Canadian singer Celine Dion has been the subject of many death hoaxes online, and most recently, a rogue app pretending to offer news and a video of her death has been circulating Facebook, according to About.com, though the 45-year-old star is alive and well.
The app, which bears the text "R.I.P. Celine Dion" and either the FOX News or CNN logo, requests access to a member's profile information and for permission to post on their behalf. If access is granted, the app reposts the news to all of their friend's pages. The app either claims that Dion died in a plane crash, promising "graphic" video that requires users to be 18+, or a car crash with similar purported footage.
Excerpts from the rogue app include variations of, "Her heart will go on? Highway Safety Investigators have told reporters that Celine Dion lost control while driving a friend's vehicle on Interstate 80 and rolled the vehicle several times killing her instantly," or "Actress Celine Dion was believed to have been a passenger on the flight. Raw footage of her accident has been recorded and leaked to fox news but cannot be broadcasted over the air so it was uploaded via the internet for the public to view."
Experts warn people not click these apps as they not only spread false information, but may contain viruses and malware.
The Celine Dion death hoax originated on a prank website several years ago, a fake celebrity death news generator, according to About's Urban Legends page. The news is always associated with fake news site, Global News Associated.
Dion's latest album has been postponed for Nov. 1 release, featuring her new single, "Loved Me Back to Life." She will embark on a fall tour in Belgium and France following the success of her French-language album, "Sans attendre."
an example of the rogue Facebook app, via About.com
