Death hoaxes are nothing new on the Internet, and the impetus behind them is usually as empty as the hoaxes themselves. But as for this recent Mark McGrath hoax – yes, the Sugar Ray frontman is alive and well – it seems to have been a publicity stunt for the Adult Swim series Hot Package, a spoof of shows like Entertainment Tonight. Only, nobody involved with the series claims to know anything about it. Why must everything in your life be such a puzzling mystery, McGrath?!
An email, which you can read below, was sent around this morning from the company We Are Prismatics. Take note that We Are Prasmatics is reportedly not involved with Hot Package or Adult Swim’s public relations.
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 former Sugar Ray frontman died in the arms of his co-host Derrick Beckles on the Hollywood set of the show.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
USA Today contacted reps for TBS, Adult Swim’s parent company, about the email, and they claimed the show “has not been in production for several months, and we do not know where it came from.” PR folks never lie, right?
The hoax email was followed up not too long afterward by another one clarifying that it’s all part of an episode’s storyline.
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. It’s important to note that Mark McGrath is alive and well in real life.
And if anybody needed any further proof that the Sharknado 2 star is still kicking up dust:
So there you go, I guess. One has to wonder why a random company would send out such a left-field advertisement to promote a show they have nothing to do with. Although I guess the death notice is kind of a spoiler that Hot Package may not have wanted people knowing about. In any case, you can continue listening to “Fly” and “Every Morning” without the need to pour one out for ya homie.
Hot Package will make its Season 2 debut on Adult Swim on Friday, February 27, at 12:30 a.m. ET. Beyond McGrath, this season will feature celebs like Heidi Fleiss, Fabio, Kenneth Anger and Corey Feldman.
