Chinese stars falsely pronounced 'dead' by the media

Action star Arnold Schwarzenegger was falsely pronounced "dead" yesterday. [Photo/Weibo]

Action star Arnold Schwarzenegger was falsely reported to be dead yesterday. According to the report police responded to a call from a Los Angeles home after receiving an 911 call for a "unresponsive male", which turned out to be the former governor of California. The "news" was revoked shortly after.

In fact, the media have falsely pronounced actors "dead" several times in the past. Here are just some of them.

Chinese comedian Zhao Benshan. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Chinese comedian Zhao Benshan was reported "dead" in April, 2013. The news spread quickly, and many fans expressed their condolence through social media.

Shortly after, Liu Shuangping, artistic director at Benshan Media, called the news "absurd," as he was "still on the phone with him ten minutes ago."

Wang Xiaoli, a disciple of Zhao who was working alongside him for a new production at the time, said his master was perfectly well, and denounced anyone who would release such a news during Qingming Festival, a period when the Chinese often remember the deceased.