CNN has apologized to Michael J. Fox after it shared a tribute to the Back to the Future star on Wednesday, prompting fears he had died aged 64.
The news outlet published an article and video titled “Remembering the Life of Actor Michael J. Fox,” screenshots of which quickly went viral on X.
CNN later took the article down, and a spokesperson told TMZ: “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 apology came after Fox’s own representatives debunked the report, telling TMZ: “Michael is doing great. He was at PaleyFest yesterday. He was on stage and was giving interviews.”
In a Threads post, Fox added: “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 made a surprise appearance at PaleyFest LA on Tuesday, dropping in on the season three wrap celebration for Apple TV’s Shrinking.
The event, held at the Dolby Theatre, featured a special screening followed by a panel discussion led by showrunner and co-creator Bill Lawrence and co-creator and star Jason Segel. They were joined by cast members Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Michael Urie, Luke Tennie, Christa Miller, Lukita Maxwell and Ted McGinley.
On the show, Fox guest stars as Gary, a patient who bonds with his therapist, Paul — played by Harrison Ford — over their shared Parkinson’s diagnoses.
Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991 and has made limited screen appearances in recent years as his condition has worsened.
The Family Ties star temporarily retired from acting in 2020 after the disease made it too difficult for him to continue.
In 2024, he expressed his desire to return to the industry if he were ever fit and able, hinting that he would likely take a role that allowed him to portray his “challenges” with Parkinson’s Disease. He said: “I would do acting if something came up that I could put my realities into, my challenges if I could figure it out.
“If someone offers me a part and I do it and I have a good time, great,” he told Entertainment Tonight.
Earlier this year, he made an appearance at the Actor Awards (previously the SAG Awards), receiving generous applause from his peers in attendance before giving a short speech about his journey to become an actor and how it gave him a family.
In 2000, the five-time Emmy winner launched the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which has become the leading Parkinson’s organisation in the world. To date, they have raised over $2.5 billion (roughly £1.9 million) to fund treatments and a potential cure.
In 2023, he received an honorary Oscar in recognition of his humanitarian work, followed a year later by the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Joe Biden.
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