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The popular TikTok creator Grace Wolstenholme has called for greater awareness of online disinformation after discovering a viral video falsely claimed she had died. The fabricated death announcement, which repurposed one of her original videos without permission, garnered over 650,000 views before being removed from the platform.
Wolstenholme, 22, who has built a following of 1.3 million on TikTok since 2021 through content focusing on her life with cerebral palsy, first learned of the hoax when someone contacted her mother to express condolences. The timing of the fake post in May coincided with a period when Wolstenholme had reduced her online presence due to illness, making the claim seem more plausible to her audience.
“There’s a lot of bad people on social media, so you do need to check the facts,” Wolstenholme told the BBC. She expressed dismay at seeing comments from devastated followers mourning her supposed death.
The unauthorized video featured footage from Wolstenholme’s highly popular 2021 clip showing her falling while boxing during a personal training session—content that had previously received 5.2 million likes on her own account. The user who stole the footage paired it with images of themselves cuddling a pillow, with a caption claiming: “I lost my autistic sister today so I bought this pillow to imitate cuddling her.”
The death hoax has had tangible consequences for Wolstenholme’s career as a content creator. She reports losing thousands of followers and experiencing a significant drop in video views, directly impacting her income. TikTok compensates popular creators based on viewership metrics and engagement levels, making such false claims particularly damaging to digital entertainers who rely on the platform for their livelihood.
Wolstenholme pointed out additional inaccuracies in the fake post. “My disability isn’t autism, it’s cerebral palsy. So he got my disability wrong, and said I was dead,” she explained.
After initially contacting someone with the same username on Instagram, Wolstenholme managed to have the video temporarily removed. However, it was soon reposted, and the user reportedly sent her offensive messages. TikTok eventually removed the content after being contacted by the BBC, confirming it violated community guidelines, though the company did not address broader concerns about disinformation spreading on its platform.
The impact extended beyond just Wolstenholme herself. “It’s triggering for my followers to see because some of my followers suffer with their mental health,” she noted, adding that her community was “deeply disgusted” by the incident.
Further investigation revealed the account posted a second video mocking Wolstenholme’s disability. The BBC attempted to contact the creator of these videos through multiple channels, including the TikTok account, associated Instagram profile, and contact details from a linked website, but received no response. The business name displayed did not match any registered company at Companies House, and the VAT number provided was not associated with any UK business—raising questions about the legitimacy of the account’s commercial operations.
Wolstenholme has reported the harassment to the Metropolitan Police, who confirmed they are pursuing “several lines of inquiry” in the case. A police spokesperson stated that while no arrests have been made, Wolstenholme “continues to be supported by officers.”
The incident highlights growing concerns about the spread of malicious misinformation on social media platforms and the potential for real-world harm to content creators whose identities and images can be misappropriated. For influencers like Wolstenholme, who build careers and communities online, such falsified content poses both personal and professional risks that extend beyond simple pranks or trolling.
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6 Comments
Disturbing to see creators’ content being misused to spread disinformation. Glad the TikTok star is speaking out and raising awareness about this malicious practice. Social media users need to be more discerning and verify information before believing or sharing it.
The unauthorized use of this creator’s content to falsely announce her death is a deplorable act. I’m glad she’s speaking out and using her platform to raise awareness about the prevalence of online disinformation. Social media users must be more discerning in what they consume and share.
This is a sad but all-too-common issue on social media. False death announcements can be very upsetting for fans and loved ones. Kudos to the TikTok creator for addressing this directly and encouraging people to fact-check rather than blindly believe online claims.
Absolutely. Disinformation can spread like wildfire on platforms like TikTok. It’s crucial for creators to stay vigilant and call out these kinds of hoaxes when they occur.
This is a concerning trend, with bad actors repurposing creators’ videos to spread false information. Props to this TikTok star for highlighting the issue and urging her followers to verify claims before believing them. Diligence is key in the age of social media.
It’s disheartening to see someone’s content being exploited in this way. I’m glad the TikTok creator is taking a stand and using her platform to educate people about the dangers of online disinformation. We all need to be more critical consumers of social media content.