Reports claiming that Dennis Rodman was found dead in his apartment from an autoerotic-asphyxiation accident are a hoax.

The story circulated on social media as a sensational post and was widely shared, but Rodman himself and multiple news outlets have debunked the claim: the former NBA star is alive and publicly responded to the false reports. (Newsweek, WPMI)

The misleading post appears to have originated from a meme/parody account and spread rapidly across platforms, where its lurid details (including the claim about autoerotic asphyxiation) amplified shock and outrage.

Major outlets that investigated the viral claims traced them to social posts rather than any credible law-enforcement or mainstream-news reporting, and flagged the story as false. (Sportskeeda, The Times of India)

Dennis Rodman addressed the rumors directly on social media, posting an image and message confirming he was “alive and well” after the hoax circulated.

His public response — and the lack of any confirmation from credible news organizations or police statements about a death — made clear that the circulating account of a fatal accident was untrue. (KATU, The Independent)

This episode is a reminder of how quickly sensational misinformation can spread online and the real harm it causes: distress to fans and family, confusion among the public, and the spread of false, often salacious details that can be difficult to fully retract.

Even when the target of the rumor is able to respond, many people see only the initial false headline and not the later correction. (Newsweek, The Independent)

If you encounter shocking claims like this, here are quick steps to verify before sharing: 1) Check reputable news outlets (AP, Reuters, Reuters affiliates, major national/local outlets) for confirmation; 2)

Look for statements from official sources — the person’s verified social accounts, family representatives, or law enforcement; 3) Trace the origin of the post — parody or meme pages are common sources of hoaxes; and 4)

Wait for corroboration from multiple independent outlets. Doing these things cuts down the reach of harmful falsehoods. (Newsweek, WPMI) Bottom line: the story you referenced is not true.

Dennis Rodman publicly denied the rumor and remains alive — the “found dead” posts were part of a viral hoax that exploited social platforms’ appetite for shocking content. If you’d like, I can pull together current links to Rodman’s verified social accounts and the major articles that debunked the hoax so you can see the sources directly.