When beloved celebrities die, devoted fans sometimes refuse to accept the painful reality. They create conspiracy theories claiming their celebrity idols faked their death to escape fame or start new lives in hiding elsewhere. Alleged sightings and supposed photographic evidence fuel these theories, spreading widely across social media platforms like TikTok and Reddit. While none have credible proof, they expose our troubled relationship with celebrity mortality and loss. Here are 10 celebrities who conspiracy theorists insist are still alive today.
1. Juice WRLD
Many fans reject the official account of Juice WRLD’s death in December 2019. They reference a 2017 tweet where he wrote, “My goal is to get overly famous, shine for a couple of years..then fake my death.” His lyric from the 2018 song Legends, “We ain’t making it past 21,” seems too precise to be accidental. Online groups scan through his songs for hints about starting a new life elsewhere. They argue he staged his reported seizure, part of a long-planned escape he had been hinting at for years.
2. XXXTentacion
XXXTentacion’s shooting death in June 2018 raised doubts among fans who remembered his 2017 stunt where he faked his death for a music video and livestreamed from a coffin. Conspiracy theorists claimed crime scene footage showed no blood, shattered glass, or bullet holes, while others said his forehead tattoo was missing, suggesting a body double. An old Instagram clip of him saying “I am not dead” resurfaced, and many mistook it for new. To believers, this proved he had staged his death again.
3. Kurt Cobain
Some fans believe Kurt Cobain is among the famous people rumored to have faked their death, claiming he became Rivers Cuomo of Weezer. Weezer formed in 1992 as Nirvana fell apart, and their tours never overlapped. Cuomo deconstructs Cobain’s songs and plays concerts of Nirvana covers under the name “Goat Punishment.” Believers compare their faces, guitar styles, and shared hatred of fame. When producer Rick Rubin asked Cuomo about the theory during a podcast, he didn’t dismiss it. Instead, Cuomo played along, discussing his meditation practices as “Kurt’s efforts to distance himself from his past life.”
4. David Bowie
Hours after David Bowie’s January 2016 death, music executive Jack Steven appeared on Sky News. His resemblance to Bowie led to claims that the singer had faked his death. Believers compare their facial features, voice, and mannerisms, and point to Steven’s limited online presence despite decades in the industry. They question Bowie’s private cremation, carried out only days after his death, with no public service. His final album, Blackstar, and the song “Lazarus,” released days earlier, are seen as clues, with “Lazarus” referencing resurrection.
5. Notorious B.I.G.
Biggie’s 1997 murder remains unsolved, giving rise to claims he staged his death to escape the violence around him. One investigation named LAPD officer David Mack and Suge Knight as being involved, though the key informant later admitted he based his story on hearsay. Author Cathy Scott suggested both Biggie and Tupac were “worth more dead than alive” to their record labels. After 27 years with no arrests, speculation persists that powerful forces concealed the truth and helped orchestrate his disappearance.
6. Bob Marley
Decades after his 1981 death, conspiracy theorists continue circulating stories about Bob Marley, who is one of the celebrities believed to be alive by devoted fans unwilling to let go of an icon. Some point to alleged sightings or reinterpreted interviews, while others reference mistranslations and misidentified photos. Scholars dismiss these claims as legend-making born from denial rather than fact. Yet Marley’s lasting influence supports these stories, along with deep fan devotion, and the human impulse to reshape endings that feel too painful to accept.
7. Avicii
Fans claim Avicii faked his 2018 death to escape the pressures of fame. They question why he would take his own life after retiring from touring and regaining control of his time. Some examine his final posts for coded messages and point to supposed discrepancies in the timeline. Others cite claims from Anonymous that he did not die by suicide, although no proof exists. On TikTok, believers suggest he disappeared to start fresh, far from an industry that damaged his health.
8. Bruce Lee
Some believe Bruce Lee, the martial arts celebrity, did not die in 1973 but staged his death as a hoax to escape public pressure or possible threats. Believers often present reports of alleged sightings in Asia and the United States as proof that he survived. Others suggest he withdrew from public life to focus on spiritual study or martial arts research. Critics note there is no verified evidence for any of these claims. According to official records, Lee died at 32 from cerebral edema, yet the idea of his survival remains part of pop culture lore.
9. Marilyn Monroe
Some believe Marilyn Monroe staged her 1962 death to escape fame and political ties. Reported sightings place her in Canada, Mexico, and small US towns. Some accounts allege powerful allies helped her assume a new identity. Others claim she fled to avoid threats linked to her relationships. The official ruling of barbiturate overdose has not ended the speculation.
10. Anastasia Romanov
Although she would not be alive today, the legend of Anastasia Romanov remains one of history’s most famous survival myths. For decades, conspiracy stories claimed the celebrity royal escaped the 1918 execution, defying death alongside Russia’s royal family. Witnesses spoke of a young girl surviving the chaos, which sparked rumours she had fled the country. Several women later claimed to be Anastasia, most famously Anna Anderson, whose case drew worldwide attention. Supporters referenced resemblances and shared memories, while others dismissed the evidence. DNA testing in the 1990s confirmed her remains with those of her family.