Amidst a crazy day of sports — that included the top team in college football losing on a last-second field goal return for a touchdown — one of the top stories circulating on the Internet Saturday was that of the untimely tragic death of actor Paul Walker.
Walker, 40, who was best known for his iconic role as Brian O’Conner in The Fast and the Furious films, died in a fiery single-car crash in Santa Clarita, California.
The combination of TMZ having broken the story and a death-related hoax involving Walker having just circulated the Internet made the news hard to believe.
However, hours after the crash, his reps updated both his Twitter and Facebook accounts confirming the horrifying news.
It’s with a heavy heart that we must confirm Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident…MORE: http://t.co/9hDuJMH99M – #TeamPW
— Paul Walker (@RealPaulWalker) December 1, 2013
The initial confusion over whether reports were real or another hoax was apparent in the Twitter reactions of some NBA athletes.
Is it true that Paul Walker really died?
— Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) December 1, 2013
If this Paul walker thing is some kind of sick joke I’ll be royally pissed
— ☆€@TAL¥ST☆ (@TrillWill15) December 1, 2013
I hope that the paul walker news isn’t true
— Donald Sloan (@dsloan15) December 1, 2013
Is it true that actor Paul Walker did in a car accident??
— Austin Daye (@Adaye5) December 1, 2013
For all of those who accepted the news, their heartfelt condolences were shared.