Several social media users have been misled by a fake news article from an unreliable site claiming the death of former tennis star Steffi Graf. The article’s screenshot, shared on social platforms, has prompted expressions of grief and shock over Graf’s alleged sudden demise. However, BOOM found that the site sportybird247 is clickbait and not credible. Additionally, there are no confirmed reports of Graf’s death or any illness.
Stefanie Maria Graf, better known as Steffi Graf, is a former tennis player and a 22-time Grand Slam champion. The German tennis legend is married to former men’s tennis player Andre Agassi, and they have two children. The false article features two photos of Graf with “Rest In Peace” written on it and a headline stating, “SAD NEWS: Stefanie Maria Graf, German Former Tennis Star, Dies at Age 55.” The article falsely claims that Graf’s sudden death has shocked the tennis world.
BOOM conducted a Google search using related keywords but found no credible news about Graf’s health or death. The article on sportybird247.com exhibited several red flags, and another dubious site also reported the false news with a similar headline. This site, which typically publishes jokes and humorous content, did not confirm Graf’s death or provide details about the supposed long-term illness.
BOOM checked official social media handles of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), Wimbledon, Australian Open, Roland Garros, and the US Open but found no posts about Graf’s alleged death. The website where the false article was found also contains similar misleading headlines about other sports figures.