Annette Funicello–one of American’s favorite original Mouseketeers–is making headlines three years after her death from MS. Many, who clearly don’t pay attention to the news-or at least didn’t back in 2013–are mourning Annette Funicello’s death.
Former Mouseketeer Annette Funicello passed away back in 2013, not just this month: https://t.co/N0COQo2GeH pic.twitter.com/07VA1ELHtP
— snopes.com (@snopes) January 16, 2016
Snopes reports the problem stems from a new website called Health Cure Portal that published an article titled Annette Funicello Dies at 70 After Long Battle with Multiple Sclerosis, and that article closely mirrors an identically titled one published on a site called Health of Women. Both sites appear to be the kind that garner clicks for revenue.
Neither of the rehashed articles mentions the date of Annette Funicello’s death, leading some readers to believe she only recently passed away.
Twitter users have gotten in on the Annette Funicello death craze.
Seriously? Now it's Dan Haggerty and Annette Funicello…?! ?
https://t.co/ulxTMykfIX
— Geoffrey Gould (@realbadger) January 16, 2016
Hail and farewell to Annette Funicello, one of the originals… From Mouseketeer Annette to Beach Party, you are… https://t.co/qSaLUdwXTh
— Gail Rosenthal (@GailRosenthal) January 15, 2016
And now, Annette Funicello! RIP, ANNETTE! https://t.co/bmZ1JnjnpE
— Jill Faucher-Ross (@LovelyNJlady) January 15, 2016
My favorite mousketeer died. ? https://t.co/xwT1ywvp1O
— Ria (@Ria_the_only) January 15, 2016
Not all Twitter users are in the dark, however. Some are trying–likely in vain–to convince others Annette Funicello died almost three years ago.
Christ on a cracker, people are trying to act like #AnnetteFunicello died today in 2016. Sorry, she died in 2013. https://t.co/hygLT3K4vF
— Jessica (J. P.) (@HollywoodComet) January 15, 2016
For Some Reason, Everyone Thinks Disney Legend Annette Funicello Just Died Again https://t.co/cdNW4d3qvO
— Leslie Sholly (@LeslieSholly) January 16, 2016
For those mourning what they believe is the recent passing of Annette Funicello, here are some highlights of her career.
1. She was probably the most beloved Mouseketeer of all time, appearing on the original Mickey Mouse Club (black and white TV), and was one of very few to be selected by Walt Disney.
2. She starred alongside Frankie Avalon in the 1960s in the Beach Party movies.
3. She starred in several Disney movies including The Shaggy Dog, Babes in Toyland, and The Monkey’s Uncle.
4. Annette Funicello wasn’t just an actress. She had several pop record hits in the 1950s and early 1960s, too, although she didn’t enjoy singing the way she loved acting.
So there you have it. The beloved Annette Funicello was, in fact, a longtime actress and singer. She battled Multiple Sclerosis for more than two decades–finally succumbing to the disease on April 8, 2013.