Recommendations of the Editorial team
This week, rumors of the death of Michael J. Fox (who is alive) were so exaggerated that the actor (still alive) had to clarify on social media Wednesday night that he is, in fact, still with us. The actor is 64 years old and will remain so for the next two months before he turns 65.
The impetus for these rumors came from CNN when the channel distributed a video entitled “Remembering the life of actor Michael J. Fox” – as “Entertainment Weekly” reported. Well, Fox remembers his life well because he’s still living it.
“How do you react when you turn on the TV and CNN reports about your death?” Fox wrote in a Threads post. “A) Switching to MSNBC, or whatever they call themselves these days, B) seething [sic] pour hot water on your lap – if it hurts, you’re fine, C) call your wife – hopefully she’ll be worried but reassuring, D) relax, they do that once a year, E) wonder wtf? I thought the world was ending – but apparently it’s just me and I’m fine. Love, Mike.”
CNN apologizes
The clip, which has since been removed, showed excerpts from Fox’s career – including the hit series “Family Ties” and “Spin City”, the “Back to the Future” films, “Teen Wolf”, “Greedy”, “Mars Attacks” and a mediocre film adaptation of “Bright Lights, Big City”, among other productions. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991 and made the disease public in 1998 – as seen in the Emmy-winning 2023 documentary “Still”, which impressively shows how much Fox enjoys life. He also continues to be in front of the camera and was most recently seen in the series “Shrinking”.
“He came week after week as [„Family Ties“-Figur] Alex P. Keaton in our living rooms and finally as [„Back to the Future“-Figur] “Marty McFly on the big screen,” said the tribute clip’s narrator, according to EW. “But Michael J. Fox, as a Parkinson’s sufferer and supporter of stem cell research, wrote an equally impressive third chapter.”
CNN apologized for the gaffe in a statement. “The video was published inadvertently; we have removed it from our platforms and apologize to Michael J. Fox and his family,” a CNN spokesperson told EW.
Fox last demonstrated his lively state on Tuesday when he appeared at PaleyFest in Los Angeles – as “People” reported.
