Thursday night, Twitter erupted in a frenzy of condolences for Earl Simmons, the ailing artist popularly known as DMX, who is hospitalized and in grave condition for almost a week.
Though it is not the first time social media has ran with fake news around a celebrity’s death, this time around feels eerie, it hits harder due to the artist’s current health status and grave condition. The alarming tweets that read, “Damn DMX,” and “RIP DMX” and “Rest in peace DMX” followed one after the other, and prematurely eulogized the “Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood” rapper.
Them last 15 seconds heavy now brotha. Rest In Peace DMX, you deserve peace🤲🏾 pic.twitter.com/ZzCMlPqnGw
— Payroll Giovanna🐞 (@tra11e) April 9, 2021
Rest In Peace DMX!🙏🏼
One of the greatest to ever do it!
This is heartbreaking.
My favorite rapper.We raspy voiced motherfuckas got love for each other!
RIP DMX#KidVicious🙏🏼❤️
— KID VICIOUS🔪 (@kirkacevedo) April 9, 2021
Counter tweets questioned the validity of the rumors and wanted to know about credible sources. Many tweeters threw shade at Twitter users who reacted without positively confirming the news.
The fact that so many people are saying Rest In Peace DMX without even knowing the most up to date information is scary. Y’all don’t even remotely try to confirm the things you see on social media 😔
— TheNiceCast (@TheNiceCast_) April 9, 2021
DMX is fighting for his life and his family is dealing with one of the most excruciatingly difficult circumstances…and some of you want to be first to tweet he died. SMH.
— CHUCK JIGSAW CREEKMUR (@chuckcreekmur) April 9, 2021
The uproar prompted Steve Rifkind, Simmons’s longtime friend and manager to release a video statement asking people to refrain from posting “rumors” about the death of DMX, and that such sentiment was “not helping anybody by seeing these false rumors.” Rifkind confirmed that DMX is indeed alive and remains on life support and that the family would give a statement on Friday.
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Over the past week, many fans and celebrities have expressed sorrow, thoughts and prayer for Simmons in the wake of the unexpected tragedy. Some showed up at White Plains hospital, where X is being treated, to pay homage and hold vigil.
DMX has been hospitalized since April 2, following a reported heart attack, allegedly triggered by a drug overdose, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported. The rapper is said to be on life support in a “vegetative state,” according to the New York Times. It was reported by TMZ that X has unimproved brain function, and that the hitmaker’s mother Arnett Simmons is faced with the difficult choice to continue or discontinue life support.