Hundreds of fans immediately started writing their messages of condolence on the Facebook page, expressing their sadness that the talented 60-year-old actor and comedian was dead. And as usual, Twittersphere was frenzied over the death hoax.
Where as some trusting fans believed the post, others were immediately skeptical of the report, perhaps learning their lesson from the huge amount of fake death reports emerging about celebrities over recent months. Some pointed out that the news had not been carried on any major British network, indicating that it was a fake report, as the death of an actor of Rowan Atkinson's stature would be major news across networks.