Beloved actor Michael J. Fox is very much alive—and, according to his team, “doing great”—despite a major network briefly suggesting otherwise.

The bizarre episode unfolded after CNN aired a segment titled “Remembering the life of actor Michael J. Fox,” even though there had been no credible reports indicating anything was wrong with the iconic star. The segment quickly disappeared, but not before it was captured and circulated by TMZ.

Facing backlash, a CNN spokesperson admitted the mistake, telling TMZ, “The package was published in error; we have removed it from our platforms and send our apologies to Michael J. Fox and his family.”

Fox, best known for his roles in Family Ties and Back to the Future, responded with trademark wit, taking to Threads to poke fun at the situation and the media at large:

“How do you react when you turn on the TV and CNN is reporting your death? Do you…A) switch to MNSBC, or whatever they are calling themselves these days, (B) Pour scolding hot water on your lap, if it hurts your fine, (C) Call your wife, hopefully she’s concerned but reassuring, (D) Relax, they do this once every year, (E) Ask yourself wtf ? I thought the world was ending, but apparently it’s just me and I’m ok. Love, Mike.”

While the episode shocked fans, it wasn’t the first time false rumors about Fox’s passing have spread online. Back in 2014, social media buzz led many to wrongly believe the actor had died.

In reality, Fox has been active and engaged. His representative confirmed he recently appeared at PaleyFest, where he took the stage and spoke with fans and reporters.

The appearance supported Season 3 of the Apple TV+ series Shrinking, which also stars Harrison Ford. The project marks Fox’s return to acting after stepping back due to his long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

According to Variety, the show represents his first role since 2020, following his earlier retirement announcement in his memoir No Time Like the Future. In that book, Fox candidly explained how the disease had made memorization and long filming days increasingly difficult.

Yet on the set of Shrinking, things felt different.

“It was the first time ever I get to show up on-set, and I didn’t have to worry about am I too tired or coughing or anything,” Fox told People magazine. “I just do it. It was really good, because for the moments when I say, ‘I’m not going to be able to do this,’ then I say, ‘Well, I’ll just deal with how I can’t do it in the scene.’ And you get through it.”

Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1990 at just 29 years old, though he waited eight years before sharing the news publicly. Since then, he has become one of the most recognizable advocates for research and awareness—continuing to inspire millions even as the media occasionally gets the story wrong.

Despite the headlines, Michael J. Fox is still here—and still fighting.