Mark McGrath Is Latest Victim Of Death Hoax

Mark McGrath, the Sugar Ray frontman, was the victim of a death hoax on Thursday in an email that claimed he died in an on-set incident.

McGrath, 46, was said to have died in a shooting on the set of TV show Hot Package. In the faux press release that announced his death, fans of the musician and actor were asked to honor him on Twitter with a “Sugar Ray Selfie.”

“Musician Mark McGrath has died at the age of 46. McGrath was on set filming the second season of entertainment show Hot Package, when he was confronted by a masked gunman and shot several times,” the press release read. “The former Sugar Ray frontman died in the arms of his co-host Derrick Beckles on the Hollywood set of the show.”

The release added, “In honor of Mr. McGrath’s legacy, his team is asking in lieu of flowers, fans post a Sugar Ray Selfie, holding a packet of sugar over their heart. #RIPMARKMCGRATH.”

Not long after the initial email went out, a follow-up revealed that the previous one was a fabrication. It explained that McGrath character on AdultSwim’s Hot Package dies on tomorrow night’s season 2 premiere. The hoax turned out to be the “promotional” idea of the PR firm Prismatics.

“Tomorrow night on the Season 2 Premiere of Hot Package, Mark McGrath is killed by a masked gunman and dies in the arms of his co-host Derrick Beckles,” the email read. “It’s important to note that Mark McGrath is alive and well in real life.”

McGrath personally confirmed that he is alive and well on Twitter, writing, “Final word on the death hoax thing, I knew nothing about it and found out the same time you did…sorry about any confusion.”

Hot Package returns to AdultSwim Friday at 12:30 a.m.