Twitter hoax - Morgan Freeman is not dead

Image: Getty

It started with one random tweet, and now Twitter user @originalcjizzle has issued an apology after he led many to believe that actor Morgan Freeman was dead.

"@CNN: Breaking News: actor Morgan Freeman has passed away in his Burbank home" was the original statement re-tweeted multiple times today, followed by a retraction: "NEWS ALERT: Morgan Freeman not dead, CNN retracts statement."

But it turns out CNN had nothing to do with it. In fact, the rumour started with just one random Tweet from some guy. Oh how easily things can get out of hand on the interwebz!

"Ppl shouldn't be so damn gullible," tweeted @originalcjizzle, the person who started the rumour.

"Morgan Freeman is alive & well.. I just issued a formal apology to a man who identified himself as an employee of the New York Post," he added.

"It was an inside joke between friends. I had no intention of things turning out this way."