Is Joan Rivers really dead? The American actress became the victim of a viral death hoax immediately after she reportedly suffered a heart attack on Aug. 28, 2014. Social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook exploded with fans' reactions who panicked over the fake Facebook page and trending hashtag "RIP Joan Rivers." Read on to find out the truth and some of the Twitter reactions.

The 81-year-old comedian was taken to the Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan after her health started to deteriorate during the vocal-cord surgery. Joan Rivers reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest and had stopped breathing during the time of the surgery.

Joan Rivers Viral Death Hoax

Meanwhile, a hashtag that read "#RIP Joan Rivers" started to trend on social media. Furthermore, a fake Facebook page titled "RIP Joan Rivers" emerged on the internet on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014. According to Media Mass, the page "attracted nearly one million of 'likes'" by the Facebook users and fans of the "Fashion Police" host.

The page that led to the spread of fake news of Joan Rivers' death was backed by brief account of actress' death.

It read:

"At about 11 a.m. ET on Saturday (August 30, 2014), our beloved television host Joan Rivers passed away. Joan Rivers was born on June 8, 1933 in New York. She will be missed but not forgotten. Please show your sympathy and condolences by commenting on and liking this page."

The viral death hoax freaked out fans as they quickly started posting condolences and expressing their grief. Scroll down to read the reactions of some of the fans on Twitter.

Joan Rivers Death Hoax Debunked

Meanwhile, fans must note that their favourite comedian Joan Rivers is still fighting for her life in a New York hospital. She is still on life support while family hopes for the actress to recover soon. In a recent statement, Joan Rivers' daughter and TV personality Melissa Rivers said (via The Guardian): "Thank you for your continued love and support. We are keeping our fingers crossed."

Besides her family, Joan Rivers' fans are also praying for her. Other celebrities and fans have shown generous support via social media. However, this is not the first time Joan Rivers has become the victim of viral death hoax. According to Huffington Post report, the comedian has been killed twice already by the Internet. Viral death hoaxes claiming that the Joan Rivers is dead spread like wildfire in the year 2010 and 2011.

Besides Joan Rivers, some of the other celebrities who recently became the victim of viral death hoax are singers Justin Timberlake and Miley Cyrus and actors Sylvester Stallone and Charlie Hunnam.

R.I.P. Joan Rivers!!!! You will be missed!! #RIPJoanRivers

— Elizabeth Crowe⚓ (@Elite_Elizabeth) September 1, 2014

WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TAKE AWAY MY STRESS AND TELL ME THAT JOAN RIVERS IS NOT DEAD!?!? — Lytal (@Lsl924) August 31, 2014

Joan Rivers has died aged 81 .. Such a sad day for all Fashion Police lovers #RIPJoanRivers

— Dan Paris Matanimeke (@DanMatanimeke) August 30, 2014