14 DAY TRIAL // A couple of hours ago, Kiss FM and several other media outlets ran a “story” that “Dirty Dancing” star Patrick Swayze had passed away from pancreatic cancer. Not only was the report “reckless,” a statement from his publicist says, but it was also deeply offending – and the accompanying photo should prove that the actor is still alive and responding well to treatment.
According to BBC, the rumor was first published on the Kiss FM site, from where it got picked up by many other outlets and ended up on Twitter. It had it that Patrick Swayze had finally given up in the face of the terrible disease he’d been battling for years, advanced pancreatic cancer, and even included the condolences to the mourning family. Even one of Patrick’s former co-stars, Kirstie Alley, was inclined to believe it, the same BBC report says.
Just a couple of hours ago, though, Swayze’s publicist issued a statement shooting down the death rumor. In order to show fans – and those who started the rumor without even bothering to check up on it – that the star was still well, the publicist also included a family picture taken last week at Swayze’s family home – included here with the article. Moreover, the statement says, Patrick Swayze is still on cancer treatment and the media shouldn’t be so quick to jump to conclusions and print such stories without official confirmation from some representative or spokesperson for the family.
“This is to confirm that Patrick Swayze did not pass away this morning contrary to severely reckless reports stemming from a radio station in Jacksonville, Florida. Patrick Swayze is alive, well and is enjoying his life and he continues to respond to treatment.” the statement released to most media outlets reads. At the same time, it also denies a previous report, which had it that the actor had stopped all “useless” cancer treatment, and was simply waiting to die.
Kirstie Alley was equally shocked at the Audacity of the rumor, once it was revealed it was unfounded. Consequently, she took to her Twitter page, which is also where she saw it for the first time, and urged fans not to continue spreading it. “Please, out of respect for Patrick, don’t spread this rumor. It looks like it is just a mean rumor started on Twitter.” Alley wrote, as per the BBC report.