Google briefly lists American musician Billy Joel as having died, triggering a death hoax online. The error appears on the search engine with an incorrect date of death, reportedly showing Thursday, September 17.
Multiple outlets report that the claim starts from that search result and spreads through social media and posts referencing it. Both accounts describe the situation as a technical glitch rather than verified news. NME and VICE both cite a direct confirmation from Joel’s representatives, with his publicist stating that he is alive and well and indicating recent communication. NME attributes the confirmation to publicist Claire Mercuri, while VICE similarly relays her statement that “Billy’s not dead” and that she was in contact with him.
While the initial reports focus on the misleading Google listing, the central shared point across sources is that the death announcement is incorrect and that Joel’s publicist confirms he is alive.
