Jackie Chan Death Hoax Goes Viral

Action film legend Jackie Chan is alive and well, despite another viral online hoax that falsely claimed the 71-year-old actor had died.

The rumors began spreading across Facebook and X on Monday, November 10, fueled by a post alleging that Chan had passed away from complications from decades of on-set injuries.

The post, which included an AI-generated image of Chan in a hospital bed alongside fabricated dates suggesting he had passed away, quickly went viral. One Facebook page, Stories About Us, was among the main sources of the claim.

What We Know

Chan’s representatives have made no public statement because there is no truth to the claim. No credible media outlets have reported on his death. Instead, the images and text circulating online were manipulated and identical across multiple accounts, indicating a coordinated misinformation effort, or perhaps one hoax that caught on.

The Hong Kong-born actor, whose career spans more than six decades, has long been a target of online death hoaxes. The latest round mimicked earlier false reports dating back to 2015, which similarly cited injuries or illness as the cause of death and used misleading visuals to bolster the claims. This week’s version followed the same pattern, with AI-generated photos adding a new layer of believability for some viewers.

On X, a user with the handle @DigitalGal_ shared a screenshot of one of the hoax posts and clarified that it was fake, writing: “Facebook’s latest fake news: Jackie Chan has passed. He hasn’t.”

That post has been viewed more than 10,000 times to date.

No legitimate sources have confirmed any health emergency for Chan, and no reports from his family or team have suggested he is unwell. Despite this, the death rumor spread quickly online, a reminder of how misinformation can circulate before fact-checkers or official sources step in.

The recurring nature of these hoaxes underscores the challenge of containing false narratives once they begin to trend. The use of AI-generated content, such as fabricated hospital scenes, adds a layer of difficulty for viewers online trying to distinguish between real and fake information.

Chan, known for his acrobatic fighting style and comedic timing, is widely considered one of the most influential martial artists in the history of cinema. His career includes starring roles in Rush Hour, Police Story, Drunken Master, and The Karate Kid remake. He is also recognized for performing most of his own stunts—a hallmark of his action-heavy filmography.

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Now 71, Chan remains somewhat active in entertainment and public life. The enduring popularity of his work has made him a recurring target of social media hoaxes, particularly in recent years as platforms like Facebook and X have become primary sources of breaking news—both real and fabricated.

Aside from the rumors, it was confirmed in May that Chan had been injured while filming on set, but that it was not a serious or life-threatening knock to his health.

As of this week, there is no indication that Chan is anything other than alive and healthy.