Did Noam Chomsky Really Pass Away? Know the Truth!
Noam Chomsky, the well-known linguist and activist, is alive and recovering at home after false reports of his death spread on social media and news outlets.
On June 18, 2024, his wife, Valeria Wasserman Chomsky, quickly confirmed that the rumors were not true.
In response to the widespread misinformation, Valeria Wasserman Chomsky clarified via email to The Associated Press, “No, it is false.” She explained that Chomsky, 95, had been hospitalized in Brazil while recovering from a stroke he suffered a year ago. He was discharged from the Beneficencia Portuguesa hospital in Sao Paulo on Tuesday and is continuing his recovery at home.
Earlier in the day, Chomsky’s name trended on X (formerly Twitter) as unfounded reports of his death proliferated.
Publications like Jacobin and The New Statesman initially published obituaries. Jacobin quickly changed its headline from “We Remember Noam Chomsky” to “Let’s Celebrate Noam Chomsky,” while The New Statesman removed an essay by former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis.
Similarly, the Brazilian news site Diario do Centro do Mundo retracted its story and issued a correction.
The Chomskys have been living in Brazil since 2015. Valeria Chomsky’s statement provided much-needed clarity on Noam Chomsky’s health status, emphasizing that while he had faced significant health challenges, he was on the mend. This update was particularly reassuring to the global community of academics and activists who follow Chomsky’s work closely.
His tenure at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) established him as a leading figure in the field. In 2017, he joined the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arizona in Tucson, continuing to influence academic discourse.
Beyond his academic achievements, Chomsky is well-known for his incisive critiques of U.S. foreign policy and his steadfast advocacy for social justice.
His prolific writing and speaking engagements have made him a pivotal figure in political philosophy, inspiring critical thinking and activism worldwide.
This incident underscores the pervasive dangers of misinformation in the digital age. The rapid spread of false reports about Chomsky’s death highlights the necessity for careful verification before disseminating information, particularly about prominent public figures.
The swift corrections by media outlets and the prompt clarification from Chomsky’s family were crucial in mitigating the spread of these rumors.
Source: kkco11news