Shocking YouTube Channel Spreads Fake Death News About Celebrities, Sparking Outrage
On May 7, a viral post titled “There’s a YouTube channel that kills living people” surfaced on an online community, exposing a YouTube channel that has come under fire for spreading fake death news about numerous South Korean celebrities.
The channel, which has gained more than 13,500 subscribers, has published fabricated obituaries for well-known public figures such as veteran actors Lee Soon-jae, Baek Il-seob, Sunwoo Yong-nyeo, and Im Hyun-sik; singers Jeon Young-rok and Kim Heung-gook; TV host Lee Sang-yong; Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yuna; and renowned filmmaker Hong Sang-soo. Despite its description claiming to “highlight the lives and careers” of these individuals, the channel’s content is entirely made up, misleading viewers with disturbing and entirely false information.
The channel in question, named “Things You Don’t Know,” was created in February and features videos primarily focused on death hoaxes about celebrities. Thumbnails for the videos even use images resembling memorial portraits, further adding to the deception. The channel claims to deliver “hot news” and behind-the-scenes stories, but in reality, it fabricates shocking and often harmful rumors.
The user who initially raised the alarm, identified as Mr. A, expressed concern over the channel’s content, stating, “A completely insane channel has appeared on YouTube” and sharing the link.
The post quickly gained traction, with many viewers expressing shock and outrage. Some speculated that the videos were generated by AI, commenting, “These look like AI-made videos — it’s creepy,” while others criticized the content as unethical and harmful: “This has gone too far,” and “Let’s all report it.”
The channel’s disturbing practice has led to widespread calls for stricter regulation of deceptive content on YouTube and greater protection for public figures from malicious fake news. As the controversy continues to grow, celebrities and fans alike are urging stronger legal measures to prevent the spread of harmful and false content on the platform.
