Mark McGrath Death Hoax: Sugar Ray Singer ‘Alive & Well’

Breathe easy internet & ’90s pop music fans – you can still “put your arms around” Mark McGrath.

The former Sugar Ray frontman-turned-TV-talker did not “Fly” away to be with the angels, despite a fast-spreading online death hoax (possibly perpetuated by Mark’s own show) on Thursday morning.

Early Thursday, a ridiculous press release was sent out to various media outlets with the subject line “BREAKING NEWS: MARK MCGRATH IS DEAD.” (Clue #1, a PR company will probably be a bit more sensitive in their subject line when sending a death alert.)

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“Musician Mark McGrath has died at the age of 46. McGrath was on set filming the second season of entertainment show Hot Package, when he was confronted by a masked gunman and shot several times. The former Sugar Ray frontman died in the arms of his co-host Derrick Beckles on the Hollywood set of the show,” the release, sent from a PR company none of us has ever heard of (Clue #2!), stated.

“In honor of Mr. McGrath’s legacy, his team is asking in liu of flowers, fans post a Sugar Ray Selfie, holding a packet of sugar over their heart. #RIPMARKMCGRATH,” the release concluded.

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Seriously, people?

Amid reports the one-time spikey-haired, frosted-tips, tattoo-loving singer had kicked the bucket, Mark himself proved he was still among the living, by tweeting a link to a music video called “Still Alive and Well” by Edgar Winter & White Trash.

While the whole thing appears to be a PR play for Mark’s new show, the singer claims he wasn’t in on the joke.

“Final word on the death hoax thing, I knew nothing about it and found out the same time you did…sorry about any confusion,” he Tweeted.

Final word on the death hoax thing, I knew nothing about it and found out the same time you did…sorry about any confusion

— mark mcgrath (@mark_mcgrath) February 26, 2015

The PR company issued an apology later on Thursday.

“Please be advised that Mark McGrath and his team have had no involvement in or knowledge of the media alerts sent earlier this morning,” the statement reads. “Mr. McGrath is a guest on the show, and his death is merely a plot line in the premiere episode. PRISMATICS take full responsibility for any confusion.”

Adult Swim – the network Mark’s show “Hot Package” airs on – claims they were not involved in the original hoax press release.

“This press release did not come from Adult Swim and is not part of any network PR or marketing campaign for the show Hot Package,” an Adult Swim spokesperson said in a statement to Access Hollywood.

— Eric Anderson