Ten Absolutely Insane Conspiracy Theories about Celebrity Deaths.

Ten Absolutely Insane Conspiracy Theories about Celebrity Deaths.

NUMBER 10: Avril Lavigne.

Canadian singer Avril Lavigne broke through in 2002 with her hit “Sk8r Boi.” The performer became an unlikely pop princess with her alt look and emo songs. Fans immediately loved her. But is she actually dead? And was she secretly switched out for a replacement?! That conspiracy has persisted for nearly two decades at least.

NUMBER 9: Buddy Holly.

February 3, 1959, will forever be known as “The Day the Music Died.” That night, rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP “The Big Bopper” Richardson all perished in a plane crash in an Iowa cornfield. They had chartered a private plane to fly to a show in Minnesota when adverse weather brought the plane down. Or did it? Years after the young stars’ shocking deaths, rumors persisted that the tragic crash hadn’t been accidental.

NUMBER 8: Elvis Presley.

If you’ve been to Las Vegas, you know Elvis Presley is supposedly still alive. While the real King of rock ‘n’ roll died in 1977, no shortage of impersonators have worked his brand in Sin City. The joke about Elvis’s apparently eternal life is a long one. In fact, it picked up almost right after his death. His father, Vernon, ordered his autopsy sealed, hoping to avoid its release into the public domain.

NUMBER 7: Aaliyah.

Aaliyah was a rising star in the music industry when she died in a tragic plane crash in the Bahamas in 2001. An investigation later found that the private jet she’d been riding in was overloaded. She was just 22 years old. After her death, the singer’s estate enjoyed a string of hit singles. Those popular songs raised her profile in the music world posthumously. Of course, nothing could bring the singer back to life. Even decades later, fans still recall her beautiful voice and unique R&B persona.

NUMBER 6: Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs transcended tech after founding Apple and developing its rock-solid brand. The rock star-like tech exec enjoyed an amazing run, bringing the company into the digital age. Brilliant products like the iPod, iPhone, and iPad enjoyed massive success in the 2000s. Along the way, Apple (and Jobs) developed a well-earned reputation for sleek design and effective computing.

NUMBER 5: Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson was supposed to be primed for his big comeback when he passed away unexpectedly in 2009. The King of Pop had been gearing up for a 50-date residency at London’s O2 Arena in July of that year. But weeks before the comeback was to begin, Jackson died. A months-long investigation found he perished from an overdose of the medication propofol. His private physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was later found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in a shocking trial.

NUMBER 4: John Lennon.

It wouldn’t seem like one person can spread a totally unsubstantiated rumor about a celebrity’s death, but here we are. When John Lennon was assassinated by Mark David Chapman in 1980, the music world went into shock. But one man named Steve Lightfoot claimed the killing was the product of an insane government plot. According to Lightfoot, Lennon was murdered by horror author Stephen King.

NUMBER 3: Bill Hicks.

Bill Hicks was a rebellious child born into a devout Baptist family in a rural part of Georgia. As he grew up, he channeled his displeasure with that conservative upbringing into biting, witty comedy bits. In the 1980s, the chain-smoking southerner became a beloved stand-up star on the comedy circuit. His acerbic tongue drew laughs, and the anti-establishment political commentary in his material was notable at the time. Sadly, the angry young comic never got a chance to become a superstar like George Carlin or Richard Pryor. In 1994, at just 32 years old, he passed quickly and privately after a bout with pancreatic cancer.

NUMBER 2: David Bowie.

David Bowie’s final album Blackstar was released just two days before his death in January 2016. Immediately, fans wondered about the new music’s timing, especially considering its content leaned heavily into themes of death and transformation. But for conspiracy theorists, things go back a lot farther. Some say Bowie’s 1972 concept album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is where the sketchy stuff started.

NUMBER 1: The Hollywood Star Whackers

Randy Quaid Running from “Star Whackers”

When actor Randy Quaid abruptly moved to Canada in 2010, he left a trail of controversy in his wake. The drama came in the form of a series of bizarre interviews. In them, Quaid claimed he and his wife Evi were on the run to escape a murderous group of people. He dubbed the sketchy organization the “Hollywood Star Whackers” and asserted they had a hit list of stars to kill. He also claimed he previously avoided their wrath with a wild jaunt around Siberia.