Los Angeles — William Shatner reassured fans Thursday that he is “perfectly fine” after widespread reports that the 94-year-old actor had been rushed to hospital following a medical scare, and used the moment to issue a short, pointed warning: don’t trust tabloids — or AI-generated rumours.
The episode began when entertainment outlets cited a report that Shatner had experienced a blood-sugar issue at his Los Angeles home and was taken to a hospital as a precaution. Those initial accounts prompted a flurry of social posts and news briefs.
Shatner’s camp and the actor himself moved quickly to push back. His representative told media that Shatner was at home and in good health, and the actor posted on social media with a wry take on the rumours — writing that he had “over indulged,” joking that “rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated,” and urging followers not to trust tabloid reports or AI-generated stories.
Variety, Deadline and other outlets reported on both the original accounts and the clarifications, noting that while the incident triggered concern, there was no confirmed ongoing hospitalization and that Shatner appeared intent on calming fans.
Fans and colleagues reacted with relief after the pushback from Shatner and his team. The actor — who made headlines in 2021 by becoming the oldest person to travel to space — remains active professionally, with recent projects including a life documentary and work on a holiday dramedy, details that outlets say he referenced while thanking supporters for their concern.
Shatner’s quick rebuttal also underscored a larger, modern media problem he touched on in his message: the speed at which unverified reports and AI-amplified rumours can spread online, sometimes outpacing official confirmations. For now, his note to fans was simple — and characteristically wry: he’s OK, and don’t believe everything you read.
