This year is shaping up to be a stellar year for Twitter hoaxes. The latest addition happened last night when Fidel Castro became a trending topic on Twitter as reports of his death reverberated across the social media site. There was even a night-vision quality pic of the former Cuban leader tucked into a casket.
Realistically, with the number of times that Castro has been declared dead and then alive again, he might very well be the most successful communist vampire ever. Regardless of whether Castro was dead or not did not deter Tweeters from taking to the Twitter.
@WikileaksAR
Wikileaks ArgentinaCONFIRMED: Fidel Castro is dead.
1 hour ago via Twitter for Android · powered by @socialditto
@m_cetera
M CeteraTold my dad about the rumor Fidel Castro was dead. “He’s probably been dead a long time & they’ve just been doing ‘Weekend at Bernie’s.’” 14 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
@dacabalv
David Cabal ÁlvarezFidel Castro se rie sobre el rumor de su muerte.Mas de 700 veces fue intentado ser asesinado por la CIA. 7 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® · powered by @socialditto
@EWErickson
Erick EricksonConsensus is that Castro is still alive. 17 hours ago via Twitter for iPad · powered by @socialditto
@exileinflyville
Joe MacareFidel Castro needs to prove he is not dead by getting a) on Twitter, and b) into a Twitter flamewar with Rupert Murdoch. 18 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
@fleetstreetfox
fleetstreetfoxWell I can’t be bothered to wait up and see if Castro’s alive or dead. Someone shout if Gloria Estefan’s wheeled out as the ‘Famous Cuban’. 19 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto
@kaizerkahos
JoanSiempre se van los mejores Gadafi, Kim Jong-il, Fidel Castro… pero siempre permanece Justin Bieber!!! 1 minute ago via web · powered by @socialditto
@Joannechocolat
Joanne HarrisFidel Castro as Schroedinger’s Cat. Offcially, both dead AND alive… 20 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
He’s dead! He’s alive! He’s dead! He’s alive! Basically, rinse and repeat those sentiments and you have summarized sixty years of political speculation on the subject. It’s worth noting that Wikileaks Argentina repeatedly posted that Castro was dead despite contrary reports that he was still alive. No word on yet on why they’re so insistent that he’s dead but as of 54 minute ago they were still saying this is confirmed. Either they’ve got the scoop of the decade or they’re really betting the farm on the hope that they’re right.
Since 2011 was such a bad year for dictators around the world, it would be fitting that Castro would want 2012 all to himself. Why start sharing in death when that virtue was roundly ignored during his life? Alas, such questions are for idle minds as Fidel Castro is actually still among the living. At least, that’s what Cuba’s official blog is saying. In fact, according to the post, upon being told of his premature demise Castro “studied, analyzed and then laughed at the rumors on Twitter.” Good to see the old bearded one’s enjoying the exaggerated reports of his death.
In fact, what makes this less funny is that Euronews has speculated that the Castro death hoax may even be a devious method to spread some malware. So, while it’s fun to continue speculate on the death of Cuba’s iconic despot, enjoy with caution as you might end up getting your computer pwned in the process.