A press release circulated Thursday morning announcing the death of Mark McGrath, the former frontman of '90s rock band Sugar Ray and the host of "Don't Forget The Lyics," but the statement was a hoax, People reported.
The e-mailed press release, which People said was linked to a Los Angeles PR firm, looks like a stunt pulled to promore McGrath's Adult Swim show "Hot Package," which begins a new season on Friday, USA Today reported.
"In honor of Mr. McGrath's legacy, his team is asking in lieu of flowers, fans post a Sugar Ray selfie, holding a packet of sugar over their heart," the release read, according to People.
However, USA Today reported, about an hour after the initial announcement, another e-mail arrived, stating: "Tomorrow night on the Season 2 Premiere of Hot Package, Mark McGrath is killed by a masked gunman and dies in the arms of his co-host Derrick Beckles. It's important to note that Mark McGrath is alive and well in real life."
