A posting, falsely attributed to CNN, began circulating among AOL users:

December 15, 2000

Web posted at 6:12 a.m. EST (0012 GMT)

Rapper "Eminem" Dies in Car Accident.

Multi-platinum artist Marshall Mathers, known by the stage name "Eminem", was killed at 2:30AM EST while driving a rental car on his way to a late-night party.

Mathers, who authorities believe was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, was behind the wheel of a Saturn coupe that witnesses say swerved to avoid a slow moving vehicle, then lost control and slammed into a grove of trees.

The car was crumpled by the impact, making extraction of Mather's body very difficult. He was declared dead on the scene by paramedics who arrived a short time later.

Authorities would not comment on details surrounding the accident other than to confirm the identity of the victim.

Mathers was 26.

Despite sick-minded ne'er do-well attempts to create a state of panic in this grand country by virtue of a well-crafted CNN.com fake news story prank, our beloved Slim Shady is alive and well. ... Marshall is alive and at home with his family for the holidays in Detroit. And he wishes all of you shady holidays and a dirty new year.

Conspiracy theorists argued that the new Eminem looked much younger and had slightly different facial features.

His supposed death happened in 2006, four years later he resurfaced in Hollywood, again people think he looks completely different. Theories suggest that this “new Eminem” isn’t human at all, that he was just created by the Illuminati to put the rapper back in the spotlight!