Yesterday, the Sacramento Bee reported that legendary actress/singer Lena Horne died at the age of 92, citing an obituary in The New York Times . The only problem? She died on May 9 … 2010. It’s unclear how the Bee blew this, but Lena Horne began trending nationally and countless news outlets picked up the story (which they have since taken down). On Twitter, thousands of users mourned, tweeting condolences as if it just happened. “Just learned Lena Horne passed away. Saddened. A legend. A true star,” one wrote. “Crying so hard. I didn’t know that her death would affect me like this!” said another. This was followed by a collective, “Wait, didn’t Lena Horne die three years ago?” “LISTEN UP: Today, May 10, marks the THIRD ANNIVERSARY of the death of Lena Horne. Got it? Third anniversary,” one fan tweeted in response. Another fan of the actress sent out a similar rebuke, “Lena Horne died three years ago people. I’m judging you if you didn’t know that already.” This isn’t the first time Twitter has reacted to a false report of a celebrity death, but it’s the first we can recall in which the person was already dead. At least Lena’s legacy was remembered again?
Originally posted here:
Lena Horne Dies … in 2010
