Hugh Hefner Latest Death Hoax Victim

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.—The reports of Hugh Hefner’s death have been greatly exaggerated.

A story that the 88-year-old founder of the Playboy empire had died at his mansion Dec. 28 began circulating the internet by Sunday afternoon, and spread like wildfire. By Sunday evening, the false story—originally posted by fake NBC site NBCToday.co—was shared more than 300,000 times and liked by more than 77,000 people.

Not only is Hefner alive and well, but the media mogul attended family movie night with his 28-year-old wife Crystal and more Sunday evening at the Playboy Mansion.

Crystal Hefner this morning tweeted pictures of the two together at the event last night, and offered up a version of a Mark Twain quote: “A lie can run around the world before the truth has got it’s boots on. #QuoteOfTheDay.”

For good measure, Hefner himself retweeted his wife.