Fans mourn TV star – who says she’s not dead
Big Brother participant says her lawyers are investigating after her Twitter feed was ‘hacked’
A BIG BROTHER star has announced she is not dead after reports of her demise were shared widely online, including on the reality television show’s own Twitter feed.
Dozens of news reports emerged yesterday morning claiming that Rebekah Shelton, 32, had died unexpectedly. A message posted by the Big Brother UK Twitter account stated: “So sad to hear that Rebekah Shelton, who appeared in #BBUK 2009 as Rodrigo Lopes, has passed away aged just 32. Our thoughts are with her friends and family, from everyone here at Big Brother UK.”
Gerry Stergiopoulos, an MTV presenter and friend of Ms Shelton, tweeted: “Right now I’m feeling devastated. Hope I will wake up soon and this was all just a bad dream.”
Fans online remembered her as one of the “most loveable [sic] housemates” as they mourned her passing. One posted: “This is such sad news. She was a beautiful soul. Died way too young. Rest in peace dear.”
However, hours later Ms Shelton posted on her own social media page: “I’m not dead! Please stop spreading this news! My lawyer is already work- ing on this and this person who wants to spoil my happiness is going to pay for it!”
The drama started with a statement posted on Ms Shelton’s Twitter page: “We’re sorry to inform everyone of the sad news that our wonderful and lovely Rebekah died unexpectedly on Wednesday night. We ask that you respect the family’s privacy at this time.”
The former Big Brother housemate hinted she had been hacked but the post has since been deleted.
Representatives for Big Brother, which moved to Channel 5 in 2011 after a decade on Channel 4, confirmed they did not check with Ms Shelton’s family and friends before they posted their tweet.
Ms Shelton said in a furious video posted on her Twitter account: “I just want to kindly ask that you stop spreading this news that I’m dead because obviously I’m not.
“I’ve been through hell today because someone used my Twitter account to write that stupid status about me. This person can’t accept the fact that I’m happy, that I overcame all my problems. I’m on holiday. I’m in Arabia and I’m not dead.” Rylan Clarkneal, who presents the Big Brother spin-off Bit On The Side, said he was “disgusted” that someone would fabricate such a rumour, after previously tweeting “RIP Rebekah”.
A fan posted on social media: “Wow, as if someone hoaxed Rebekah Shelton’s death. That is low. Very low.”
Ms Shelton appeared on Big Brother as Rodrigo Lopes and finished in fifth place before undergoing gender reassignment surgery in 2014.
The reality star has spoken previously about her transition, telling OK! magazine that her parents had struggled to accept her decision.