The death of a celebrity often evokes strong emotions among their fans. Some individuals may struggle to accept the reality that their idol has passed away and may hold onto false hopes. Fans often claim they have seen these celebrities, which can give rise to rumors.
Many instances like this have occurred. Sometimes, fans catch a glimpse of someone who bears a striking resemblance to a deceased celebrity, leading them to believe that the celebrity is still alive. Fast & Furious actor, Paul Walker, who died in a car crash in 2013, also suffered such rumors when fans believed that he is still alive.
Reasons fans think Paul Walker is still alive
Paul Walker has starred in the Fast & Furious series of action films. He and his friend, Roger Rodas died in a fiery road accident in 2013. A thorough investigation was conducted in his death and it was found that his car was at a speed between 81 mph and 94 mph before hitting a sign board.
The rumors of Walker’s survival began a year after his death when a user shared a video of Walker talking to a skycap at an airport. The video was titled, “Paul Walker still ALIVE!!!+PROOF!!!” The same year, a jet ski picture surfaced on the internet and it was claimed he is alive and riding a jet ski.
And in 2016, a website claimed that the actor and his friend are still alive. The website said,
“Paul Walker didn’t die. Nor did Roger Rodas. They are both alive and well, and their relatives well know it”.
Then in 2023 came a random tweet, which also claimed that the star is alive and entered the witness protection program.
However, all of these claims have been debunked. The video was an old recording taken by TMZ three months prior to Walker’s death. The jet ski photo was taken while he was filming his movie, Into the Blue in 2005.
Snopes.com, a website that checks facts, debunked all of these claims and found that the tweet about Paul Walker being in witness protection had no proof to back it up. The tweet also didn’t come from a trusted source.
Other dead celebrities who were also subjected to similar rumors
Celebrities like Elvis Presley, Tupac Shakur, and Andy Kaufman were also subjected to similar rumors in the past. King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley passed away in 1977; however, rumors of his survival have persisted for decades. According to a Gallup poll conducted in August 2000, 4% of Americans believed that Elvis Presley was still alive. Although it may not be a large number, it is still significant.
Rumors about Tupac Shakur being alive have persisted for almost 27 years, although he died in a 1996 drive-by shooting. The late Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, continues to capture attention and make headlines even after his passing in 1971. There have been numerous instances where rumors about him have surfaced.
Following the untimely death of Michael Jackson, a video was released that garnered over 800,000 views. The video, which depicted a man resembling Jackson exiting a coroner’s van, convinced fans that he was still alive.
Source: Nicki Swift
