While Queen Elizabeth recovers from COVID-19, one blog refuses to back down from its allegation that the monarch died. Hollywood Unlocked reported on Feb. 22 that the long-reigning queen had died at the age of 95, it prompted rounds of “God Save the Queen.”
According to the blog’s Instagram post, sources close to the Royal Palace informed them exclusively that Queen Elizabeth had died “She was scheduled to be at British Vogue editor Edward Enninful’s wedding, but she was discovered dead. After a few hours, the website published another piece defending its story.
Buckingham Palace Official Says The Queen Is Doing Fine
Instagram, on the other hand, classified it as “fake information” this time. Jason Lee, the founder of the Hollywood Unlocked site, posted on Instagram. “Regarding the Queen Elizabeth story…1. I’ve never lied. 2. I’ve never been wrong. 3. I trust my sources. 4.
I have yet to see an official statement from the palace saying otherwise. 5. I’ll be at the Donda concert tonight with YE.” When an apology leaked online in the early morning hours of Feb. 23, some admirers assumed Jason was finally softening his tone. “Our deepest apologies go out to the #RoyalFamily and all involved in this embarrassing situation,”
Hollywood Unlocked reportedly wrote in a since-deleted tweet. “It was an accident and we’re working hard to make sure that this mistake never happens again. The intern journalist was misinformed and published the draft post by mistake. – HU.” But in another twist few people saw coming, Jason stood by the story yet again on Feb. 23.
In a twist that few expected, Jason stood by the narrative once more, yet on Feb. 23. “Woke up to some fake account posting a retraction,” he explained on Twitter. “We do not know that account and we have not retracted our story. There has yet to be an official statement from the Palace.
Staying tuned.” The queen, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, had her weekly phone meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the palace confirmed on Wednesday. This report of the queen’s call came after the false “exclusive” allegation by the American site Hollywood Unlocked on Tuesday that Queen Elizabeth had died, which immediately spread on social media and beyond.
However, a Buckingham Palace official said Queen Elizabeth was recuperating from COVID-19 just hours before the news was published. “As Her Majesty is still experiencing mild cold-like symptoms, she has decided not to undertake her planned virtual engagements today,” according to the statement, “but will continue with light duties.” While many royal watchers believed Hollywood Unlocked made a mistake, the website’s founder and CEO stuck by their narrative.
