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That’s exactly what South African radio and TV presenter Pabi Moloi experienced this week, after a viral Facebook post falsely claimed that she had passed away.
The post, shared by the entertainment page Mzansi Soapies & Teasers, showed two images of Moloi side by side — one from her earlier career and another recent screenshot from TikTok. Between the photos were flying doves and broken-heart emojis, the universal symbols for mourning.
“It is with a heavy heart at this hour we announce the heartbreaking news about Pabi Moloi, most loved TV presenter,” the post read.
The visuals gave a clear impression that Moloi had died. But the link attached to the post led to an article that did not confirm any death. Instead, it discussed her recent weight loss and the growing concern among fans.
Still, for thousands who scrolled past the post, the message was unmissable — Pabi Moloi is gone.
Within hours, condolences flooded comment sections across Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Fans posted crying emojis and “RIP Pabi” messages. Some even shared clips from her old television work, saying her “legacy would never be forgotten.”
But Moloi was alive — watching the internet mourn her.
Last week, she had uploaded a short TikTok video showing herself shopping at a hardware store. It seemed innocent enough — a light-hearted moment where she was laughing and talking playfully while pushing a trolley.
The video went viral, racking up over two million views. Yet instead of celebrating her cheerful mood, many users focused on her appearance and behaviour.
“Pabi no please, you don’t look well. Please take care of yourself,” one viewer commented.
Others went further, with some accusing her of “looking mad” or “running crazy” because of the way she was talking and giggling in the clip. A few suggested she might be “losing her mind” or “not okay mentally.”
“She’s talking and giggling like something is wrong with her,” another user wrote. “She needs help before things get worse.”
Soon, her name was trending — not for her work, but for wild rumours about her mental state and health.
This reaction echoed a familiar pattern online — the public speculating about celebrities’ private struggles based on appearance alone.
One user compared the situation to how fans once mocked Chadwick Boseman for losing weight before learning he had been silently battling cancer.
“Remember how people said Chadwick looked sick and dying, only to later post ‘RIP’? The internet never learns,” the comment read.
It’s this cycle — quick judgment, then regret — that Moloi found herself caught in.
By Sunday, screenshots of the false obituary post had spread widely enough that even her close contacts began calling to check if she was alive. Some media pages reposted the same claim without verification, further fuelling confusion.
Then, Moloi herself broke her silence.
In a short video shared on social media, she appeared calm but visibly shaken by the rumours.
“I thought everything weird that could happen to me had already happened,” she said. “I thought being body-shamed, being number six on the best dressed list and the worst dressed in the same year — that was weird enough. But this? This might be the weirdest. Guys, I’m alive. I’m very much alive. October 20th, 2025 — and I’m alive.”
She ended her post with humour, adding: “I literally saw someone say ‘RIP’. Well, I’m going to have a ripping rest of my life because I’m still here.”
Her post on X (formerly Twitter) was captioned simply: “The rumours of my death are greatly exaggerated. 20 October 2025.”
Despite her clear response, discussions about her appearance continued. Some users suggested she might be using weight-loss medication such as Ozempic, while others speculated about stress or illness.
“Are you on Ozempic?” one user asked. Another wrote, “Is that makeup, or is your jawline just on a diet?”
Moloi did not engage further. Those who follow her online know she frequently shares clips of herself exercising and cooking healthy meals. She has often spoken about fitness and wellness, suggesting her transformation is intentional rather than concerning.
Yet, as with many online figures, public perception can shift overnight — and Moloi’s case showed just how fast misinformation spreads in the age of viral content.
Digital analysts say the use of emojis like doves and hearts in fake death posts is a growing trend among clickbait pages, designed to attract emotional reactions and drive traffic. Once people comment or share, the algorithm amplifies the post even further — regardless of its accuracy.
The result can be devastating for the person targeted.
“This is not just gossip anymore,” said a media ethics lecturer from the University of Johannesburg. “False death posts can have psychological and reputational effects. Imagine logging in to see people mourning you. It’s cruel.”
For Pabi Moloi, who has been in the entertainment industry since her teenage years, this may have been one of the strangest moments of her career.
She has hosted major shows, from radio talk programs to television game shows, and built a reputation as one of South Africa’s most respected broadcasters.
Now, at 41, she finds herself in the centre of a bizarre digital storm — declared dead by strangers, mocked for laughing, and labelled “crazy” by those who barely know her.
Yet through it all, her humour remains intact.
“Guys, I’m alive,” she said again in another follow-up clip, smiling. “Let’s all just breathe. I’m okay. Maybe a little weird, but not dead.”
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the internet’s obsession with how people look — and how they act — can easily turn cruel.
What began as a rumour about weight loss spiralled into death speculation, mental health accusations, and ultimately, global confusion.
For Moloi, it’s another lesson in surviving the modern digital age — where laughter can be mistaken for madness, and being alive sometimes isn’t enough to stop people from writing your obituary.
