdown of how the hoax spread, why such rumors persist, and what Jackie Chan’s team has said in response.

How the Jackie Chan Death Hoax Started

The latest death hoax began circulating on Nov 10, 2025, when a Facebook post said Jackie Chan died. The post included a photo of the actor lying in a hospital bed and a fabricated statement allegedly from his family. It read, “Jackie Chan, 71, passes away after battle with complications from decades of on-set injuries.”

It soon went viral across different platforms like X, Facebook, and WhatsApp. The fans were shocked and filled with sadness as many started releasing their tributes and condolences without first verifying the news.

Official Sources Confirm Jackie Chan Is Alive

Within hours, various leading media houses such as NDTV, India TV News, and Livemint among others had confirmed the reports to be false. A source close to Jackie Chan maintained that the actor was “alive and well” while adding that the viral posts were completely fabricated.

This is not the first time there has been a death hoax for Jackie Chan. There have been similar hoaxes in previous years, as his international fame and the emotional attachment of his fans to him ensure the rumors gain momentum.

Why Do Celebrity Death Hoaxes Spread So Easily?

Celebrity death hoaxes are nothing new, but the speed with which they spread has increased dramatically with the rise of social media. In the case of Jackie Chan, the plausibility of the image, emotional language, and the age of the actor himself all collaborated to make the rumor more plausible to casual readers.

According to experts, the origin of such hoaxes often comes from clickbait-driven pages or prank websites. Once a few users shared the post, it would get amplified by the algorithm, and then the misinformation snowballs.

Fan Reactions and Social Media Outrage

After the hoax was debunked, fans worldwide expressed relief and frustration. Many took to social media to call out the spread of fake news. One user wrote, “Why is Facebook trying to kill off Jackie Chan?” while another said, “I almost shouted at work when I saw the post.” It also sparked a wave of appreciation for Jackie Chan’s legacy, as fans flooded social media sharing clips from his classic films like Rush Hour, Police Story, and Drunken Master.