It’s always a cringe-worthy moment when someone mistakes one celebrity for another, but this recent incident may be one of the worst. New Zealand newspaper Gisborne Herald reportedly botched an obituary dedicated to Marvel Comics’ real-life superhero Stan Lee, mistaking him for director and producer (and very much alive) Spike Lee.
The newspaper quickly attracted a viral following on Twitter on Tuesday (Nov. 13), after fans passed around a photo of the front page. The top header featured a correct image of Stan Lee, but the text wasn’t exactly on the mark. “Characters First, Superheroes Next: Spike Lee Dies At 95,” the header reads. Clearly the first name had been swapped out, seeing how Spike is still alive and only 61 years old.
As previously reported, Stan Lee passed away in California on Nov. 12, after suffering from a medical emergency. Lee was a writer, editor, and publisher of Marvel Comics, co-creating beloved characters such as Black Panther, Spider-Man, the Hulk, X-Men, and more. Following his death, many of the actors who played Marvel characters in the franchise, including Halle Berry (Storm in X-Men), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk in Avengers), and Chris Evans (Captain America, Avengers), expressed their condolences on social media.
As for the Herald, they may want to find a better fact-checker. Check out the botched front page below.
Oh dear pic.twitter.com/9YfcbwYIlO
— Huw Turbervill (@huwzat) November 13, 2018
READ MORE: Stan Lee Dead: Beloved Marvel Co-Creator Was 95