A “report” last month claimed that “Pawn Stars” mainstay Austin “Chumlee” Russel was dead. Chumlee posted a video of himself on Vine, repeatedly saying “I’m alive“ on Friday.
The article, which was published on the Internet Chronicle last month, claimed that Chumlee was found dead by another member of the show and died of a “marijuana overdose.”
As The Inquistr pointed out, it is essentially impossible to overdose on marijuana. “It is virtually impossible to overdose from marijuana, which sets it apart from most drugs,” said Brown University.
Russell dispelled the rumor earlier this week. “RIP Austin ‘chumlee’ Russell was a great man he will be missed,” he tweeted. He also wrote: “I am Alive and kicking some times you can’t believe the hype.”
The Internet Chronicle also uses the .su country code top-level domain, which is used for the former Soviet Union, and appears to frequently publish false information. Other “reports” include articles titled “Associated Press ‘Joins Anonymous,’” referring to the hacker collective, “Jodi Arias dead from apparent suicide,” “Stephen Hawking joins Illuminati, snubs Israel,“ and ”Kim Jong-Un cancels nuclear war, reveals he is K-pop star PSY.”
Despite the claims, there was still an outpouring of grief on the Chronicle’s web page.
“You were a funny and loving guy on the show, you will truly be missed..rest in peace Chumlee,” said one commenter.
But others weren’t as easily fooled.
“I was just on the show with him on may 23 2013. He is definitely [not] dead….we took our picture with him! Lol,” wrote another.
