TV host and weather newscast anchor Kim Atienza is the latest celebrity to fall prey to the growing list of personalities being victimized on social media with death hoaxes.

One fan, @Vincelove12, was aghast when he saw a Twitter post which said that Atienza was gunned down and in a critical condition.

“Kuya Kim Atienza Kritikal Ngayon matapos Barilin ng mga Magnanakaw sa Kanyang Bahay. Nakunan ng CCTV” came the caption of the Twitter post which also featured two photos of the TV host. (Kuya Kim Atienza in critical condition after thieves gunned him down while inside his house. The incident was captured by CCTV.) Sharing the post with Atienza yesterday, July 15, the netizen asked, “kuya Kim how real is this? Sana Po d totoo, Sana lng Po hands let’s just pray.” (I hope this is not true.)

Replying to his fan, Atienza said, “Kakaiba naman ang style ng bashing niya. Pag namatay ako dadalawin ko siya gabi gabi. #kuyakimtrivia.” (He’s got a different style of bashing. If I die, I will visit him every night.)

kim atienza abs cbn ig — Kim Atienza. Image: Instagram/@kuyakim_atienza

Of course, the rest of his fans and followers were incensed at the hoax.

One of them, @Marl_IVANoles who felt that the basher was very disrespectful, said, “Napakasama ng gumawa Neto at napakawalang respeto. Bastos!” (Whoever did this is very bad and lacks respect. Rude.

Another disgusted fan, @_kurbasizzle, blurted out, “Paniwalang-paniwala sila sa ganyan no? Kawawang mga nilalang. (They really do believe these things, right? Pitiful creatures.)

One @LeslieM53647182 was likewise annoyed by the post as she said, “Nyahaha… Nalungkot ako na natawa. Nalungkot dahil sumobra na yung ka demonyahan Ng mga bashers pero tawang tawa ako sa sagot mo kuya Kim. Sorry na Lang Kayo mga bashers Kayo. Sana di nyo Yan maramdaman Ang pinag-gagawa nyo sa ibang Tao.” (I felt sad and at the same time I was laughing. I was sad because these bashers’ evil ways are already too much, but I was laughing hard at the way you answered back. So, sorry bashers. Hope you don’t experience the same.)

One @TheresaTan12 advised Atienza to just shrug it off, saying, “Huwag na lang pansinin kuya kim ipasa Diyos mo na lang Yan paano makakapasok say bahay no naglalakihan Ang mga alagang ahas mo sa bahay mo at Ang daming aso a Ng daming hayop pa saan dadaan un Alam ko Yan Kasi taga malate Rin ako taga remedios ako.” (Don’t pay attention to it, Kim, just leave it to God. How can they even enter your house when you have very huge dogs and many animals. Where will they pass through? I know that because I am also from Malate.)

One @youreTRENDING may have given the best retort on the hoax, as the commenter cheered Atienza on, “Dito samin sa probinsya kapag nabalita ka na patay na ibig sabihin mas mahaba pa ang buhay mo. Kaya more power sayo @kuyakim_atienza.” (Here in our province, when you are rumored to be dead, that means you will live longer. So more power to you, brother Kim.) JB

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