CNN Humiliated After Airing Death Tribute For Actor Who Is Very Much Alive

CNN took a brutal L after mistakenly airing what looked like a death tribute for Michael J. Fox, only for the Back to the Future legend to pop up online and remind everyone he is very much alive.

The actor, 64, addressed the scare after a video package titled Remembering the life of actor Michael J. Fox circulated Wednesday, triggering a wave of frantic posts and confusion.

Fox, who has lived with Parkinson’s disease since 1991, responded with humor on Threads.

How do you react when you turn on the TV and CNN is reporting your death? Fox wrote. Do you… A) switch to MSNBC, 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, he added. Love, Mike.

Screenshot-Threads

Entertainment Weekly reported the CNN package featured interview clips and highlights from Fox’s career, from Family Ties to his iconic role as Marty McFly. The narration also referenced his advocacy work tied to Parkinson’s and stem cell research.

He came into our living rooms on the small screen each week as Alex P. Keaton [on ‘Family Ties’] and eventually onto the big screen as Marty McFly in ‘Back to the Future,’ a narrator said in the clip, per EW. But Michael J. Fox had a compelling third act as Parkinson’s sufferer and stem cell research advocate.

His most lasting role may have been as a tireless voice against Parkinson’s, a performance the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2022, the narrator continued. In the end, Fox came to understand that his battle against the disease brought out the best in him.

CNN later apologized, saying the segment was published in error and pulled from its platforms.

The package was published in error; we have removed it from our platforms and send our apologies to Michael J. Fox and his family, a CNN spokesperson told Entertainment Weekly.

Fox has remained active in public life and recently returned to acting after a multi-year step back, saying he manages his time carefully.

I just feel I have to, he told USA Today. It’s a tradeoff. I want to be around for everything.

I want to be active at everything, keep working, keep my partnerships going, my good friends, and enjoy my time with my family, he added. And it’s all good; it’s so much better than it could be.

CNN falsely reported Michael J. Fox had died.

Here he is alive and in good spirits on stage at PaleyFest on April 7th.

CNN has now apologized:

“The video was posted by mistake. We immediately removed it from the platform and sincerely apologize…” pic.twitter.com/Fv3CSWNmq1

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 9, 2026

He also spoke to People about working on a guest arc for Shrinking, describing how he pushed through the day-to-day reality of Parkinson’s while filming.

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It was the first time ever I get to show up on-set, and I didn’t have to worry about, am I too tired or coughing or anything, he told People. I just do it. It was really good, because for the moments when I say, ‘I’m not going to be able to do this,’ then I say, ‘Well, I’ll just deal with how I can’t do it in the scene.’ And you get through it.

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Fox appeared at PaleyFest in Los Angeles this week, joining the Shrinking team as Season 3 wrapped, giving fans one more piece of evidence that the reports of his death were wildly premature.

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