By Tonya Whitaker
NDG Staff Writer
Talk about a Twitter mix-up.
Fans of actress Ruby Dee got a scare Nov. 8 when rumors of her death spread. However, a mis-tweet by the Rev. Jesse Jackson made individuals believe the actress died.
According to her publicist, Jackson unintentionally started the rumor when took to his Twitter account and tweeted that Dee passed away. Jackson’s followers thought the actress – not the Heavy D. & the Boyz frontman – had died. Jackson had to put out more than a few fires to dispel the rumor.
“The news of the passing of Ruby Dee HAS NOT BEEN confirmed,” Jackson tweeted Nov. 8. The civil rights leader asked everyone to retweet his correction.
Dee, widow of the late actor Ozzie Davis, is best known for her role in the 1961 film adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun. Fortunately, the actress is doing well.
A representative of the L.A. Coroner’s office said Heavy D. – born Dwight Errington Myers – might have died from a heart attack. However, the true cause of death will take at least six weeks to complete.
The rapper – best known for his hits Now That We’ve Found Love and Black Coffee – collapsed Nov. 8 outside his Beverly Hills condominium and died several hours later at a nearby hospital.
