Share and Follow
Michael J. Fox has humorously assured fans he is alive and well after CNN inadvertently aired a tribute segment celebrating the life of the iconic 64-year-old actor.
Taking to Threads on Wednesday (April 8), Fox quipped, “What’s your move when you tune into CNN and see them reporting your demise? Do you… A) Switch over to whatever MSNBC is called now, (B) Pour boiling water on your lap to check if you’re still kicking, (C) Call your wife—hopefully, she’s both worried and comforting, (D) Chill out, since they pull this stunt annually, (E) Wonder ‘what the heck?’ thinking the apocalypse is nigh, only to realize it’s just you, and you’re totally fine. Much love, Mike.”
A representative from CNN provided a statement to DECIDER, saying, “The segment was published mistakenly; it has been removed from our platforms. We extend our sincerest apologies to Michael J. Fox and his family.”
According to Entertainment Weekly, the video segment, titled “Remembering the life of actor Michael J. Fox,” included clips from Fox’s interviews and notable works, as well as a focus on his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 1991.
The video reportedly stated, “His most enduring role may have been as an unwavering advocate against Parkinson’s, a performance recognized with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2022,” as per EW. “Ultimately, Fox realized that his struggle with the disease brought out his best qualities.”
A representative for Fox told TMZ that Fox “is doing great,” and “was on stage and was giving interviews” at PaleyFest on Tuesday (April 7) for Shrinking Season 3, in which he guest-starred as Gerry, a character also battling Parkinson’s who bonds with fellow Parkinson’s patient Paul (Harrison Ford).
Members of the cast of the Apple TV comedy praised Fox’s talents while speaking with DECIDER ahead of Season 3, including Christa Miller, who said “there is no one better” than Fox.
“Michael J. Fox has the best timing of any comedic actor that I’ve ever worked with,” she shared. “I couldn’t jam myself into scenes with him, as much as I tried this season. I remember one time on Spin City, I said, ‘Write a joke for Mike on the fly,’ because Bill [Lawrence]’s so good at doing that. And he wrote a joke. He gave it to Michael. And the joke was all about timing. He brought down the house. No one better. Even Harrison was like, ‘Oh my god.’”
You can watch Fox in Shrinking Season 3, all of which is streaming on Apple TV.