Despite Twitter rumblings, three-time Rock & Roll Jeopardy! champion/Sugar Ray singer Mark McGrath is very much alive. He addressed recent rumors of his death via Twitter and, as many suspected, it was all a big hoax.
Final word on the death hoax thing, I knew nothing about it and found out the same time you did…sorry about any confusion
— mark mcgrath (@mark_mcgrath) February 26, 2015
He even apologizes for a death rumor someone else started. What a gentleman!
Mark McGrath to Host AXS TV Grammy Special
According to Huffington Post, that “someone” may have been working to promote the Adult Swim show Hot Package, which features McGrath.
Here’s what we do know: This morning (Feb. 26), a creative consultancy company called Prismatics sent out a press release claiming the Sugar Ray frontman had been killed, sparking an online rumor. It read:
Musician Mark McGrath has died at the age of 46. McGrath was on set filming the second season of entertainment show Hot Package, when he was confronted by a masked gunman and shot several times. The former Sugar Ray frontman died in the arms of his co-host Derrick Beckles on the Hollywood set of the show.
In honor of Mr. McGrath’s legacy, his team is asking in liu [sic] of flowers, fans post a Sugar Ray Selfie, holding a packet of sugar over their heart. #RIPMARKMCGRATH
Trending on Billboard
Once the rumors picked up, Prismatics sent out this message to clear up the controversy they started hours prior:
Tomorrow night on the Season 2 Premiere of Hot Package, Mark McGrath is killed by a masked gunman and dies in the arms of his co-host Derrick Beckles.
It’s important to note that Mark McGrath is alive and well in real life.
The Season 2 premiere of Hot Package airs tomorrow at 12:30 AM on Adult Swim.
#RIPMARKMCGRATH
However, a statement from an Adult Swim spokesperson (via TBS) denies the channel’s involvement entirely: “This press release did not come from Adult Swim and is not part of any network PR or marketing campaign for the show Hot Package.”
USA Today reported that TBS (which owns Adult Swim) denies hiring Prismatics to do publicity for Hot Package, and had no knowledge of the hoax until it hit.
At any rate, mission accomplished — a lot more people have heard about Hot Package. Its second season premieres tomorrow at 12:30 a.m. (ET).
And McGrath, 46 years young, will continue to live, breathe, eat, act, and perform with Sugar Ray. The band has three upcoming shows, including Hershey, Penn.’s Mixtape Festival, alongside acts like New Kids on the Block and TLC.